output shaft seal replacement
 

02 Tribute (Escape's sister) has been leaking tranny fluid from the driver side seal where the CV axle shaft goes into the tranny. My question is this. What does the metal retainer looking plate do that covers the seal? This will be the second time I have replaced the seal and I totaly trashed the retainer plate on the first change and I am thinking now that maybe it has a purpose. (the replacement seal didn't come with one) When I push up on the shaft next to the seal, it appears the seal is now larger than the shaft causing fluid to leak out. Sort of like the seal opening has been wallowed out. Any help will be appreciated. I will start tearing it apart in the morning.

Probably just to keep debis from damaging the seal. Just like a radial ball bearing might either have seal(s) or shield(s).

What wtpski said.. a seal 'protector'. If the seal is 'wallowed out', I would check the radial play in the output shaft. It should not wobble around very much, if at all. If it does, you may have an internal problem. Hope that it was debris that made the seal fail and wear prematurely.
tom

Thanks guys...that is what I had originally thought and did not worry about it at the time. I got the new one in and test drove it. So far no leak. My old seal looked like I may have damaged it a little sliding the axle shaft back in on the first install. This time I greased the new one up a little to keep it from trying to roll inward while installing the shaft. Hopefully the problem is gone.

There is a support bushing behind the seal. The seal/half-shaft/bushing has been a major cause of leaks that started in '09MY and continues even today!