axle seal and PMIII?

[455ramair]

I recently purchased a 1990 TGP from a dealership in bend Oregon and
they told me the tranny pan was leaking.

As it turns out, it was the axle seal and when the previous owner had it serviced, instead of using a seal puller it looks like they used a prybar and broke the rim of the steel where the axle goes into the tranny on the driver's side. (OMFG what buffoons) then they tried to seal it with a bunch of silicone and the replacement seal. And of course pass it off as a leaky pan.Grrrrrrr...ANOTHER reason to never trust a dealership.

So now we are trying JB weld to repair it so the seal will hold. so far two attempts and it still leaks at the axle seal. (suggestions?)

Ok, next thing we discover is the driver side rear break is leaking fluid and when I checked the PMIII resevoir
it was DRY!! OMG my PMIII is probably ruined. I drove that from Bend Or to Eugene Or (250miles) on a dry resevoir??? (cry) (cry some more) (kick myself over and over)ok done beating myself up.

So now we are going to run a die throught the break system to see where the actual prob is. So...
I will take any advice on how to get my PMIII rebuilt I heard of someone on theses forums that sent them to get rb at "prior" is that a business? or a person? or a place? and how much money are we talking to get it rebuilt. What is the going rate for a used tranny for a tgp or specificly, can just the outer casing on the tranny that the drive's side axle goes into be replaced? sorry guys, I am a total noob and am trying not to waste anyones time. I have prolly spent a couple hours reading theses forums so far so I know I need to read more
to see if anyone else has had this specific axel seal problem. BTW great forums! :)

thanks in advance,
-Jim

[TGP Nick]

For the broken tranny case, I'd bring it somewhere and see if someone could weld it up, BUT at the same time, doing this MAY wreck the seals in that area, due to the high heat of the welder.  If it isn't a huge break- it could be done without damaging anything, but just putting that out there.  You may have to replace a seal down there if you get it welded.  If you get it welded up, at least it will be a permanent solution and will most likely fix it for good.

For your PMIII, I would fill it up and bleed the brakes at each caliper until fresh, clean fluid comes out and no air whatsoever comes out.  Find your leak and fix it, then re-bleed the brakes.  After that, note how the PMIII works.  Try this after you have bled your brakes and have a full reservoir: turn the ignition on, but keep the engine off so you can hear your brake pump running.  After you have the ignition on and the PMIII has stopped running, pump the brake pedal and take note of how many presses of the brake pedal it takes to make the pump run.  It is normal for the pump to cycle every 3-5 presses.
Start there and tell us what you come up with.

Nick

[455ramair]

Thanks Nick,

We are still holding our breath on the axle seal. As it turns out, my friend Colby who is trying to fix my axle seal, is also an accomplished welder, but as you mentioned before, the heat could cause probs so I think
he is taking a "let's try this first" attitude on the JB weld/liquid steel, or whatever product we are using.

As fo the brake system, I think he said he was going to do all that using a special die that helps you pinpoint the leak. As I am a mechanical noob to these cars your advice is a true gem. Thank you so much.

-Jim

[pontiac6ksteawd]

When I bought my TGP, it had the same problem, no fluid in the back resivior. I didnt realize this till many months after owning the TGP. I went to do the rear brake conversion, and this is when I found the empty resivior. Returned all the new parts, and toped off the booster with new brake fluid, and its been braking perfectly since. I just need a new accumlator cause my ABS light flashes.