Well, I went to start up the car today to go for a Sunday drive and as I was about to pull out of the garage, I noticed smoke coming out of the center console. I immediately shut the car off, took a look underneath the car, and noticed that there was trans fluid leaking from the tailshaft output (where the driveshaft yoke slips in) onto my X-pipe.

A quick Google search says this may be a common issue. Possibly the rear seal or bushing? Anyone have experience with this or know how bad it is? I'm going to have to send it to a shop to be fixed because I literally don't have any time.

IT's easy, Jack up the rear set it on jack stands pop out the drive shaft and pry out the rear seal and tap in a new one. About an hours work.

Yup. Unless your tranny has a zillion miles or your driveshaft is woefully out of balance the new seal will fix the problem. No need to worry about the bushing, which isn't intended to control oil, just guide the shaft.

From a private garage expect to pay around $20 for the seal. Get their labor estimate before you approve the deal. As said above it shouldn't be more than one hour.really should be less but who knows.

It might involve draining or semi-draining the transmission fluid so have ready what you want to go back in there. There are too many ways for shifting to be messed up in a modern transmission with grab bag fluid.

R.

You may need to drop the exhaust to get access to that seal, I know my magnum is very tight to my H-pipe.

Yeah, it's nice to know that it's that easy, but when I say I don't have any time to work on the car... I really don't have any time to work on the car.

The exhaust is most likely going to have to come down as the trans fluid was dripping right onto the X-pipe.