transmission leaking at rear on 5 speed

[ssheaven]

i am looking at buying a 1999 legacy gt limited with a 2.5.. it has a 5 speed in it but the lady said it is leaking at the rear seal on tranny... is it just the seal? how to check for another problem causing it to leak? common problems w these trannys? help i dont want to make a bad choice and bite off more then i can or want to chew

[idosubaru]

they don't leak often, but they can. if it's just leaking then the seal needs replaced. remove/move exhaust, drop rear driveshaft, remove and reinstall new seal. it's not hard at all - just the annoyance of removing exhaust parts which have rusty bolts, etc sometimes. Other than that not much to it.

 

if the exhaust looks like it's ever been worked on, weak, or is currently leaking, an exhaust leak below that seal may have just heated it up and deteriorated the seal. one of the ones i worked on had an exhaust leak right below a leaking seal so i sort of assumed that was the cause, just a guess though.

 

i wouldn't expect anything more than just a seal. if it's leaking profusely, like pouring out - then there *might* be something more and/or the trans may have run the risk of being run low or without oil.

 

i've seen two rear seal leaks, both were minor and a seal replacement fixed it.