a4ld leak from front seal

[wolffpax]

What would cause a intermittent leak from the trans front seal area? One time it wil leak about 1.5 quarts of atf then for a long while there will be nothing. Seems to happen only when it's very hot outside.
Did this happen to anyone ? What was the problem and correction?
Thanks!

 

[wolffpax]

what should I replace?

Now that I have searched through the posts on this site and narrowed the leak in the trans to the front trans seal. What should I replace? just the front seal? Or should I replace the pump,seal,torque converter,and flywheel to crank spacer all as one repair?
I think I should lean to the replacement of all the parts. what do you guys think?
This had done this before but I had replaced the trans from another truck and thought I had gotten rid of this.
Should I get an aftermarket trans cooler to keep it a little more cooler?
Any input would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[410Fortune]

The bushing that the torque converter hub rides in can cause this.......

This happens when the torque converter has whats called "excessive runout" basicallt the hub on the T converter is not aligned withing tolerence, the A4LD has extremely tight running clearances here, wer're talking ten thousands of an inch.

if the bellhousing, tranny, flywheel, t converter, anything get loose or move at all it can cause the T converter to shift slightly and ATF leak is common.

So all that stuff will have to be replaced, the parts are cheap, except for the converter, its la labor that kills you.

If you replace just the seal, thats fine but MAKE sure to at the very LEAST have your converter checked for excessive runout......(I had to buy a new HD converter)

 

[njsjfonline]

410Fortune: very good write up.
But the seals some times just goes bad.
On my rebuilded trans I got about 70K before the seel went bad, and trashed the converter neck.
I had to change the seal and the converter.
Converters are not the pricey.
I got the converter for 137.00 ( I was Selling them)
And a seal for say 10.00

 

[wolffpax]

Thank you very much guys! I wouldn't have even thought of runout It's so obvious but yet I didn't even consider it. Thank you very much!
Should I replace the flywheel as well? Any other parts you think needs to be replaced while I have this out?
Hey 410--I recall reading one of your older posts stating that you had your A4LD rebuilt using H/D parts covering all the ford TSBs. Do you know of what parts were replaced that were H/D? I have read that the O/D was very bad in these trannies. What's your opinion?
In the meantime, I have to drive this bruised pony back and forth to work and home and I am extremely paranoid of putting it in O/D.
Do you think this problem occured from my driving habits? Before reading about the weak A4ld O/D unit, I had driven in D untill 50 MPH then switched it to O/D until speed went below 50 MPH and switched back to D.
I never drove the truck in O/D up hills or back roads.
Am I doing something wrong by shifting it back and forth or is this the way it is designed?
As of now I am driving at 48 MPH in D on the highway cause I don't want to put in O/D But yet I don't want to heat things up too much.
Thanks again for all the replies!!