To avoid being broadsided, I swerved and hopped a curb with both front wheels at about 20-25mph. Took the car to get it looked at and found nothing was bent but I obviously needed an alignment. The impact was great enough to cause my front passenger tire to blowout. During the process, the shop found a trans fluid leak. I later found it was coming from where the driver side driveshaft enters the transmission. The leak drips two or three drops per hour. My question is, can I drive my car 30 miles per day at about 60mph for a week or two until I can get this fixed so long as I periodically put more trans fluid in the car?

 

Oh man, sorry to hear!

You could monitor the (for lack of better term) spot on the floor and put your finger in the check hole (1/2 inch ratchet opens it).

I'm sure you are familiar with this and I don't mean to be redundant but I remember you swapping to 5-speed a short time ago. Hope it helps!

 

Checked the fluid level before I posted and it was fine. After the incident occurred, the car was driven another 15 miles or so. I honestly don't have time to fix this for another week or more and I'm not sure exactly what was damaged. I'm hoping it's just the seal. What's the worst case scenario?

 

The worst case scenario is that the tranny you swapped actually suffered from bad diffy bearings. Good luck to you though, I hope it gets fixed easily.

 

There isn't any play in the axle where it inputs into the tranny is there? If the axle fits in there tight still and the tranny doesn't make any noise I would just change the seal and hope for the best.

 

Sorry, I should have clarified; what's the worst that could happen as a result of this incident?

 

Didn't check for that. It'll have to wait until tomorrow though.

 

The most probable damage is just bent chassis/suspension parts. Given that you have gotten that checked and had an alignment done (successfully), you probably didn't do any further damage. I suppose you could have damaged the axles - but that may not show up until you've driven a bit...

 

I'm hoping it's just the seal or axle (at the worst). Think it's drivable?

 

Okay, I'm retarded...it's the passenger side driveshaft that is leaking. There is no play where it enters the trans though. Good news, right?

 

well at least it's not the diffy bearings! so yeah ... good news

 

Ya - should be no issues driving it like this (take that with a grain of salt, since I've not seen or driven the car since your incident)... it doesn't sound like your're losing a lot of fluid... like I said, just keep a close eye on the way it drives, tracks, pulls, etc. just to catch any damage that went unnoticed.

Do you have your post-alignment numbers?

 

Nope but I will stop by the shop and see if they can give them to me.

 

If I can drive to Chicago with my passenger side axle stuck half way out of the tranny, (leaked about a quart in one night), you SHOULD be okay. Sorry to hear about the incident. I hopped a curb once in my 99 and I too blew out a tire, cracked a rim in half and discinigrated one of my control arms. (to make you feel better)

 

you will be fine. just get the seal replaced when you can. I had a leaky seal for about 6 weeks after Maximum tuning did by clutch. It would leak a hell of alot more than 2-3 drips an hour and i was fine. If you think its needed top it off once a week for now.

 

man i live by this stuff jbweld that sucker if u can find the crack :P
that will hold for a week or so till u can get it fixed

 

Man that reminds me of something that happend to me a few years ago, of me jumping a curb too, but I busted my tranny pan, and blew out the passenger tire too. Sorry to hear that man, i hope everything works out in your favor.

 

Well, the car drives fine. I'm honestly astonished I didn't destroy my control arms or suspension parts. I will monitor the fluid loss tonight as well.

 

did u actuall count the 2-3 drops an hour? or are u guesstimating?

 

Counted. And besides, I knew it was a significant amount when I put my finger in the fill hole.

 

Anyone have the part number for the passenger side driveshaft seal?

 

I dove a Camaro with a trans leak before, you'll know once the fluid is low, it starts to slip until you there is not fluid in the torqure converter, and there is no contact between the engine & the wheels. But there should will be enough fluid to lubricate the trans. Its not like running out of engine oil.

Just get a few extra bottles and check it everytime you stop.

 

Yes, except for he has a manual.

 

Oh I see...

Then he doesn't have trans fluid, he has gear oil.

 

Part is coming from Dave B. Now for the replacement...

Is it a matter of taking the drive axle out and putting the new seal in or do I have to drop the trans?

 

You don't have to drop the trans. But I would drain the gear oil or else when you remove the axle it will spill out.

 

Somewhat reassuring...now to order more GL4 Amsoil...what are you doing next weekend? j/p

 

im auto, one night i drove home with a big gash in my tranny pan from bottoming out.. i barely made it home, the tranny was empty, lucky enough i didnt burn anything up

i had hit my car hard in an accident like that, i doubt you did any internal damage in the tranny, since the cv joint is 2 parts, and would mostly break before anything inside the tranny, unless you hit the tranny dead on in the middle bottom of it.. if it shifts fine then its a seal

 

When I did my clutch, I reused my gear oil. Thats an option.

 

I will have my head barried in books studying for finals