I recently removed my transmission for a clutch job (97 SE 5sp 132k). I also installed new axle seals. There was no oil leakage issue up to this point. (Crosses fingers about diff bearings)

There was one problem: the circlip for the driver side axle was missing <doh!!> - well I installed the axle anyway knowing the replacement would take a few days. Quickly I noticed a small leak from this seal - about a pancake sized puddle overnight. So I ordered a new circlip and drivers side axle seal.

My question is:

1) Can the axle not being seated properly cause a leak?
2) Can installing/removing the axles cause a quiet differential bearing problem to get bad quickly?
3) How do I inspect the diff bearings when I pull this axle again?

Dave

 

bumpity for the gurus

 

Jack your car up and check for play side to side in your axle...there shouldnt be that much but there will be some...

If you havent seen a leak for 132K miles, my guess whould it wouldnt be the diff bearings 99 out of 100 times...Its gotta be the Seal not seated properly...(The Maxima tranny does NOT have a Axle sealer stop on our Tranny, so you need to know where to put that seal) Its gotta be sticking out a good amount, and make sure you dont Nick it when your install your axle

I went through alot of bearings problems in my last tranny, so any more questions, post back questions

 

Aha! I noticed on removing the old one that it is a blind fit - no stop or anything to know when it's seated. The FSM didn't show me anything at the time, so I tapped it in flush with the outside edge.

Ditto with the passenger side, but <knock> it's not leaking yet.

How far out should it be?

Dave

 

The seal should NOT be flush with the tranny like you did it...it should be sticking out a bit
There is an EDGE on the seal...the bottom of that edge should be lined up with the tranny...
Its Almost impossible to expain on the computer so any more questions post it back up

-matt

 

This is what I did: There is a flared lip at the inner diameter alongside the axle, presumably nesting inside the dust seal of the axle. That stands above the diff housing.

There is a metal-reinforced body of the seal which has a flat surface. This surface is flush with the edge of the diff housing.

There is a thick part of the seal that forms sort of a bead around the outer perimeter of the seal. Because the flat surface of the seal was set flush with the housing, this bead is completely buried.

I'll post a pic when I get the replacement this week. At least I'm optimistic that the issue is the seal, and not bearings.

Dave

 

I would imagine and hope that you just either damaged the seal when installing it or don't have it seated properly. I have had a hell of a time with the drivers side seal before.


The only way visually inspect the bearings is to crack the tranny apart