Transmission Leak

Post by **mtd240** » 18 Feb 2013, 18:53

Sorry if this has been covered - all of this FWD stuff is still new to me!

This is my fiance's 1996 850, automatic trans. Does this look like a "familiar leak" to anyone? I don't want to go hunting - it does "seem" to be the seal where that axle is going in. Apologies for my ignorance! All help is greatly appreciated.

Post by **rspi** » 18 Feb 2013, 19:04

That would be a point where it could leak. Have you seen any red fluid or any on the ground? At that minor amount, I may not worry about it. You could get a new seal, pull the shaft and change the seal.

Post by **cn90** » 18 Feb 2013, 19:16

Minor leak leave it alone. I'd fix it ONLY if there is ATF drips on the ground.

Check the CV Boots, if they show cracks, then pull the axle and replace the boots, use GKN-Lobro boots only.
At the same time, replace seal, use Volvo seal only.
Info in forum.

Post by **xHeart** » 18 Feb 2013, 19:19

It is passenger side. i replaced the seal on both ends during axle replacement.
Add rubber mallet, lubricate with AFT, and you are good to go.

: driveaxle seal - view facing transmission, and PVC coupling to aid the install; MVS_0471.jpg (425.24 KiB) Viewed 2145 times

Post by **mtd240** » 18 Feb 2013, 20:31

Thanks for the advice guys.

It is a minor leak, for sure - no drops on the ground. CV boots look alright. I guess I will wait for the leak to worsen, and perhaps a boot to start tearing, then replacing all of it at once.

Is replacing all of that a "huge" job?

Post by **cn90** » 18 Feb 2013, 20:40

Here is the DIY that I started a while back, look at the update thread from Oct 2011:
https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums ... hp?t=29716

PS: I don't blame you, I used to have a 1991 240 5sp years ago, much easier to maintain than this FWD thingy.
But if you can handle the 240 business, you can handle this FWD thingy.

Post by **mtd240** » 24 Feb 2013, 22:11

Thanks for the advice guys.

It seems there is a small puddle on the ground after driving for a bit - I am going to go ahead and replace the seal. The CV axle was recently replaced.

Is there anything else I should "do while I'm in there"?

I am going to crawl under the car tomorrow and check a few things before ordering the seal - my fiance did a little "scrape" on the edge of an asphalt road and now the car is making a slight squeak that follows road speed (not affected by bumps/road "texture"), so I am going to check a few of the suspension parts. Any hints on that would be nice too

Post by **xHeart** » 25 Feb 2013, 14:09

mtd240 wrote:Thanks for the advice guys.

It seems there is a small puddle on the ground after driving for a bit - I am going to go ahead and replace the seal. The CV axle was recently replaced.

Is there anything else I should "do while I'm in there"?

I am going to crawl under the car tomorrow and check a few things before ordering the seal - my fiance did a little "scrape" on the edge of an asphalt road and now the car is making a slight squeak that follows road speed (not affected by bumps/road "texture"), so I am going to check a few of the suspension parts. Any hints on that would be nice too :)

Seal puller from HFT www.harborfreight.com/seal-puller-35556.html.

Set the seal by hand first, then tap it in gently and evenly.
Take your time, cn90 says... keep the dust away, keep it covered when away.

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Feb 2013, 17:18

Not sure what you mean by squeak, but a bent plate rubbing on the brake disc is the first thing that comes to mind.

Post by **mtd240** » 25 Feb 2013, 18:20

Thanks for the help guys - will order the seal later tonight. I don't want to start a new thread, so I will just post this stuff here. I got under the car today and snapped a few pictures of the 150k mile suspension/steering. Maybe you could give me some tips on this stuff..

First off, engine mounts. The one below the crank pulley looks decent, but the hydraulic mount under the exhaust has a crack around the entire circumference. Would you consider this to be "bad"? I have never dealt with hydraulic mounts before (just the hockey pucks on the 240). The front hydraulic mount looks fine.

A few pictures of leaks - the first is the power steering rack on the driver's side. I can't find a source for the leak - but it doesn't go any higher than the rack it seems. Maybe it is just "spray" from the trans output seal leak?

Rear main seal seems to be leaking as well..hopefully replacing the PCV "stuff" will work that out..

And, is it common for a CV boot (uncracked, still pliable, in good shape) to start leaking like this?

Sway bar bushings. There isn't much play, but they both look beat as heck.

Took a pry bar to a few things...The control arm bushings have a good bit of play - very soft and starting to get squeezed out. Ball joints are solid, but the boots are cracking. No play in the inner tie rods or wheel bearings, and I replaced the outer tie rods a year ago (OEM). Driver's side CV axle was replaced last summer - passenger's side (pictured) is original it seems.

So...hit me with what you've got. I have searched for most of this stuff on the forum - but I am a visual learner so if it doesn't have pictures I am helpless. Alot of this might seem like common sense to a mechanic who has worked on FWD before - but I am still learning. Hopefully some of these pictures look familiar to you guys, so you can pinpoint the issues