New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

I may need to go through a little history, to get a good evaluation.
But the current problem I have, is the drive shaft transmission seal. for the yoke going into the transmission opening is leaking badly.
It is a new seal. I replaced the old one, when the drive shaft, which was vibrating, destroyed it. After some false attempts, I got the vibration to stop. Then I put on this new seal, which is correct for it, but it leaks out of where the yoke pole goes through the black rubber of the seal. What I noticed is the inside of the transmission hole, there has been some metal damage from the vibration, most likely. Another thing is I am wondering if the yoke shaft is far enough into the transmission hole, connected to the transmission gear, as it needs to be. I had a leaf spring bracket dog leg problem before. And I put new brackets on, but I couldn't put them in the exact holes they originally were in, I had to make holes about a half inch to an inch to the right or the rear of them. Because they put the holes right behind the gas tank, and other things, that made it impossible to get bolts and nuts behind them. It did fix the dog leg problem, but I noticed when I drove from 50mph to 60mph, the truck would vibrate. And I thought it was just because when I put on the new brackets, the rubber bushings between the bolts and leaf spring holder, are not available at any auto store. One auto store clerk told me I would probably need to fabricate something. But I see now, it was the drive shaft. Eventually the shaking got worse, until it would ruin the speedometer sensor, and any replacements I put in it. I do all my own repairs, can't afford just to leave it at a shop. It looks like I finally got the drive shaft aligned right. But I fear it has already done some damage. I have already done google searches, I was looking for people that really know what to do.
1997 Ford Ranger XLT. 2.3L engine. Standard cab. Rear wheel drive. Single drive shaft.

The seal I put in it was this one:
https://images.oreillyauto.com/parts...t2655view1.jpg

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

The metal damage in the trans tail housing is the driveshaft yolk bushing, with it bad the seal will leak, replace it and a new seal. As for redoing the spring hanger bolt holes, you might have ended up with a rear end that is out of line, and your truck will dog track.

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

Tail shaft bushing likely got worn, resulting in slop that has taken out the new seal.
You can drive in a new bushing w/o removing the old if you need to, as the old will just sit on the output shaft until ???.
It may be quicker/easier/cheaper to just get a used tailshaft, and install that, but you want to inspect the bushing and yoke fit before doing so.
tom

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

Thanks for the reply. Is there any pictures of a yoke bushing? I am having trouble finding it in auto parts.

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

Tell them you need the transmission tail shaft housing bushing, for what ever trans you have.

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

I found the bushing. I had it all along, and I didn't know what it was for, whether it was complete and how to put it on.
https://imgur.com/01tObcl

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

This is what it looks like where the Drive shaft yoke goes in and connects to the spline.

https://i.imgur.com/mRsQfed.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/bSnEXoi.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HdBKG0G.jpg

This is the bushing:
https://i.imgur.com/01tObcl.jpg

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

Time for a new tail housing.

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

Yeah, I just wanted to find out the name for it. Would a shaft repair sleeve help? Even temporarily?

I was looking at this one: Which says it fits my truck.

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/wc...6_pri_larg.jpg

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

I can't tell anything from the pictures. If the tailhousing area where the bushing resides is worn, the a new bushing will not fix the problem as it will not 'seat', and sit still to perform its function.
If the old bushing was still there, and still had metal of any sort all the way around, unless it started spinning in the tailhousing, a new bushing can be driven in and should work.
If the tailhousing is worn, a kit may work fine to support and hold a new bushing or have one as part of a kit. It may be that the tailhousing will have to be removed from the transmission and taken to a machine shop that can 'turn' the inner diameter to accept a repair kit. It may be that a repair kit can handle .xx amount of wear without re-machining. As I said earlier, a used tailhousing may be quicker and cheaper.
tom

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

Yes, it is definitely less expensive. The tail-housing is only $20 to $30 to pick and pay a used one. Hopefully they have one.

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

They don't make the housing easy to remove. Some of the bolts seem impossible to remove, because they put them between small gaps of the steel framing.
https://i.imgur.com/kfL3M1Y.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/vOeEEU7.jpg

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

Apparently if I undue the bolts to the housing, there is nothing else to hold the rest of the transmission and everything before that, so I will have to put a jack under it. :vroam:

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

Yes be careful. I broke an engine mount that way LOL

Re: New drive shaft/transmission seal leaking bad.
 

Is the housing so badly worn you cannot just drive in the new bushing? You could use a length of PVC or CPVC pipe around the drive shaft to tickle the bushing back into the tailhousing. Customize the length so it will reach all the way. The bushing does not have to have perfect support all the way around as long as it keeps the yoke from wobbling, you should be ok.
tom