Horrible trans leak, Then fixed, Then another horrible Leak

[aaronllewellyn]

Alright, here's the story:

A few months ago I had a horrible Tq converter steal leak, the pressed seal around the transmission shaft decided to stop sealing in fluid, so instead of pumping into the tq converter, it would actually pump OUT of the transmission. Up until that point it was my DD, reliable didn't leak any transmission fluid.



I had to have it towed home:



About a week ago I decided to tackle the seal replacement myself:



Well, the moral of the story is, I got it all back together, working properly in every way, even installed a stupid loud 3" exhaust with no cats and a 3" downpipe. But the second I drive it around the block it began PISSING fluid all over the exhaust and burning off just like before. No fluid out of the dipstick or vent tube indicating excessive pressure. WHen the torque converter was removed the shaft seal FELL out, so somehow these seals keep getting forced out an im so SO SO SO sick of not having this car to drive.

Any Ideas>? I'm about ready to crush the damn thing out of spite, it's my first subaru and the impression it's leaving is not good.

[aaronllewellyn]

Bump :C

[mike-tracy]

Aaron, if you could find a manual transmission donor, or even a nearby junkyard that has a manual transmission Legacy, Outback, Impreza, Forester, I think you'd be happier off with your car, in the long run. Swapping to manual is well documented by several members on this site.

Barring that, perhaps your tranny has been damaged in some way that cannot be fixed with seals or gaskets. If that's the case, then a 90-98 Legacy, Impreza, Forester, Outback transmission will swap in, assuming you grab the matching rear diff (if it's different from yours).


Aaron, I know your frustration - I had to pull the engine 3 times before I got it right with my auto, though one of those times was to reseal a leaky oil pan that's leak was being masked by a quart-a-day leak from the rear oil separator plate.

[aaronllewellyn]

Aaron, if you could find a manual transmission donor, or even a nearby junkyard that has a manual transmission Legacy, Outback, Impreza, Forester, I think you'd be happier off with your car, in the long run. Swapping to manual is well documented by several members on this site.

Barring that, perhaps your tranny has been damaged in some way that cannot be fixed with seals or gaskets. If that's the case, then a 90-98 Legacy, Impreza, Forester, Outback transmission will swap in, assuming you grab the matching rear diff (if it's different from yours).


Aaron, I know your frustration - I had to pull the engine 3 times before I got it right with my auto, though one of those times was to reseal a leaky oil pan that's leak was being masked by a quart-a-day leak from the rear oil separator plate.

It Just doesn't make any sense to me, where could the pressure be coming from that would force fluid through the seal? or even force the pressed in metal seal out. the only "vent" I know of is the small tube on the top.

I'm leaning twords a 5 speed swap if it's not much more complicated assuming I can get the extra parts.

EDIT: decided to pull a different 4eat I really need this car to drive.

[Legacy777]

Are you seating the torque converter properly? If that's not seated properly that could have damaged some of the transmission internals.

Let us know how if the other 4EAT works. I don't envy you....the 4eat is a beast of a transmission and a pain to get in and out. Good luck!

[aaronllewellyn]

Are you seating the torque converter properly? If that's not seated properly that could have damaged some of the transmission internals.

Let us know how if the other 4EAT works. I don't envy you....the 4eat is a beast of a transmission and a pain to get in and out. Good luck!

I planned on paying a yard hand to pull the transmission out of the PNP yard but I got sick this week, some cold/flu pretty shitty actually. but being home forced me to save some money, so hopefully if I CAN pay a yard man to cut a 4.11 transmission out of a 100k mile car, I mostly dread taking it out again, putting the other back in will be fun as long as I'm just as excited.

If there's any write up on changing the ring and pinion gear in the rear differential, I would appreciate it. that's going to be the most difficult process (since I haven't done it before)

I have some stainless exhaust tubing in the mail as well, to extend the 02-07 exhaust, it can be installed without the extension but it's "temporary".

[Legacy777]

Any reason you don't just swap the entire diff? That's a WHOLE LOT easier than swapping the ring & pinion and trying to properly set the gear backlash.

[aaronllewellyn]

Any reason you don't just swap the entire diff? That's a WHOLE LOT easier than swapping the ring & pinion and trying to properly set the gear backlash.

I wish this forum was more alive, but I guess this is a dying breed, too bad I wasn't in on this five years ago.

would I be able to swap a newer pre 98 diff directly in?


I have a week set aside to work on it, get the parts etc. found a guy with a 5 speed wagon with bad head gaskets, cracked windshield, leaky sunroof, sagging headliner, dents, dings and rust, and he wouldn't move from his "low" price of $1400.

:C

[cj91legss]

1400 is way too much for for that car, he's ridiculous. If you swap the 98 diff, you will have to get the axles from that car too. You will also need to swap the diff cover plate from your diff to the new diff.