99 GT axel seal leak

tp2372 · #1 06-25-2010, 07:56 PM

I have a 99 Grand Prix GT CP 69K I replaced the LF (driver side) axel. Axel seal now leaks bad. I used air gun on spindel nut real tight..
I took it apart axel came right out not hooked on snap ring. Replaced seal it looked fine with new one.. Made sure axel was seated right, and tightened with air gun again. First time took a month to leak this time 5 days. Have since found out torque setting by GM is 159.. Could the torque setting be causing my problem by taking all slack and give away. Putting tension at the snap ring and first good bump pops it loose enough to slide out enough to let the seal leak? Or could it be a defective axel?

BNaylor · #2 06-26-2010, 08:30 AM

Are you referring to the drive shaft seal at the transaxle or hub? On torque is this the axle nut?

tp2372 · #3 06-26-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BNaylor

Are you referring to the drive shaft seal at the transaxle or hub? On torque is this the axle nut?

It is the seal at the transaxel that is leaking.. And it is the axle nut..
I talked to my cousin today it was his air gun and he said it only goes to 110-115 lbs torque on his compressor which I used... He checked it several times before.. I also checked the box the axle came in it is the correct axle and it called for 118 lbs of torque..
At this point I'm thinking it's the axle that's defective.. But I really would like someones opinion that knows more about this than me, before I tear it apart for the third time..

tblake · #4 06-26-2010, 09:36 PM

If you used his air gun to install the axel nut you could have damaged the wheel bearing. You should only use a ratchet and a torque wrench when removing and installing axel nuts.

Are you sure you didn't damage the axel seal when you pried it out of the trans?

You could replace the seal and axel both one more time, but if it leaks again, you may have damage a bearing on the final drive section of the trans.

troy1 · #5 06-27-2010, 08:37 PM

Where did you get your aftermarket axle? Where are you getting the seals? Over/under torquing the axle nut will have no effect on the seal leaking. I've seen plenty of those cheap aftermarket axle causing leaks try a different brand and get a GM axle seal.

tp2372 · #6 06-28-2010, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by troy1

Where did you get your aftermarket axle? Where are you getting the seals? Over/under torquing the axle nut will have no effect on the seal leaking. I've seen plenty of those cheap aftermarket axle causing leaks try a different brand and get a GM axle seal.

I guess I'm just not making it clear.. The axel keeps popping off of the snap ring. When I take it apart the axel just falls out no prying needed.. The seal then leaks because the axel has slid out far enough for it to leak around the seal.. There seems to be nothing wrong with the seal that I can see.. But I did change the seal anyway and put the axel back in making sure it was snapped in right.. Now I didn't take it apart yet but I would bet the same thing has happened.. And when I say leak I mean it pushes out enough trans fluid that if I drove ten miles the trany would be junk becuse of pumping out all of the fluid..

I bought the axel from Auto Zone.. I think it is defective.. I plan to take it back and get another one or my money and try Advance...

KX2000GTP · #7 12-27-2012, 01:52 PM

Did you ever get this problem resolved? I'm having a very similar issue...

Tech II · #8 12-28-2012, 10:36 AM

If you have a leak at the axle seal, was any work recently done?

If no, then the seal is leaking and just needs replacement.....have never seen grooving in axle shafts that could cause a seal to leak......have only seen that happen on harmonic balancer shafts, that can cause a new front cover seal to leak....

It appears, the previous problem was caused by an axle sharft that had not only rotational movement, but also in and out movement due to a worn retaining clip....

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