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Thread: Replaced front pump seal, now leaks worse.

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    83

    Default Replaced front pump seal, now leaks worse.

    Let me bring you up to speed.
    A few months ago my buddies and I replaced the flexplate on my xj. About 6 weeks later, I'm driving to a buddy's house and I hear a crazy racket and smoke coming out the back. Turns out several tranny mounting bolts came loose/out and the tranny was clanking all over the place. We retightened, replaced the missing bolts. A had a tiny leak and was fine leaving it as is. I was told it was most likely the transmission pump front seal. 10 later I had a replacement seal in my hand and a good buddy there to help me drop the tranny to swap it out.
    So when we dropped the tranny, the seal looked good. No obvious signs of damage or anything but replaced it anyway. While extracting the old seal, I ended up pulling a sleeve that was behind the pump seal that was on the shaft. We both said oops and proceeded to reinstall it. We were both unsure of exactly how it should have sat on the shaft but we felt good about our reinstall. We buttoned up the transmission and called it good.

    Day light comes the following day and I test out the transmission. Boom, it started pouring out tranny fluid after moving about 30 feet.

    I haven't messed with it yet.
    I'm wondering what the issue could be.
    I spoke with my buddy who helped me when I went to his out to return his tranny jack. I snapped pics of his spare transmission to show the seal and sleeve that came out.
    We did not think to replace the seal on the torque converter (found out that I should have replaced it too while researching a resolution).
    I think it's A) an issue with the "sleeve" that I ended up pulling out when I pulled the seal or B) torque converter seal but doubt it since the tranny was barely leaking anything before the front pump seal.

    Any leads or follow up questions that you can think of that would help me figure this out?


    Pic of the spare tranny showing a bad seal.


    Pic of the face of the seal that ended up coming out when I pulled the seal.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    83

    Default Re: Replaced front pump seal, now leaks worse.

    Ok I'm back in town. Hopefully I can get some feedback.
    I've done research and read everyone saying I should replace both the seal and bushing. I'll be doing this tomorrow.
    Anyone done this themselves before?
    Are they both a simple "pull out and replace "?

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2009
    Location
    Katy, Texas
    Posts
    27,332

    Default Re: Replaced front pump seal, now leaks worse.

    I'm completely clueless on this one, but interesting in knowing the answer!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Chico, CA
    Posts
    29,847

    Default Re: Replaced front pump seal, now leaks worse.

    Bushings tend to be difficult without proper drivers. Seal, not so bad. But check the seal surfaces for wear. A grove will leak and make sure the seal is in nice and straight. No deformations from a hammer etc.
    230 hp 4.3L Chevy
    Built 4L60E with manual lockout
    Atlas 4 speed
    Griffin radiator
    On board air
    Warn 9.5ti on custom bumper
    7.5" RE front and bastard pack rear on custom long arms
    30 gal gas tank
    lockers
    And a bunch of other stuff

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    83

    Default Re: Replaced front pump seal, now leaks worse.

    Ok, got down to the nitty gritty.
    Tore down the tranny again. Pulled the seal and the bushing.
    Turns out I spun the bushing. The pump is worn out and cannot be used again. Luckily the stem that protrudes from the torque converter wasn't damaged so it can be reused.
    My buddy and I even took the entire tranny and torque converter to a tranny shop where the the owner looked over everything and concurred with my findings.
    So now I need a new tranny pump.
    FYI, since I couldn't find any info, the bushing should fit snug, requiring pressure to install. Mine just slid in with no resistance and the old bushing had wear marks showing it had spun and no longer had a good mating surface with the tranny pump.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Chico, CA
    Posts
    29,847

    Default Re: Replaced front pump seal, now leaks worse.

    Sounds like you are on the right track then. Got the parts lined up?
    230 hp 4.3L Chevy
    Built 4L60E with manual lockout
    Atlas 4 speed
    Griffin radiator
    On board air
    Warn 9.5ti on custom bumper
    7.5" RE front and bastard pack rear on custom long arms
    30 gal gas tank
    lockers
    And a bunch of other stuff

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2013
    Location
    San Antonio, TX
    Posts
    83

    Default Re: Replaced front pump seal, now leaks worse.

    I've got a spare tranny I'm gonna rob the pump from. Times have been tough in our household with the drop in oil. The XJ is on the bottom of the "importance totem pole" so spending 200 for a brand new one isn't gonna fly right now.
    It's not an emergency to justify pulling from the emergency fund.


    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk

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