94Bronco automatic w/od had transmission fluid pouring out access hole. Pulled tranny,how does the front seal come out, can it be pried out and how do you put new one in,any speacial tools needed?

 

The front seal is pried out - but carefully so you don't gouge the machined surfaces where it seats. You'll probably trash the old seal getting it out but that's OK. I'd suggest using a seal pulling tool - looks like it has a double hook on one end - instead of a screwdriver. You can use the screwdriver if you have nothing else , just be careful.

New seals usually have a sealant already applied to the outer ring surface. I sometimes add a VERY thin smear of #2 Permatex, but it's not absolutely necessary. You can't use a regular seal driver or socket to drive the new seal in because of the input shaft sticking out the front of the tranny. I use a piece of pipe that fits right on the main body of the seal, NOT the center where the rubber is. Then I tap it slowly to get it started squarely and continue till it's fully seated. Don't beat the crap out of it - there's a little spring on the back side of the rubber ring that keeps the tension on the ring. If you whack it too hard you can dislodge the spring and the seal will be worthless.

Put a little vaseline or tranny fluid on the rubber lip before you re-install the converter and be sure that you have the converter fully seated into the pump. You will need to turn it and push it a bit to get it to engage the pump tangs. This is really critical - you'll destroy the pump if you don't get it fully seated.

Also, don't install the seal and then stick the converter in and install the tranny a day later or so - the weight of the converter will warp the seal and cause leakage. Wait until you are ready to install the tranny before putting the converter back in.

That's about it - bottom line is this is a high labor job for a $3 part!

 

Thanks for the info , especially about not putting the convertor until ready to put tranny back in . Very true on the high labor job, first tanny I ever pulled.