my tranny (5spd) was leaking for some reason, I did a search here and spoke to some people, and they suggested that it may be the differential bearring or something like that, I can't exactly remember the name of it. So I had my tanny opened up and checked. Now bearings seemed ok except for one, but it had nothing to do with the leak (it was changed anyways).

After a few minor adjustements, it seemed to run better, now I took it back for a checkup and it is still leaking, but not as bad. The seals have been replaced and tightened, and no one is able to find why the seal keeps stretching and the axle moving (That's what stretches the seal).

Anyone had similar problems?

Thanks to anyone for any help and for replies

 

What color is the fluid? Does it have a smell? Consistency?

 

The fluid seems ok, the way it's suppose to be.
It is a brownish/reddish transparent colour. I belief it was the same way when I poured it in.

 

Your differential bearings are failing. Thats why the axels move and distroy the seals. Your going to need a tare down and rebuild of that tranny. This is a commom problem with 5 speeds.

Another reason why the automagic rules!

 

Rebuild the tranny?
I checked the diff. bearrings and they seem fine. There was no sign of any damage or wear on the bearring.

 

How did you check the bearing? You have to take the trans apart to check them. I had another thought... what if the trans isn't shimmed correctly? Usually there to tight which causes the bearing preload to be to high thus killing the dif. bearings. If your transmission is to lose, perhaps that could be causing your excessive play and ruining your seals. Either way the trans needs to come out of the car.

 

You need to check the housing thoroughly, look for abnormal wear of holes and other bores which hold the shafts and bearings.Sometimes the holes change shape to elliptical or increase in size leading to loose fits which cause such problems.

 

i sense that someone didnt know how to shift gears when he first got his car..........

 

Ahh yea, yet another case of the busted seals that keep stretching. You never answered the question on how did you check the transmission. To positively determine if the bearings are shot, you gotta yank the tranny off the car and bust it open. I would put money that you have the infamous ruined differential carrier bearings problem. Axle leaks with the seal stretching is the first symptom. Is there any play in the axles? How about noise?

 

Nope, had no idea how to drive a stick, but I wasn't too bad

 

The tranny did come out of my car. My dad has a garage, so we took the tranny out, and his mechanic checked the bearings and all. The differential bearing was not changed, I personally did not see it, but my dad's mechanic said that there was no wear or damage on the bearing.

The seal was stretched, kind of in an elliptical way. Just enough to have the fluid leak. The axel does play. If you grab it from under the car, you can shift it up and down (not a lot though, but enough, and I assume it is not suppose to). Regarding noise, I always thought that I did hear something, but I can't be sure to tell you if that is where it is comming from. Basically the noise that I get, is like "rubbing" and "screeching" (but not too loud, loud enough to be noticed with the radio on low), and it sounds like it is comming from the shifter. It changes sound when I shift, in neutral, and when I drive. During cruising speeds, all I get the sound of this rubbing, and when I just touch the shifter, I can manipulate the sound in a way, so I am certain that it is related to the tranny.

When I took the tranny out, the fluid was changed, and there was debris in the fluid, from one of the bearings, or gears. That prblem was fixed, but the Differential bearing was not changed since I was told it is ok.

How do I check this bearring? What exactly am I looking for. Would this problem affect the car's performance in any way? or fuel economy? (It feels like my fuel consumption has gone up, but that could be to the damn problem with the knock sensor I am having as well )

In any case, I want to thank you all for replying and helping me solve this issue. I can't thank you people enough! especially ericdwong for reading this long reply

Thanx

 

Where is everyone? Anyone? Can somone respond?

 

If you're able to grab the driveshaft and tug on it and it moves around right where it enters the transmission, then you have got a problem right there. That movement caused the damage to the seal which caused the leak. I have no idea how you can have that movement without the bearing being bad. A bad bearing causes that motion. Either the check that was performed on the tranny was not thorough enough or missed that issue, or something else is wrong with the tranny or driveshaft that is causing the movement.

THERE SHOULD BE NO MOVEMENT IN THAT AXLE.

 

Tell me something I don't know
What bearing would cause this? the differential or the input shaft? or something else?
could it be a problem with the axel?

 

Nope, if its leaking at the axle seals it is DEFINALTELY NOT the input shaft or the input seals. if it were the input shaft/seals, it would be leaking from between the transmission and engine at the base of the bell housing. Not only that, it'll probbly ruin your clutch disc.

Have you seen www.motorvate.ca ? There are great pictures and descriptions of what went wrong with his max.

If the axles move up and down at the transmission, then it is definately the differential or the bearings. If the bearings are not shot, then I have no clue what it is. The bearings are tapered (look like a cone) and fit precisely into the case. I really cannot come up with any other explanation for play, but OK bearings. You mention there was metal shard somewhere else, so this means something was wearing.

 

The bearring I remember DOES NOT fit perfectly in the housing as you said... but how can I fix this? would I need to replace it for good, or can I fix it myself by tightning it?

 

OK heres the deal. The outer bearing races are pressed into the case. Unless it was damaged by a collision, there is no way the outer races are that loose.

The much more likely explanation is the roller bearings are all shot, but you say the bearings are in OK condition. Have you personally seen the bearings?

It is nothing you can just tighten. You can fix it, but beforewarned, it is NOT for the normal shade tree mechanic. it is very involved, and involves removing as well as opening the transmission. It will take several days to do the project.

 

I have not seen the bearrings myself, I realize that it takes a few days, and I have no problem with that. The tranny was opened before, and will be opened again if necessary. My mechanic is pretty good.

The only bearring on my car that was replaced was the Differential Bearring. The play in the axel became less, but never stopped. It is not dripping as much, it is more of a sweat now.

I read the link that was posted above, and I have the exact same problem as that guy. But will it even be fixed?

I am just confused if there are other bearrings that may cause the play of the axel, or cause the Diferential bearring to fail again. What would cause the Differential bearring to fail? if too much load, then from what?

Thanks to all

 

How long ago was the bearing changed mileage wise? It is very possible that when it was rebuilt, it was not properly shimmed and busted once again. The seals were changed last time too right?

 

yeah the seals were changed as well.
It was about 3 months ago and about... hmm.... 4000km.