I posted recently about some noises I was hearing that I thought were the axles being bad and the axle seals leaking. I checked everything yesterday only to become fairly sure that my trans is on its way out.

What I found was that it appears that the differential carrier bearings are bad. The axles have some free play going into the trans. This is what is causing my leaks for sure.

Has anyone else had this problem with the greatly loved 41te? Maybe an easier fix rather than a overhaul?

Everything else about the trans works perfectly. It is the original and has 95000 miles on it.

 

I've seen a few bad carrier bearings but it's not common.

 

It appears that at the back there is access to the differential but is it possible to replace the bearings without pulling the whole trans? I think these bearings are going bad because I give the van a healthy diet of abuse. It still runs great though.

 

On my 91GC they actually seized and for a very short while had a Posi-front wheel drive Caravan. Had to pull the tranny with axels attached as a unit.

 

I've been looking at pictures of the trans online and it appears that the differential can be taken out of the trans while in the car? It looks like it is not too difficult at all and if this is true I think that I might pull it apart over my winter break to fix. Anyone know how easy this is or is not. Thanks for the replies.

 

I've done more research and it seems that the bearings are not too expensive (around $20 each). I have a question though. Are the bearing races pressed into the trans housing or the bolt on part that has the axle seals in it?

The more research I do, the easier it seems that it is. I just want to be certain about it before I pull stuff apart over my winter break.

Can anyone confirm if this can be taken apart in the van?

 

The races are pressed in the bolt on extension housings.
Remove the axles then unbolt and remove both side housings then you can remove the diff carrier under the cover. You should be able to do this with the trans in the vehicle.

 

Thanks so much for confirming my research. This is good news for me and my van. If this problem required removal of the trans, we would just run it until it dies but now it will probably get fixed within the next 2 weeks.

This leads me to wonder why the bearing have gone bad?? It doesn't seem like a common problem with the trans given all the other common problems it has.

Could it be because of my driving style, which is very aggressive?
I have been known to fill parking lots with smoke with the torque of the 3.8. I think the trans hasn't died from that though because when I smoke them up, I always got 2 tire patches and wouldn't spin 1 tire crazily. I also never spin them in snow or ice because I have hears that is bad for the differential.

People would be amazed that with crappy tires, the van would leave about 50 feet of rubber with both tires with the parking brake set.

 

I have found all the parts I will need to do this bearing replacement apart from some gaskets. Do the bolt on axle output shaft housings use gaskets or not? I have yet to try my dealer because the local one is closed for remodeling but I can try a farther one if I need to.

I'm just wondering if maybe they are like the trans pan where you can just use rtv and bolt it up?

 

It's just RTV to reseal the axle housings. Your "aggressive" abusive driving style is very hard on the differential. I'm surprised your diff pin hasn't sheared and destroyed your trans. The is a famously weak spot on your year of van.