2001 Dodge Caravan Leaking ATF after replacing drive axles

Tiny
ICKSTER
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 DODGE CARAVAN
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 160,000 MILES
I just finished replacing both drive axles on my Grand Caravan (3.3 Flex) and am now losing transmission fluid at a pretty good rate from around both axles.

When I was removing the original axles, I pried them out without inserting a pry bar into the transmission opening, and was careful to support the whole axle as I removed it from the transmission, making sure to not drag the splines over the seals.

I inserted the new axles after putting a bead of multi-purpose grease around the sealing surface. I made sure the snap rings engaged, and then put everything back together and topped it off with ATF+4.

The next day I noticed some fluid under the car and kept an eye on it, hoping that I'd just overfilled the tranny (or some other innocuous thing that would just fix itself -- hope springs eternal) but after a short drive I parked and noted more leakage.

This morning the level was OK, but after driving about 20 miles, the level has dropped to the fill mark.

How should I go about troubleshooting and repairing this?

Thanks.
Monday, July 26th, 2010 AT 10:15 PM

2 Replies

Tiny
F4I_GUY
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,302 POSTS
You need to replace both axle seals. The axle must be removed again to replace these seals.

Goodluck.
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Monday, July 26th, 2010 AT 10:50 PM
Tiny
ICKSTER
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
That's kind of what I was afraid of. Any chance you can point me in the direction of instructions for replacing the seals? That's a new one to me and not covered in any of the books I have.

Thanks.
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Monday, July 26th, 2010 AT 10:59 PM

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