t-56 leaking fluid, need advice.

[Wtfan18]

hey all, as some of you know my t-56 has been giving me issues here the past couple weeks. its leaking trans fluid out the rear seal and im not sure why. i just put a new seal in last weekend and drove the truck for a day about 150 miles with no leaks. i go to drive it yesterday and i drive 10 miles to walmart and its leaking again... when it leaks it just barely leaks out the bottom of the rubber seal that goes around the drive shaft yoke. and it drips down onto my Y pipe and burns and smells terrible. i took a few pics to give a better visual of what it looks like under there. is there something i could have busted internally or something that would cause this? can i put some sort of grease inside the yoke and or around it to get it to stop? i really dont get what the heck would cause this issue. thanks guys.

[Wtfan18]

i was doing a little reading and it almost sounds like the tailshaft bushing? does this sound right to anyone?

[BigRedChvy406]

Yea, sounds about right, the 4L60Es will do that if the bushing is bad.

[GasGuzzler]

Remember, this trans doesn't have one. At least the service information and the parts catalog doesn't show one. Forget the boot on the seal, it's only for dust and dirt. The real fluid seal is inside flush with the back of the trans. Is the yoke worn in that area? Is the vent blocked creating excess internal pressure?

[Wtfan18]

Remember, this trans doesn't have one. At least the service information and the parts catalog doesn't show one. Forget the boot on the seal, it's only for dust and dirt. The real fluid seal is inside flush with the back of the trans. Is the yoke worn in that area? Is the vent blocked creating excess internal pressure?

Yeah i did a little reading yesterday on ls1tech and it seems to be an issue a lot have had. the tailshaft bushing or as it is called gets worn and fluid leaks between the drive shaft yoke and the bushing. i took the rear seal off and noticed the piece they are talking about. it is a hollow metal cylinder that is inside the tail shaft which the drive shaft yoke sits in and there are 2 grooves that allow a small amount of trans fluid for lubrication. well mine is worn and there is to much play between it and the yoke so it leaks. BUT what ive heard is they the new replacements are made so tight that you have to have them machined or honed to get the yoke in and its supposed to be so tight you have to put the drive shaft in with a rubber hammer... i mean the specs were saying thousanths of an inch. so i took the rear 1/3 off my t-56 and ordered the part yesterday "Rockland Standard Gear No Walk Tailshaft Bushing:" 35$ part. but i guess most say to have them professionally installed. do you think its a bad idea for me to try and do it?

[GasGuzzler]

You'll need an installer to do it properly.

Service procedure doesn't show how to replace it or what special tools are needed.

I looked up the seal for you and the GM parts computer didn't show a bushing there either. Maybe GM only services it at part of the entire extension housing.

This is why I keep saying there's not a bushing there. If there is, I cannot find any information on it.

[Wtfan18]

You'll need an installer to do it properly.

Service procedure doesn't show how to replace it or what special tools are needed.

I looked up the seal for you and the GM parts computer didn't show a bushing there either. Maybe GM only services it at part of the entire extension housing.

This is why I keep saying there's not a bushing there. If there is, I cannot find any information on it.

ill have to go to a tranny shop and see who can do it.

im pretty sure i read over on ls1tech you have to buy a whole unit from gm you cant just get the bushing. i appreciate you looking, thats why i got the one i did people said it was a good brand and worked great. still expensive if you ask me but w/e i just want it fixed. do you think any tranny shop would be able to remove and install the new one or would i have better luck trying a GM dealership or something?

[GasGuzzler]

Since there is no GM procedure, part, or special tool for an installer I'd say try somewhere else. Not sure where to get the part.

[Wtfan18]

Since there is no GM procedure, part, or special tool for an installer I'd say try somewhere else. Not sure where to get the part.

haha okay ill check out the local tranny shops and pray one of them can install it for me. im hoping its a quick job because i really want to go racing friday night if the rain holds off. i guess if none of them can ill be doing it myself.

[BigRedChvy406]

Sucks that you're not closer down here, there's a guy I know that does T56's for a reasonable cost.