2018 Chevy Traverse with 9T65 nine-speed automatic transmission. Observed minor leaking from the front axel seals with only 50,000 miles on the vehicle; significantly less than typical or expected. With an older car, this sort of leaking could be mitigated by checking transmission fluid level periodically and topping it off if low. With modern transmissions such as the GM 9T65, the unit is sealed: there is no dipstick and measuring the level and adding transmission fluid is nontrivial. Any observed leaking is abnormal and has the potential to get worse over time, which is especially risky for a high-gear transmission such as the 9T65.
We decided to get it fixed right away, with a local mechanic that we've used for other services in the past and trust. (The vehicle was slightly out of warranty based on age.) The mechanic ordered OEM parts, which online sources such as https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/ indicated would be GM part number 24288437 for the "Front Driver Side Wheel Half-Shaft Seal Kit with Protector," and GM part number 24288436 for the comparable passenger side seal. Our mechanic replaced the driver side seal without a problem, but when he compared the passenger side seal (from the vehicle) to the 24288436 as received, they didn't match, and the 24288436 part did not fit the passenger side of the transmission. I called a local Chevy parts dealer, and he confirmed part number 24288436 was the correct part for our vehicle, as indicated by our VIN.
Our mechanic received the part from a different supplier, but it matched the first. Neither one of us had ever experienced a case where the OEM part did not fit, so we were really scratching our heads. Most of the other local Chevy parts dealers also could not assist us, saying part number 24288436 is all they could identify. However, upon an in-person consultation with one particular Chevy parts desk, and with the old seal in hand, they were able to identify GM part number 84601624 as matching the seal that came from the vehicle. https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/ reports this part as a "Power Transfer Unit Input Shaft Seal" for vehicles other than the 2018 Traverse (although one Chevy parts dealer says it does actually fit the 2018 Traverse power transfer unit), but my mechanic confirmed it matched the passenger-side seal that came from the vehicle, and he installed it as a replacement.
I have not yet observed any issues with this repair (with the alternate GM part number 84601624), but I'm still very concerned about the discrepancy in OEM part numbers. For anyone planning to replace the transmission axel seals in a 2018 or newer Chevy Traverse, I highly recommend bringing a copy of this report to your mechanic. Even if not under warranty, if online sources are still showing GM part number 24288436 as the passenger side half-shaft axel seal, you may want to consider bringing the vehicle to a Chevy dealer to conduct the repair.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2018 Chevy Traverse with 9T65 nine-speed automatic transmission. Observed minor leaking from the front axel seals with only 50,000 miles on the vehicle; significantly less than typical or expected. With an older car, this sort of leaking could be mitigated by checking transmission fluid level periodically and topping it off if low. With modern transmissions such as the GM 9T65, the unit is sealed: there is no dipstick and measuring the level and adding transmission fluid is nontrivial. Any observed leaking is abnormal and has the potential to get worse over time, which is especially risky for a high-gear transmission such as the 9T65.
We decided to get it fixed right away, with a local mechanic that we've used for other services in the past and trust. (The vehicle was slightly out of warranty based on age.) The mechanic ordered OEM parts, which online sources such as https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/ indicated would be GM part number 24288437 for the "Front Driver Side Wheel Half-Shaft Seal Kit with Protector," and GM part number 24288436 for the comparable passenger side seal. Our mechanic replaced the driver side seal without a problem, but when he compared the passenger side seal (from the vehicle) to the 24288436 as received, they didn't match, and the 24288436 part did not fit the passenger side of the transmission. I called a local Chevy parts dealer, and he confirmed part number 24288436 was the correct part for our vehicle, as indicated by our VIN.
Our mechanic received the part from a different supplier, but it matched the first. Neither one of us had ever experienced a case where the OEM part did not fit, so we were really scratching our heads. Most of the other local Chevy parts dealers also could not assist us, saying part number 24288436 is all they could identify. However, upon an in-person consultation with one particular Chevy parts desk, and with the old seal in hand, they were able to identify GM part number 84601624 as matching the seal that came from the vehicle. https://www.gmpartsdirect.com/ reports this part as a "Power Transfer Unit Input Shaft Seal" for vehicles other than the 2018 Traverse (although one Chevy parts dealer says it does actually fit the 2018 Traverse power transfer unit), but my mechanic confirmed it matched the passenger-side seal that came from the vehicle, and he installed it as a replacement.
I have not yet observed any issues with this repair (with the alternate GM part number 84601624), but I'm still very concerned about the discrepancy in OEM part numbers. For anyone planning to replace the transmission axel seals in a 2018 or newer Chevy Traverse, I highly recommend bringing a copy of this report to your mechanic. Even if not under warranty, if online sources are still showing GM part number 24288436 as the passenger side half-shaft axel seal, you may want to consider bringing the vehicle to a Chevy dealer to conduct the repair.
- Aaron K., Arlington, VA, US