Tranny Help!!!

[WillSandLS]

Ok I got a 03 V8, with 121K mi. Ive never had the smoothest transmission and I was told 6 months ago while replacing a rear control arm that the pinion seal on the transmission was shot/leaking and needed to be replaced. While this seal is around 35 bucks, the labor involved with dropping the trans in order to replace the seal was around $750 (involves dropping the cat-exuast, head shields, disconnecting the drive shaft, ect). I took my car to the dealer yesterday for my trans flush and fill (i purchase my own amsoil atf, much smoother and crisper response than that mercon crap they put in) and was reconfirmed on the seal. Dealer quoted the work at $600. Also tried to scare me about something that if the exhaust system is dropped I could risk damage or destruction of my exhaust system due to corrosion, rust ect.

My questions are...
1.) Would it be worth the $700+ and risk of damaging the exhaust(is this even true???) to fix a simple seal(the leak is not bad, however after 6 months there is a noticeable drop in fluid)???
2.) How difficult of a task would this be to DIY???
3.) If I've had problems such as lag, shuddering under load, slow response, could this be attributed to a misfiring coil/s?? I've already done the 7FM07 recall for the bad gaskets and water intrusion at 91K. Could they have gone bad again???

Thanks

 

[joegr]

1. If the fluid goes too low too often, the damage will be more than the $700 (and you'll have to pay the $700 + damages anyway)
2. How set up are you?
3. They only replace the coils that are already bad when they do the work, it's likely that some/all of the coils they didn't replace are failing now.

 

[WillSandLS]

1. If the fluid goes too low too often, the damage will be more than the $700 (and you'll have to pay the $700 + damages anyway)
2. How set up are you?
3. They only replace the coils that are already bad when they do the work, it's likely that some/all of the coils they didn't replace are failing now.

2.) I have access to a hoist but forget it, this repair is beyond my automobile comprehension.
3.)I just checked the receipt, the f'ers replaced both gaskets, all the plugs(8), but only 3 of the coils.

The shuddering can come from bad coils too correct?

Is this pinion seal problem common on most transmissions? Its just expensive because of how they designed the car, ~$520 alone is labor.

 

[joegr]

2.) I have access to a hoist but forget it, this repair is beyond my automobile comprehension.
3.)I just checked the receipt, the f'ers replaced both gaskets, all the plugs(8), but only 3 of the coils.

The shuddering can come from bad coils too correct?

Is this pinion seal problem common on most transmissions? Its just expensive because of how they designed the car, ~$520 alone is labor.

Yes, the shuddering could be bad coils. I'd just go ahead and replace them. If your aren't positive about which three were replaced, then replace them all.

Your the first one that I've heard of with a pinion seal leak, so I don't think that it is common. I wonder if something is out of balance in your drive line to cause this?

 

[WillSandLS]

I wonder if something is out of balance in your drive line to cause this?

I don't doubt it- I drive over potholes and torn up roads that are fit only for tracked vehicles such as tanks. I cant stand it. Im going to end up screwing with the transmission anyways so I might as well fix this seal. Lets hope the exhaust doesn't fall apart.