Shifter shaft seal or shifter linkage seal removal problems

[Threeshifter]

Seriously , how do you really get the shifter shaft seal out of the transmission?

I have the driveshaft out and all of the shifter linkage removed. I used the flat headed screwdriver method as listed in Bentley. I bent the crap out of one flat headed screwdriver, broke another flat screwdriver, and bent a couple of hooks. The seal is totally destroyed and it is still stuck in there like Excalibur.

I do not see it coming out the way it is.

I see 3 options:

1.[TAB]Drive the new seal in on top of the old seal. The pictures in Bentley of the transmission make me think that the shifter shaft extends quite a distance between the rear seal and any workings in the trans. The rear transmission case looks to me like there is a long bore thru where the seal sits. And it looks like there is a pin that would keep an aloof seal isolated from any moving parts. So if I drive a new seal in on top of the old one, will it be trouble?

2.[TAB]Pull the rear transmission case off and drive the seal out from the other side. I think that this requires a special puller and I am not sure how many gears and bits will spill out. It also looks like something that would require removal of the trans.

3.[TAB]Create a reservoir that could be used to readily re-fill the transmission lube as it spills out onto the road.

I have ruled out traveling back in time and not f$@#ing with it to begin with.

[chrism]

for futer refrence theres enuf room in there for 2 seals, so next time just tap the existing seal in further, and pop a new one in.

not knowing how mangled the seal in there is now its hard to say, but i'd try to get it out. if you havent already, unbolt the tranny mount from the car, and let the motor/tranny hang down further to give yourself more room to work.

GOOD LUCK!!

[DGM Calgary]

Chrism has the right idea. Drop the back ot the tranny, take a breath and find a small sturdy hook (or two). I wouldn't let it stay in there. I don't know why it's such a bitch, but it WILL come out.

I can' t count how many times I've considered the time machine option. Too goddamned funny.

[Jon in Richmond]

I just did this. What a PITA!!!!! I went out and bought a nice pic set from NAPA. The curved pick got bent straight! I could not get it out. I was about ready to give up. So, I hammered the new one in on top of the old using an appropriate sized socket. It went in fine. Now the old one is out of site and out of mind. I haven't herd any grinding noises from the tranny so I guess it is o.k. The other option that I learned about after the fact is to place a flat head screw driver on on edge of the old seal and hammer it into the shaft tunnel so it becomes cockeyed, now you should be able to grab it and pull it out.

HTH, let us know what method you used.

Jon

[Threeshifter]

OK so the truth is that I had already tapped the new seal in on top of the old one. I had my fingers crossed that someone out there would confirm that it would not be a problem. I did not want to admit it right off but it looks like there are a few transmissions out there with at least 2 shifter shaft seals running in tandem.

I also just wanted to frame the post so that it could be searched pretty easily when the next gumption exhausted fellow comes to find himself in the same situation.

The car has not been driven but the shifter is in and it feels like it goes into all gears properly sowatch for puddles.

[fastpat]

[QUOTE="Threeshifter"]Seriously , how do you really get the shifter shaft seal out of the transmission?

I have the driveshaft out and all of the shifter linkage removed. I used the flat headed screwdriver method as listed in Bentley. I bent the crap out of one flat headed screwdriver, broke another flat screwdriver, and bent a couple of hooks. The seal is totally destroyed and it is still stuck in there like Excalibur.

I do not see it coming out the way it is.

I see 3 options:

1.[TAB]Drive the new seal in on top of the old seal. The pictures in Bentley of the transmission make me think that the shifter shaft extends quite a distance between the rear seal and any workings in the trans. The rear transmission case looks to me like there is a long bore thru where the seal sits. And it looks like there is a pin that would keep an aloof seal isolated from any moving parts. So if I drive a new seal in on top of the old one, will it be trouble?

2.[TAB]Pull the rear transmission case off and drive the seal out from the other side. I think that this requires a special puller and I am not sure how many gears and bits will spill out. It also looks like something that would require removal of the trans.

3.[TAB]Create a reservoir that could be used to readily re-fill the transmission lube as it spills out onto the road.

I have ruled out traveling back in time and not f$@#ing with it to begin with.[/QUOTE]

I drove a small screwdriver into the old seal and pried it out, yes it was tough. Took quite a few tries. In fact, I think I ended up using two small screwdrivers on opposite sides. I may have used a small hammer to drive the screwdriver into the metal part of the seal.

The real issue is to not ding the soft aluminum tanny housing, the shift shaft is very hard and difficult to harm with a cheap screwdriver. But, when you select a socket to drive on the new seal, be sure to choose one that is adequate size to not get stuck on the shift shaft, that WILL scratch the rod and require several hours of polishing with crocus cloth to smooth out the shaft.

Don't ask me how I know this.

[fastpat]

OK so the truth is that I had already tapped the new seal in on top of the old one. I had my fingers crossed that someone out there would confirm that it would not be a problem. I did not want to admit it right off but it looks like there are a few transmissions out there with at least 2 shifter shaft seals running in tandem.

I also just wanted to frame the post so that it could be searched pretty easily when the next gumption exhausted fellow comes to find himself in the same situation.

The car has not been driven but the shifter is in and it feels like it goes into all gears properly sowatch for puddles.

posted by Mark W.
I have a special screwdriver, flat blade that I ground a hook into just for this job. Regular picks are too weak, but the screwdriver works well. Even then it doesn't really want to come out, so I use a bar or something to lever on it and against the pin on the output shaft to pop it out.

I've heard of people just hammering another one in on top of the first, but what happens if you have to do it again?

Exactly right, mark, not to mention that the two seals together blocks the lube from reaching the shaft properly.

[Velocewest]

I have a tool I bought at Sears years ago that has a hooked end, it looks like a renegade dental pick. It works perfect for pulling small seals out of tight places. I used it to pull the shifter seal when I had the trans out a couple weekends ago. I replaced that and the input shaft seal, and now there's not a drip of MTL anywhere to be seen. I think I'm going back to dino oil for summer, Getrags are just damn noisy.

[fastpat]

[QUOTE="Velocewest"]I have a tool I bought at Sears years ago that has a hooked end, it looks like a renegade dental pick. It works perfect for pulling small seals out of tight places. I used it to pull the shifter seal when I had the trans out a couple weekends ago. I replaced that and the input shaft seal, and now there's not a drip of MTL anywhere to be seen. I think I'm going back to dino oil for summer, Getrags are just damn noisy.[/QUOTE]

I think Carl Nelson, owner of La Jolla Independent BMW, mixes Redline MTL with 75/90 Redline 50/50 because it's quieter.

[Threeshifter]

From my recent experience I would suggest one consider the need for replacing this seal if the tans is still in the car and one is under a time constraint. I could have not messed with it and it would have been fine for a least a while and I would be driving around enjoying a rebuilt driveshaft and shifter this weekend.

I wanted to replace it as PM and to do the best job possible, but I ended up spending 2 hours with this darned seal alone. As a result I was not able to get the driveshaft installed prior to being kicked out of the space I was renting because of closing time. I rent a lift at a shop in the area.

If the trans is out of the car the I would definitely replace all 3 seals regardless. Considering the time I spent and the not-failed condition it was in, in hindsight I would rather have let it be.

If one is not under the same time constraint as I was, then go for it. However note that it might not be as easy as it seems per the Bentley.