XLR8

iTrader: (52)

In my current project I have ran into some very unusual findings. I am in the process of converting my 90 GXL from an auto to a 5spd. All was going well until I went to replace the output shaft seal before putting the transmission in.

I ordered a 90 output shaft seal from Ray at Malloy Mazda. I received this:



This is not what is in my bought S5 transmission. So naturally I assumed I just received the wrong part. So I went to my local parts store to get the correct one, only to find what they had that year was the same! Now I am starting to question if my transmission is a S5.

So I do some searching and find that the difference between S4 & S5 tranny's can easily be shown by their "Y" mounting bolt. Mine has 4 bolts that attach it at a diagonal, like S5, and the S4 has 2 on the bottom. This is where it gets weird. I look up a output shaft seal for a S4 (88) and it is exactly like the seal that I removed from my tranny. Like this:



Now Mazdatrix says they are all the same, 86-92....

http://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.as...m=17-335A-M507

My plan is to order the 88 seal, but I am blown away by this. Could this tranny have landed in between production years where a S4 tailshaft was bolted to a S5, if that's even possible? The tranny doesn't look rebuilt or cleaned. It's a OEM with 93k as I bought it. Why does Mazdatrix not recognize a difference but Advance Auto does?

Thanks guys.

PvillKnight7

iTrader: (16)

Same part, different makers.

XLR8

iTrader: (52)

It most definitely isn't the same part. The part that Ray sent me doesn't fit inside the housing at all. In fact, it's the same circumference. However, the second picture, the seal is larger with a steal lip, just as the one I removed.

XLR8

iTrader: (52)

After speaking with Mazdatrix I believe things are clear. I ordered the original seal from Rockauto not Ray at Malloy Mazda. Both Ray and Mazdatrix say it is the same part number. Apparently the aftermarket auparts companies think a S5 seal is different, as they list it diferently. Thry in fact are the same.

Lesson learned.... Order from Ray ;-)