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Topic: tranny leak *Solved* (Read 1677 times) previous topic - next topic

tranny leak *Solved*

heres the issue i have a tranny leak and i can't find where it is. the tail shaft is dry and when you look at the pan and look up it is dry above the pan. and the gasket looks to be in decent shape. some of the pan bolts were loose and i did tighten them but it hasent helped. im out of options what could it be? also the drops liik to collect on the tranny cross member bolts right under the tail shaft. is it possibul the tail shaft seal is shot?

Re: tranny leak

Reply #1 –
either that or the tailshaft gasket has a minor leak but you'd probably see that.

some tailshaft seals have  a wheap hole.  Im not exactly sure where to position this hole but thinking like i do,, i positioned mine so the wheep hole was at the 8 o'clock position.  Its probably suppose to point down at the ground.

if you grab the drive shaft and lift up down as well as left to right and feel play (and your sure its not the u-joint slop) then you need a tailshaft bushing.  You dont wanna spin your tail shaft bushing by ignoring it for 275k miles like i did way back when.  If you do, a new bushing will not seat and you'll either have to shim the tailshaft or buy a bone yard one.

they cost about 2 or three bux.
again,, check the..............
tailshaft gasket (tailshaft mates to tranny)
tailshaft seal (fits on the end of tailshaft, rides on yoke)
tailshaft bushing (yoke rides on this up inside the tailshaft)

the stock bushings look like the pic below but your new one will have a grove cut in a spyral pattern.  Observe its design and position the bushing so fluid can return down into the tranny.  The fluid return path is milled into the tailshaft assembly or whats called the extention housing.  there are three slots you will see.  try to align your return fluid path of the new bushing on the bottom groove.

If you dont wanna replace the old one,, you can follow toms instructions,,,,, see this link and scroll down to the section on this issue.

http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?p=28018#post28018

Re: tranny leak

Reply #2 –
jcassity you have a picture for everything. 


May I mention the selector shaft seal?
One 88

Re: tranny leak

Reply #3 –
so you are saying it could be the tail shaft cuz i couldn't find any other possibul places it would leak from. and the loose bolts were in the frount of the tranny not the rear. also the lady i bought it from she said she hit a curb then the tranny started leaking after that. what possibly could that indicate?

Re: tranny leak

Reply #4 –
One of your cooler lines could have a rust pinhole in it which will spray oil anywhere but where its leaking from. Usually up along the side of the tranny they will rust, hitting the curb may have jarred them enough to crack.
1980 birds X 3, 1982 bird, 1984 XR7, 1988 TC

Re: tranny leak

Reply #5 –
well when i go up under it it looks like it is leaking near the tailshaft. but its dripping off of the crossmember so i can't really see where it is comming from but i know when im ideling or stoped in park sometimes it will smoke ndusly from under the car where the tranny would be.

Re: tranny leak *Solved*

Reply #6 –
got it fixed the pan bolts were loose all the way around.