It leaks again!!! Output seal????

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Mar 16, 2002 | 02:42 PM

87SAM

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From: Boise ID

It leaks again!!! Output seal????

Got the Vett out today after a winter of maintance. My main goal of the winter was to fix the auto trans ouput shaft leak. Well, it still leaks:mad There were a couple of light score marks on the yoke which came out with emery cloth and the seal I put in was from a local parts store. The seal I put in looked a little bit different but the counter guy thought it look like a better design then the orginal.

My questions are, do think I should try a GM seal first? Or do I need a new output yoke?

Needless to say, I'm not a real happy camper right now

Mar 16, 2002 | 03:07 PM

BBA

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From: Jacksonville Fl

Re: It leaks again!!! Output seal???? (87SAM)

A worn output bushing is the likely problem here, if you have already replaced the seal and smoothed the yoke ridges.

You need to take the tail-housing off the trans. Take it to a good trans shop and have them replace the output bushing the yoke rides against.

[Modified by BBA, 2:07 PM 3/16/2002]

Mar 16, 2002 | 04:09 PM

87SAM

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From: Boise ID

Re: It leaks again!!! Output seal???? (BBA)

Thanks BBA!
So a worn bushing would allow the yoke to move around enough to prevent the lip seal from keeping contact and thus leak?

Is there a way to check this bushing before removing? Do you recommend a GM seal this next time?

Thanks, Sam

[Modified by 87SAM, 1:10 PM 3/16/2002]

Mar 16, 2002 | 06:05 PM

BBA

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From: Jacksonville Fl

Re: It leaks again!!! Output seal???? (87SAM)

I used a generic el-cheapo seal on mine. Tightening up the yoke/bushing play completely eliminated the leakage.

Mar 16, 2002 | 06:25 PM

CFI-EFI

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From: The Top of Utah

Re: It leaks again!!! Output seal???? (87SAM)

GM does NOT make seals. Therefore, there is no such thing as a "GM seal". If you are concerned about the quality of the seal, check the brand name on the origional. There is a reasonable chance that a new seal in a GM box will be a different brand than what you took out.

Mar 16, 2002 | 06:58 PM

jimbos86vette

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From: Belleville Illinois

Re: It leaks again!!! Output seal???? (CFI-EFI)

Hey Sam,

Usually you can check this bushing by pushing the yoke up and down, there should really be any noticable play in it. If your concern about the scores on the yoke, CR makes what they call a speedi-sleeve, it covers the score marks with a thin shim around the outside of the yoke. It also comes with the tool needed to install. I've used these several times on harmonic balancers and they work great. My vote is for the output bushing is wore out, but if you find that ok, than try the speedi-sleeve.

Mar 16, 2002 | 07:38 PM

CFI-EFI

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From: The Top of Utah

Re: It leaks again!!! Output seal???? (jimbos86vette)

A speedi-sleeve can be a great money saving device, but it has a few problems in this application. The tool that comes with it isn't very deep, for pushing it onto the wear surface on a slip yoke. You can improvise a deeper tool with a length of pipe, but once installed the length of the repair area isn't very long compared to the potential slip, of the slip yoke. The flange of the speedi-sleeve that is used for installation will limit how far the yoke can be slipped into the trans. That flange CAN be removed, but then you would be dragging your new seal over the rough area the flange came from. You would likely have to slide the yoke in past the repair area to get the u joint into the diff yoke. To further compound the situation, the speedi-sleeves aren't cheap. It sounds as though the emery cloth solved the problem, but if not, you're better off with a new slip yoke. Save the speedi-sleeve idea for the damper or pinion yoke, where you don't have any pre-planned lateral movement.

Mar 16, 2002 | 10:59 PM

87SAM

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From: Boise ID

Re: It leaks again!!! Output seal???? (BBA)

I have the extension case off now. I did have play when the slide yoke was in there, enough so that I could make a "clunking" sound when moving the yoke up and down :eek: So the bushing is what I am going for.

As far as the seal is concerned, it isn’t that I wanted a "GM" stamp on it, it just was different looking from the original, but I suppose designs change over the years and hopefully for the better :chevy

I work 12-hour shifts the next 3 days so it will be Wednesday before I get back at it.

Thanks for all the ideas and words of wisdom! :yesnod: