Roka

Finally got around to replacing the seal between the transaxel and the CV joints.
I'm guessing I'm the first one to replace those in 33 years as trying to pry the seal out, it basically disintegrated in situ with the outer lip of the old seal still in the transaxel.
Does anybody have a good method or idea of how to get that fossilized rubber out without marring the surface?

951and944S

Just tap one spot in further with a drift/punch, seal will ****/pivot and offer you the opposite side of the seal to grab and pullout.

There's not much compression force holding them in there.

You have to be pretty gentle when driving in new one, the fit is not really tight.

KevinGross

Good approach. I wrestle with these on the bench, so I have different options. Sometimes an internal puller will make short work of it, sometimes a quick push in the hydraulic press. What you need to do is break the bond between the rubber of the seal and the transmission metal.

When you install a new one, smear its outer surface with a little of the same grease you use to pack the lip. Will make installation easier and the next service easier as well.

mahoney944

I just carefully pried it out with a big flat screw driver. They aren't too tight. Then I made this tool to put the new one in evenly and to a set depth. Worked great. Just lined It up and lightly tapped it in with a rubber mallet.

951and944S

Nice tool.

Generally, I push them in with my thumbs and adjust to factory depth using a digital depth gauge.

The grease inside the lip (on any seal) is to keep the garter spring from becoming displaced when driving a seal in,not necessary on these due to the minimal force it takes to press it in.