Transfer Leak/Rebuild Questions

[DsmRacing]

My transfer case is leaking and seems to be coming from the side that bolts up to the tranny, but not completely sure. I have ordered all the seals listed for the xfer case. I'm pretty sure the recall has already been done on the car, but when I get back next week, I will call the dealership and find out for sure.
What are the most common areas that leak over time? I'm at 104K miles now.

I don't have any of my manuals with me, is it difficuilt to rebuild a transfer case (install all new seals)? Or should I start looking for a used one?

Thanks,

Chad
97 GSX
"leaking again"

[derekderek]

My transfer case is leaking and seems to be coming from the side that bolts up to the tranny, but not completely sure. I have ordered all the seals listed for the xfer case. I'm pretty sure the recall has already been done on the car, but when I get back next week, I will call the dealership and find out for sure.
What are the most common areas that leak over time? I'm at 104K miles now.

I don't have any of my manuals with me, is it difficuilt to rebuild a transfer case (install all new seals)? Or should I start looking for a used one?

Thanks,

Chad
97 GSX
"leaking again"
If its leaking from the side that bolts to the tranny than I would say check the outputshaft seal on the tranny to see if thats leaking. I have seen alot that leak from there. As for the transfer case I do not know how hard it is to rebuild them.

[DsmRacing]

I know for sure it is the transfer case because I have synchromesh in the tranny and redline in the xfer case, and all the fluid that leaked out is red.

[Mirage]

Normally it should only be because of a bad input seal. These transfer cases are really stout in a sense that they don't shift at all creating leaks. If you cracked the case, that's another story, but you should be good only with seal replacesments on both ends.

There are only two other places that they *could* leak. One being at that small front top cover (although I've never seen one leak from there) and the fluid is being pushed out the top vent.

Marcus

[Steezy303]

I'm pretty sure the recall has already been done on the car, but when I get back next week, I will call the dealership and find out for sure.

Isn't the recall a lifetime warranty thing?

[Mirage]

Yes. As long as the t-case is leaking from where the recall covers, it is *supposed* to be covered. 99% of dealerships want to weasel out of it because it was either "checked" or "performed".

The dealerships just don't understand that it's their ass that gets fried if it locks up on the customer after being refused service.

Safety recalls by the book are supposed to be for the life that the car is on the road. Regardless of mileage or age.

Marcus

[v413nc3]

It's a major defect in the piece that causes danger to life and limb. It is "supposed" to be a lifetime recall but like Marcus said, stealerships will bitch piss and moan about doing it. I believe it's a cheap part buy to just do it yourself.

[Mirage]

It's getting to be a problem though. By what I was told by Kevin and Ken at Mile High Mitsu, they've discontinued making the repair kit.

High Horsepower guys, get the DSS t-case seup or don't twist the drive cups ( :rolleyes: looks in mirror). They're supposed to be getting really hard to find now.


It is approx $36 for the kit after discount. Includes the yoke, new u-joint and a selection of retaining clips. Would be wise to replace the seal while you're in there.

Marcus

[birelshifterkart]

Just out of curiousity....what happens when one of these things goes out?

[Mirage]

It's not so much of what goes out. It's just an unfortunate chain of events.

This recall is to remedy a leaky plug that's inside the yoke itself. The bad plug will leak the transfer case fluid slinging it out over the undercarriage and therefore allowing the case to run dry.

Once the t-case goes dry enough, it'll cause excessive wear internally and start to create problems. They will seize. It's not a matter of if, but when.

When the transfer case seizes, it will lock up all four tires. People have gotten lucky in the way that they seize at low speeds and are generally more of a nuisance than a safety hazard. People have died though because of this issue. When this happens at highway speeds, it's almost casastrophic because you have no control over direction of the skid and people generally can't stop fast enough to avoid the car.

You can live with a leaky output yoke. You just need to stay on top of it so the transfer case never goes dry. As long as you have plenty of fluid in there, lockups won't be a threat unless you pretzellize it.


Marcus

[NJpearl94]

I had one seize early on in my dsm career. Sounded like a shotgun went off directly under my seat and then I came to a four-wheeled screeching halt from 30mph. Scariest part was that I was wondering what was going on when my car would studder at 80mph on the highway not more then 5 minutes before.

I just did a recall on a friends car, it was very easy and like marcus said cost $36 at mile high mitsu.

It would be leaking from the driveshaft end of the t-case if it called for a rebuild though as the rebuild replaces the yoke on the driveshaft and doesnt change the t-case at all.

Nick

[Steezy303]

When the transfer case seizes, it will lock up all four tires. People have gotten lucky in the way that they seize at low speeds and are generally more of a nuisance than a safety hazard. People have died though because of this issue. When this happens at highway speeds, it's almost casastrophic because you have no control over direction of the skid and people generally can't stop fast enough to avoid the car.

Marcus
Happened to me once. Was on wads and Mississippi, heard a noise under the car and locked up at about 40mph. Luckily, no one was behind me at the moment, and I slid into the turn lane.

How do you get the discount at Mile High?

[v413nc3]

Yeah, the tcase lockup will make you wet yourself. I had one go right as I was exiting a highway, luckilly I was only doing about 20mph and already slowing down.

The discount is for all RMDSM full members. The name list is provided to Mile High Mitsubishi bi monthly I believe, but Dave can correct me if that's wrong. To get it, your profile must have your first and last name, your location (the springs is not a fucking location) and basically be filled out with no bull shit in it. If you meet all this just go to the parts counter and tell them you're So and So from RMDSM, have them check the parts for you and ask what the price is with your discount. They should verify you're a member and give you I believe 20 or 25% off.

[DlandryTSI]

In order to get the discount you must have Premium membership status and a complete profile on RMDSM. Lists are sent out monthly if there are new users that qualify. I'll be running a new list at the end of the week since we are now in 2007.

--Dave