Driveaxle leak, I think 1.9TDi 5 speed 1999

[Noobbeetle]

Ok, I posted a thread about my binding tranny. Turns out all the fluid had leaked out. I put two qts of Royal Purple 75w90 in a few days ago and the problem was solved....almost. I see oil on my drive where it parks at night. So I cleaned off the underside when I filled it, in case it was leaking. It recently had a new clutch installed. I thought maybe they neglected to refill it. no, it's leaking. It only leaks while driving, and drips the splatter when parked. The spray seems to be all under the driver's side, including up the backside of the tranny and over the drive axle. So, I think the leak is coming from the point where the axle meets the tranny, driver's side. Is this common? Would the clutch change be related to this at all? If it is leaking from there, what will it take to fix? There is a small tear in the rubber boot on the tranny end.

[Noobbeetle]

Drive Axle Output Shaft Seal (A3)(B4)(A4) - 084409189B - IDParts.com ?

[Smileybug]

We actually just had the same situation on our Mk1 Jetta. Leaking trans. The axle flange seal was a bit messed up, and our axle flanges were also worn themselves.

[Noobbeetle]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

We actually just had the same situation on our Mk1 Jetta. Leaking trans. The axle flange seal was a bit messed up, and our axle flanges were also worn themselves.

That sounds like this could be more than a seal, and I need to get familiar with this piece of equipment. Before I tear into it, are there any specialty tools I will suddenly discover that I need?

[Smileybug]

Well our Jetta had A LOT of miles on it. (odo was stopped when we got it and it had 180k on it...we're thinking it was over 200,000 easy). Messed up flanges I don't think are hugely common. But a bad flange seal would be what I would look into for sure. But checking the flanges themselves wouldn't be a bad idea just to check for wear. If they are worn, you're going to get a leak again.

[jason m]

Originally Posted by Noobbeetle

Ok, I posted a thread about my binding tranny. Turns out all the fluid had leaked out. I put two qts of Royal Purple 75w90 in a few days ago and the problem was solved....almost. I see oil on my drive where it parks at night. So I cleaned off the underside when I filled it, in case it was leaking. It recently had a new clutch installed. I thought maybe they neglected to refill it. no, it's leaking. It only leaks while driving, and drips the splatter when parked. The spray seems to be all under the driver's side, including up the backside of the tranny and over the drive axle. So, I think the leak is coming from the point where the axle meets the tranny, driver's side. Is this common? Would the clutch change be related to this at all? If it is leaking from there, what will it take to fix? There is a small tear in the rubber boot on the tranny end.

Take it back to whoever did the clutch. they had to remove the axle to remove the transmission to get to clutch. A competent mechanic would have sold you new axle seals at the same time as the clutch.

[Noobbeetle]

Originally Posted by jason m

Take it back to whoever did the clutch. they had to remove the axle to remove the transmission to get to clutch. A competent mechanic would have sold you new axle seals at the same time as the clutch.

I wish. I am in Austin and the work was done 200mi away in Houston. I will have this done at a shop. I just pulled the wheel, rotor and caliper. I saw that hub nut with the star pattern. I looked it up on my manual....the tool....then looked on the net. $232. So now 2 new qts of Redline are in the tranny, the rotor, caliper and wheel are on, and the calls have been made to local shops for quotes. It looked like several tools would be needed to do this. Bah-humbug.

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by Noobbeetle

I wish. I am in Austin and the work was done 200mi away in Houston. I will have this done at a shop. I just pulled the wheel, rotor and caliper. I saw that hub nut with the star pattern. I looked it up on my manual....the tool....then looked on the net. $232. So now 2 new qts of Redline are in the tranny, the rotor, caliper and wheel are on, and the calls have been made to local shops for quotes. It looked like several tools would be needed to do this. Bah-humbug.

Take it to Robby, he's the only person you should have working on your car in Austin. www.runonbeer.com

Your axle flange seal in the transmission is probably leaking, sounds like you probably have a torn CV boot as well. They are two separate issues. The torn boot has nothing to do with the trans fluid.

The axle nut you speak of requires nothing more than a 12 pt socket, I'm not sure what you are looking at that is over $200. I cant remember the size off the top of my head, somewhere north of 30mm. Should only cost 10 bucks. Bottom line though is that i would have Robby do it, he's a good guy and he knows his stuff.

Sent from my DROID2

[Noobbeetle]

Thanks DZLBUG. I wish I had seen VR6 axle swap 'How To' - TDIClub Forums before I tried this the first time. Now that I can see the step by step process I think this weekend I will try this again. I was going by the Bentley DVDROM Manual, which I find confusing. This walk through I linked makes it look much easier.

[Noobbeetle]

I got my left side axle dropped yesterday. The hardest part, an 8mm triple square. I spent hours trying to locate a local source so I could pull the axle off the flange. AUTOZONE...12point internal wrench set item number 25015 pictured here


The 8mm fits here


and to use my breaker bar w 30mm 12 point socket after dropping the innner end, I used a flat head screw driver in the edge of the rotor against the caliper.


and I remove drain and fill plugs with a 10mm bolt head, which is 17mm, and either a pipe wrench or visegrip.



I got the wrong size seal. So now on Sunday I have to find the correct one. I think getting the name right is the problem. Is this a flange seal, an axle seal, a differential seal or an output seal? Or are these names used interchangeably?