Rear main seal question

[cosi]

Im replacing the rear main seal on a 4AGE. We pulled the engine and gearbox out and removed the old seal. It had basically half fallen out.

Could someone please tell me how far in I need to push the new seal? I tapped it all the way to the back of the housing, is that right or should it be flush with the edge of the seal housing?

[jondee86]

Generally, seals only have to be just inside the bore to which they are
fitted. The big book says... "tap in the oil seal until its surface is flush
with the rear oil seal retainer edge".

Somewhere between flush and a millimetre or two inside the bore would
be OK. But if you knocked it all the way to the back the chances are it
won't be sealing to the crank any more. Might pay you to take the seal
retainer off, knock the seal right thru, and start it again.

Cheers... jondee86

[cosi]

damn

thanks

[fangsport]

Generally, seals only have to be just inside the bore to which they are
fitted. The big book says... "tap in the oil seal until its surface is flush
with the rear oil seal retainer edge".

Somewhere between flush and a millimetre or two inside the bore would
be OK. But if you knocked it all the way to the back the chances are it
won't be sealing to the crank any more. Might pay you to take the seal
retainer off, knock the seal right thru, and start it again.

Cheers... jondee86

but, as long as it still has a machined surface to run on,is fitted square and isn't past the oil gallery that lubricates it, it should still be ok???

[jondee86]

Yes... except without having the block in front of me, I can't say if the
seal lip will have slipped off the back of the journal or not ??? And I don't
think it will be possible to tell just by eyeballing the back of the seal.

The only way to be sure would be to take some measurements on a
block without the seal in place. Then you could work out how far back
the seal can go before the sealing lip drops over the edge of the bevel
on the back of the crank seal journal surface.

Cheers... jondee86

[cosi]

Its cool, I took it out. Better to be safe than sorry as its not something I want to have to do all over again