I recently replaced the left axle seal on my '07 HHR, it had been leaking. The outer seal came out easily with a plain seal puller, but the center seal was more of a nightmare, which is pressed onto the output shaft of the transmission.
To get it of the shaft I ended up clamping onto the seal shell with a needle nosed vice grips and then pryed the vice grips away from the transmission case with a pry bar. It came off eventually. Does anyone know of an easier way?
When installing the 2 part seal start with the center seal, I used a 1 1/8" deep socket to seat it on the shaft. For the outer seal I used a big socket.
You must be patient when removing or installing these seals, they will go in eventually. I used lithium grease to help.
Leave the snap ring on the axle shaft, don't replace it. I say this because if it is bent out of round too much you won't get the axle to go all the way in, the ring won't collapse. Correct me on this if you have a proceedure to drive the axle past this ring, which is yellow.
You will see 3 holes drilled into the seal, that did not make it any easier to pull off of the shaft.
Note- I lost a quart of transmission fluid while replacing the seal, so you may want to have that on hand before doing this on your car.


New center section seal on the left, old seal on the right. Very difficult to remove!

The outer seal has been removed, you can see the stubborn center seal still on the output shaft. I used a needle nosed vice grips to pull it off of the shaft. Install this seal first before the outer seal.

 

I’ve always used needle nosed vis grips to pull that seal cup off the axle and a HF 2 lb slide hammer.

 

I have ordered a slide hammer to do the passenger side, which is starting to leak. This one should be a lot easier.

 

Passenger side is easier.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/driv...g-again-66133/