Technical Bulletin #012

Transmission: A4LD
Subject: Front seal blowout
Issue Date: June, 1990

A4LD
Front Seal Blowout
If you have repeated front seal blowouts on A4LD's, it may not be a problem with the seal or the quality of
your work. You could have a bad bellhousing. The bushing used in the A4LD is finished in place. Because of
this the bore that the bushing fits into doesn't need to be in the center of the bellhousing, and in many cases it
isn't. When you're working on an A4LD you need to check the bellhousing bushing to see if it's the original fac-
tory bushing. If it is, and it's not worn (no more than .003" converter hub to bushing clearance) Don't Replace It!
If the bushing needs to be replaced you need to make sure the replacement bushing will fit in the center of the
bellhousing. To do this bolt the torque converter to the flex plate. Turn the engine over and check the runout of
the converter hub. Now bolt the bellhousing to the engine. If the Torque converter is contacting one side of the
bushing (see figure below), the bushing is off center and the bell housing MUST be replaced. By checking the
bellhousing first you can avoid repeated front seal blowout.

If the torque converter hub is pressed against the bellhousing

bushing, replace the bell housing.

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