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4 Wheel Drive/SUVs/rear transmission seal

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Expert: - 5/25/2004


Question
99 Wrangler leaking gear oil.  I know it's the transmission and not the transfer case.  How in depth is it to change the seal (is there a seal or is it silicone, etc)?

Answer
Ron,

The first thing I would suggest, is that you purchase a repair manual for your Jeep.  They can be purchased at most automotive parts stores for $20 or so.  This will give you step by step instructions on replacing the seals.  I'm not sure which transmission you have, but if it's stick shift, it will have an AX 15 with a six cylinder, or an AX 5 with a 4 cylinder, unless you have an automatic.  It is possible that the leak could be a front seal on the transfer case, as both trannys, and the transfer case should use automatic transmission fluid, and the leakage will look the same.  Both of these transmissions have a rear seal, and a front seal that can leak.  They are both relatively easy to replace, but you will need to pull the transfer case to get to the rear seal, and the transmission if it is the front seal.  It helps to have a seal puller, and a seal driver when replacing them.

  Carl

4 Wheel Drive/SUVs

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Carl Brandt

Expertise

Will discuss suspensions, lifts, lockers along with tire suggestions. Trail ratings and possible requirements needed for specific type of trails. Safety equipment and what you should carry with you. Certified off-road instructor. I am not a mechanic, and 4-Wheeling is a hobby, so if I can't answer a technical question it is due to my mechanical knowledge being related to vehicles that I have owned, or have worked on. I do not have manuals on all vehicles.

Experience

40 plus years of 4 wheeling in a variety of vehicles. At the present time, my major off-road rig is a 94 Jeep Wrangler with a spring over and a 1 1/2" suspension lift. This gives me a total lift of 7" or so. I have lockers front and rear. I have removed the track bars, and sway bar for maximum articulation. I am running a stock 2.5 ltr 4 cylinder with a Jacobs ignition along with a cold air high flow filter. It has 4.56:1 gears with a Dodge NV4500 transmission along with a 3.8:1 Atlas II transfer case. This gives me a final ratio of 105:1 in low gear/low range. Other vehicles I own, are a 96 Ford F-250 with a 6" lift, posi rear end, 36" Hummer tires, 5 speed with a fuel injected 460 ci engine, an 87 Samurai with an 8" lift, Ford 9" rear end with a spool, Chevy Dana 44 front end with an electric locker, 5.88 gears, 16% reduction in high range and a 6.5:1 low range with 35" Baja Claws, and a stock 2003 Grand Cherokee Overland. Trails I have run are the Rubicon (10 times), Dusey Ershim, Fordyce Creek trail, McGrew trail, several trails in Moab, Utah along with local monthly runs.

Organizations
Lost Coast 4x4's Cal 4-Wheel Corva UFWDA Blue Ribbon Coalition

Education/Credentials
Certified off-road instructor - Certificates in engineering/electronics

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