Zack342

iTrader: (89)

I always hoped that i would never have to do a post like this. I figured since i had a 1999 it would never happen to me but sadly my 5speed tranny is leaking gear oil from the drivers side axle. Tranny still shifts smoothly. i think it started today because it is accompanied by a faint noise that sounds like something is hitting something else but i can't narrow it down. The noise is what prompted me to check and i noticed the tranny had gear oil on the bottom as well as oil residue on the tranny and suspension parts in the area.
Does this mean i have the dreaded bearing problems? It is leaking from the drivers side axle only. I am hoping its just the seal that needs to be replaced but could do tranny seals go bad? I checked to see if the axle had poped up but its in the tranny pretty good with the slightest sided to side movement when i pull on it. what do you guys think is going on ?
here are the pics.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Seal? How about up/down movement? That would indicate bad bearings.

JSutter

iTrader: (46)

thats nothing. its just a leaky seal. less than $10...ah well more like $5 with your discount.

KCMaxima98

iTrader: (4)

The axle shouldn't move at all when you wiggle it. If it does then I would bet that you have bad bearings. You might try a seal in order to buy you some time but it will fail too. My axle was wiggling around in there pretty good and a new seal stopped the leak for about a month. I just ordered a 99 tranny with 40K on it but I haven't installed it yet. Im hoping that it will last a couple of years until I can dump this POS and get something reliable.

BTW, whoever said that the bearing problem is only on 95-96 models is spreading MISINFORMATION!!!! All 4th gen five speed trannies suffer from this and I have seen 00-01 trannies fail from this too. You aren't safe no matter what you do. Just wait....in a couple of years all the 00-01 guys are going to be replacing/rebuilding their transmissions too!!! I have seen rebuilds on ebay that failed from bad bearings that were out of 00-01 cars.

Zack342

iTrader: (89)

It only moves In and Out which is what i ment in my first post when i said "side to side".There isn't any up and down or side to side movement. Just got back from the dealership to pick up the seal and the tranny still shifts like butter. i am going to replace the Seal and fluid this weekend.
Jeff, jon do you think it would be ok if i use Mobil ! 75W90 Synthetic Gear oil? I can't find any Redline MT90 on such short notice and that is what i have in there know.

Absolute worst case i have a VLSD Tranny in my garage i guess i would have to install it.

KCMaxima98

iTrader: (4)

It sounds like you might be ok which is awesome. BTW, mine is leaking like no tomorrow and it still shifts/drives fine so you can't base it off that. Mine didn't even get the signature "whining" sound until recently which was at least a month after I noticed the leak.

Zack342

iTrader: (89)

Could anyone tell me if this is a common part that goes bad? i searched and all related seal leakage ment bad bearings

i30ds

iTrader: (8)

Sounds like it is just the seal since you can't really get any wiggle room out the axle. The FSM was a procedure for replacing the seal so it must be common item to replace.

|Bijan|

iTrader: (12)

Ive got the same sh*t, I noticed it like 2 days ago

The hayne's manual has a good write up. I just gota pick up a new seal.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

use generic gl-4 fluid. You can use gl-5 if you change it within a few weeks or so.

Bobo

I have a left tranny seal leak as well but am just monitoring it for the time being. There is no noise coming from the tranny and it shifts like it always has.

Zack342

iTrader: (89)

Monitoring it does not do any good because you don't know how much fluid is left in the tranny. As your drving and the axle is spinning and gear oil is seeping out. There is no way of really knowing how much gear oil is left in there unless you open it up since there is no "dip stick". I already picked up a seal from NISSAN but i have been looking everywhere locally for more Redline MT90 Gear oil but with no luck. I am going to get some Mobil 1 Synthetic 75W90 instead and use that for now.

Bobo

I had the transaxle fluid replaced in February at which time the seal was just sweating. I took it back to Mr. Lube last Saturday and it appears the sweating has worsened somewhat but the transaxle fluid was still full, so I will continue to monitor it for awhile. Obviously, it will have to be replaced but I'm in no rush as long as I'm not leaking much gear oil.

Zack342

iTrader: (89)

Can anyone recommend any GL4 Gear oils that i can use until i can order some more Redline Mt90? I bought the Mobil 1 75W90 like the sticky in the fluids forum recommended but the bottles says GL5 spec.

PLkiller

Bad Differential Bearing..... Just had this happen to me 2 months ago...A ***** cause u need to open up the tranny

Zack342

iTrader: (89)

thanks i needed to hear that

i30ds

iTrader: (8)

Dont listen to him Zack. All evidence thus far points to a bad seal... not a bad bearing.

Nismo3112

iTrader: (12)

Hopefully it's just the seal, but i've heard of bearings failing even in a 5th gen tranny.

Zack342

iTrader: (89)

Replaced the seal last night at my friends house. Everything came apart leasy but getting the new seal in was a bit more difficult that i predicted. I bought 2 just to be on the safe side and it was a good thing i did. We screwed up the first one putting it in and had to start over. I didn't drain the tranny either i have 2 Quarts of Mobil 1 75W90 Synthetic and 3 Quarts of Redline MT90. I will drain the entire thing and refill it with MT90 once it gets here. So far no leaks so i am hoping the tranny will be ok......