Hello, I have a 98 Maxima SE 5 speed. After I installed my new passenger side axle seal, passenger cv axle, and starting the car it started to leak gear oil. WTF!!!. I believe the sales rep @ Advance Auto sold me the wrong side axle seal. I went to several different Auto part stores and they seem to be confused on the correct part #. Does anyone have a picture or know the CORRECT part # of the passenger side axle seal @ advance auto, oreillys, auto zone, napa, etc. for a 5 speed manual?

Also, Im having a hard time getting the passenger side seal out of the transmission. Its a pain in the A$$!!! I tried using bird beak pliers, flat heads, picker tools, and seal pullers. I got it to the point where the seal is showing metal. Anyone!!! Please help!!!

 

don't scar the seal bore - that might lead to further leakage. I have read that the center member and the transmission support rod have to be removed to fully access the passenger side axle seal. The drivers side and passenger side seals are definitely different. Nissan OEM passenger seal is 38342-81X01 and drivers side 38342-81X00. Good Luck!

 

Damn, I have to take off the cross member?!!! I really do not want to do that, is their another alternative?

 

pull the trans?

 

there is a technique using a slide hammer type seal puller. There is a seal puller that has a long extension with three spring fingers. The tool can reach past the center member and the fingers pull from behind the seal. The slide hammer feature allows the force needed to get the seal out. Once out you then have to devise a way to get the new seal properly installed. Some say a piece of 3" PVC pipe. Others use a socket on an extension that is the same size as the seal diameter. Good Luck...

 

i ****ed up installing the drivers side which i can only imagine is loads easier than the passenger side since its relatively uncluttered and closer to the wheel well. good luck, make sure you drive it in evenly. mine was slightly cocked and that caused it to leak. GOOD LUCK

 

Slide hammer type seal puller? Thx, I will check that out.

 

here's an example...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjCUNXlB2zM

 

THATS WHAT I NEED!!! Where can I get that Maximark?!!! Do any of the auto part stores rent that type of equipment out?

 

Also, what does the passenger side axle seal look like? Anybody?

 

Is this the correct axle seal for passenger side? Advance Auto part# 710124

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NATIO...#ht_500wt_1182

 

Yea, that looks like the correct seal, but it's been a while too so .... lol I know the DS looks different than that so, you're probably good. As for getting to that seal, don't have to drop the X member, or the trans. Drop off the shift support rod and the sift rod itself. Makes enough room to get in there and pop it out / in. Use a hook type tool like a dentist tool or pick. To put it in all the way, turn the 36mm socket around (do this to get a feel for it BEFORE installing) - it should fit the lip of the seal perfect. Use a pry bar and press between the X member and the socket. Whalla ... done and done. Good luck! Hope this helps!!!!

 

Ok, thx Jtzmax. I will be doing this later on today!

 

Good luck, hope it's warmer there than it is here - it's a wopping 7º here in Missouri!

 

yo man...genuine nissan parts w/ diagrams: http://www.courtesyparts.com/

 

Damn, thats cold! Its also cold on my side of town. In Atlanta its 20 degrees! I need to finish this car today!

 

Ok, thx.

 

Yep, your all right!!! This is the correct seal for passenger side axle from courtesy Nissan, which is the same as Advance Auto part # 710124. I just called them up. I find it very odd because I put this same seal on the drivers side and I have no leak!
http://www.courtesyparts.com/38342m-...-p-189686.html

 

Advance will rent you the slide hammer puller. Recently used one to help a guy do rear bearings on a pickup. Where in Atl are you?? I'm on west side in Powdeer Springs.

 

They do?!!! Im gonna call them up right now, thx. Im south of ATL near Mcdonough.

 

After renting the slide hammer puller from Advance Auto parts, I'm still having trouble taking off that DAMN passenger side axle seal. Does anyone know any alternatives, that seal is stuck in there but, it is slowly moving out?

 

Just got to keep hammering away. Make sure you are pulling straight out so the seal doesn't get cocked in there. You might want to stop every now and then and actually drive it back in a tiny bit to straighten it back up before pulling straight out again.

 

Hey man, I went through this four months ago.

See the thread I created:
http://forums.maxima.org/4th-generat...ed-groove.html

I had an x-acto blade set with a screwdriver handle attachment overnighted. I was lucky and got rides to work while the MAX was off the ground. I had to remove the pass shaft bracket, to slide my arm all the way to the tranny housing. This was the last straw, as I called some mechanics to see what they charged to get it out and they said they could do it without dropping the tranny. But it was 8hrs labor to drop the tranny. I went at it hard for over 1.5 hours with the xacto on the drivers and pass. side to get the seal out. I used the big sockets to seat the new seal in(lubed up of course). I wont let this seal get to 90,000 miles in the Florida heat again, it just baked in there. It was expensive from Napa though, over $20 each I think.

I have been lucky, no leaking from the seal<knocking on wood as we speak>

 

It looks like the driver's side seal but slightly smaller on the inside diameter. The outer diameter is identical. If you put a driver's side seal on the pass side it will spew oil.

One quick way to remove the seal is to use a prybar. Just insert across the seal and make sure it's not touching anything other than the seal itself. Then tap the handle with a hammer to pry it out. I have not tried that on the seal when it's inside the car. From what I can remember the seal is not easily accessed after the trans is in the car.

David

 

David - you are correct, not much room in there at all with the trans up and in place!

It is possible to get it out while the trans is in the car, but it is a tight fit for sure! If your slide didn't work, try to pop it out like David mentioned. You'll need a small enough pry bar to get up in there, and possibly another pry bar to leverage it out (doubt there's enough room for a hammer to squeze up in there too (and swing) ... but hey, if it fits - whack it! lol As mentioned, don't catch the inside of the case (trans) while doing this, you'll have much larger problems if you do.

Did you try to get at it by removing the shift / support rods? Any more room that way?

 

Thx everybody!!! I got the seal out!!! What I did was I had to take off the cross member, shift support rod, and I used a hook shaped pry bar and popped it out. Its nearly impossible to get it out without taking off the cross member and support rod.

 

You know in hindsight this might have been done easily by renting the "blind hole slide puller" from Autozone or Advance Auto.

 

"blind hole puller"? Can u post a pic of what that tool looks like please?

 

Driver side leaking? Could be time for tranny rebuild. Pretty common symptom.

Dr J

 

Just found a brand new Passenger side oil seal, still in plastic with Nissan tags. Make an offer.
Dr J