Question about front axle retainment on 6 MT.

WRXt4cy · 11-28-2012, 10:36 AM

I've got a leaky front passenger axle seal on an 03 JDM 6 MT transmission. It was seeping a little and then I noticed decent puddle after parking facing down a slight incline. Crawling under the car, I noticed the passenger front axle was not fully pushed into the transmission. I was able to push it back to what felt and looked like it was all the way in but it doesn't seem to "click" or "lock" into place. I was thinking it might be the circlip being worn out but the driver side axle can be slid away from flush and back to flush as well with what seems like minimal effort using my hand.

My question is, are the front axles supposed to lock into place when they are pushed in completely flush? Should they require being "popped" back away from flush or is it normal to be able to slide them away from flush with your hand? I searched around and couldn't find an answer to this.

In case it matters: It is an 03 JDM 6 MT. It uses male axles like the late 04 STi and up.

Thanks in advance.

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WRXt4cy · 11-30-2012, 11:17 AM

Well I didn't get a response here but I figured out the issue. This probably doesn't come up all too often but I figured I would update this post just in case anyone else comes across this.

My issue was that the 03 JDM tranny was originally a stub type transmission that used female axles but was being used with male axles now. This seems to work just fine but there are two important things you need to do:

1. Get the correct axle seals for male axles. They are late 04 + STi type seals. They have the same outside diameter but a larger inside diameter to accommodate the larger neck on the male axles.

2. Pop the dust shields off the male axles. It is just a metal ring that is pushed over the splines and wedges onto the green part of the axle. Its not welded on or anything and pops off with a screw driver and a few hammer taps. If you leave this shield on, it contacts the sundials (retainer plates) and won't let the axle push fully into the tranny to let the Circlip lock it into place. Once you pop these shields off, it lets the axle slide just the tiny bit further it needs to lock into place. The green housings do not contact the plates either.

Hopefully this information is helpful to someone else. I only found mention of taking the dust shields off in one common on one obscure thread on another forum. Maybe its just obvious to other that you need to do this but it was not to me and it was keeping the axles from locking into place.

theSlothy1 · 12-08-2012, 01:48 PM

Ive been having this same issue since I installed a JDM 6spd into my car as well (new seals were installed at the time of install). Did this to mine and it fixed my slight leakage.

11-28-2012, 10:36 AM	#1
WRXt4cy Scooby Specialist Member#: 172698 Join Date: Feb 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Des Moines, IA Vehicle: 11 STi Stg2 E85 02 v8 Spec C E85	Question about front axle retainment on 6 MT. I've got a leaky front passenger axle seal on an 03 JDM 6 MT transmission. It was seeping a little and then I noticed decent puddle after parking facing down a slight incline. Crawling under the car, I noticed the passenger front axle was not fully pushed into the transmission. I was able to push it back to what felt and looked like it was all the way in but it doesn't seem to "click" or "lock" into place. I was thinking it might be the circlip being worn out but the driver side axle can be slid away from flush and back to flush as well with what seems like minimal effort using my hand. My question is, are the front axles supposed to lock into place when they are pushed in completely flush? Should they require being "popped" back away from flush or is it normal to be able to slide them away from flush with your hand? I searched around and couldn't find an answer to this. In case it matters: It is an 03 JDM 6 MT. It uses male axles like the late 04 STi and up. Thanks in advance. * Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

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11-30-2012, 11:17 AM	#2
WRXt4cy Scooby Specialist Member#: 172698 Join Date: Feb 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: Des Moines, IA Vehicle: 11 STi Stg2 E85 02 v8 Spec C E85	Well I didn't get a response here but I figured out the issue. This probably doesn't come up all too often but I figured I would update this post just in case anyone else comes across this. My issue was that the 03 JDM tranny was originally a stub type transmission that used female axles but was being used with male axles now. This seems to work just fine but there are two important things you need to do: 1. Get the correct axle seals for male axles. They are late 04 + STi type seals. They have the same outside diameter but a larger inside diameter to accommodate the larger neck on the male axles. 2. Pop the dust shields off the male axles. It is just a metal ring that is pushed over the splines and wedges onto the green part of the axle. Its not welded on or anything and pops off with a screw driver and a few hammer taps. If you leave this shield on, it contacts the sundials (retainer plates) and won't let the axle push fully into the tranny to let the Circlip lock it into place. Once you pop these shields off, it lets the axle slide just the tiny bit further it needs to lock into place. The green housings do not contact the plates either. Hopefully this information is helpful to someone else. I only found mention of taking the dust shields off in one common on one obscure thread on another forum. Maybe its just obvious to other that you need to do this but it was not to me and it was keeping the axles from locking into place.

12-08-2012, 01:48 PM	#3
theSlothy1 Scooby Newbie Member#: 173321 Join Date: Mar 2008 Chapter/Region: E. Canada Location: New Glasgow, NS Vehicle: 2007 SWP WRX dom2.5xtr w/ meth & 6spd	Ive been having this same issue since I installed a JDM 6spd into my car as well (new seals were installed at the time of install). Did this to mine and it fixed my slight leakage.