c clip...not clipping?

**MazdaMan069** · 6-5-03, 5:08

thought i had my car all fixed. i drive her every now and then.....then i noticed a slight leak of tranny fluid from around the axle. I had taken the c clip off before installing the axle for fear that i would have to remove the axle again some point in time. By doing this allowed the axle to slip out. Well, i put the clip back on, but it wont clip in there....i can still pull it out by hand. Whats goin on here? Im afraid to drive like that..what would you recomend i do? Thanx, help greatly appreciated.

el norm · 6-5-03, 14:38

hey bud, i'm guessing you are doing the front left axle? anyways what you need to do is either really shove it in there with alot of force untill that clip seats, or the way i did it, put a wooden block at the end of the axles (with the whole wheel/brake assembly off) and just give it a few good hits until it seat really well.

i had the same problem you did but i actually had the axle slip out far enoguh while i was driving to pour out about half or more of my tranny fluid. at first i thought the seal went so i replaced that then it happened again. was a pain in the ass but after i used a wooden block and hammer on it, i have not had a problem with it.

**magik8** · 6-5-03, 15:35

Did you change the oil seal on the transmission - where the driveshaft meets the transaxle? If not, that may be the cause of your leak. But having no clip on the end of the shaft won't help, either.

**MazdaMan069** · 6-5-03, 16:52

no, i didnt replace the oil seals yet......so maybe i should BEFORE getting it to clip. When i put the axle in and all, i drove it around and it didnt leak till just yesterday. i took my wheel off and everything in like 5 min lol, and noticed the axle had come loose.
Iam so used to my front end, i can picture all the fluid spots, dirty spots, everything....i dont know if that is a good thing or a bad thing lol

but, ill check into getting the seals first and ill try the board and hammer trick. Just need to find someone to hold the axle up for me.
el norm- yes, iam doing the front left.

Thanx for your help you guys! i REALLY appreciate it.
Ive also been getting wierd sounds from my tranny. Kind of like buzzing, which i heard is normal? thats just sometimes. Also, kind of squealing....quiet squealing. just when i hit the gas. i dunno whats up with it. It needs to last me till i can afford a rebuilt 5 spd with stage 3 cliutch

Would i have to go to the mazda dealer to get the seals?
Also, how would i get the axle out, after clipping it?
sorry so many questions..
Thanx again!

**imagoonmx6** · 6-5-03, 17:27

A bad oil seal can cause very odd leak patterns. It took me about a month to figure out what was leaking because it wouldn't leak all the time just a few drips maybe a large drip mark... then at school one day it just drained the tranny so i replaced the seal and it was ok. Also put the clip in, if you don't you will damage something. The clip keeps the shaft from walking inside the trans. You could blow the diff or damage the shaft due to the power moving the shaft from left to right rather than driving (rotating) the shaft.

~Chris

**MazdaMan069** · 6-5-03, 18:38

k, should i replace both seals? (on the tranny and on the axle)
Last question....Do i HAVE to purchase the seals from the mazda dealer? or can it be purchased at auto-zone?

el norm · 6-5-03, 21:49

you can buy the seals pretty much at any auto store, as far as getting help with the axle you really don't need it, just put anything over the end just so when you hit it with a hammer your not damaging the end. and don't worry about getting it out after u get the c-clip in, it's not that tough all you need to do is give it a few good tugs.

also i don't know what you mean by 2 seals, my car has a seal in the tranny and that is it, was hard to get out at first but all you need to do is just getting something to grab it from the inside and yank it out.

Quote:

Ive also been getting wierd sounds from my tranny. Kind of like buzzing, which i heard is normal? thats just sometimes. Also, kind of squealing....quiet squealing.

I had some funky noises comming from my tranny when my axle came out, don't drive it like this. most of the noise should go away once you get that axle in there properly. I also suggest just empting the rest of the fluid from that tranny and just giving it all fresh fluid while your at it. and keep an eye out for chunks of metal coming out of the drane plug.

90pgt · 6-6-03, 2:10

you should replace that clip every time you pull it out from what mazda says, i had the problem of my axle poping out after i replaced my tranny a $2.00 clip from mazda fixed that though, after dumping all the tranny fluid out twice

**MazdaMan069** · 6-6-03, 3:51

i just dont see how your suppost to get a new clip on without bending it to hell. lol.
Yeah, there is 1 seal on the tranny itself....then theres 1 seal that goes on the axle. they meet together when you put the axle in.
iuno...ill get the seals and see what i can do. thanx for your help!!!

also, i have fresh fluid in and it still makes those noises