Need some rear main seal help...

1bad95 · Apr 10, 2011

Well pulled an all nighter friday night working on my car putting in a new flywheel, clutch, TOB, Pilot and rear main seal. Put everything back together and saw oil leaking from under my car last night. Looks to possible be coming from the rear main area, havent gotten it up in the air again to check. I had never replaced one before but seemed like an easy job. I used a felpro teflon seal. just went back to autozone and bought another because it looks like im gonna have to be pulling it all apart again next weekend and be redoing it over. Just read it should be installed dry, which im assumiing no grease and try and clean out the area where it goes. Also read to put a bead of black rtv on it?

Anyone have any tips or install tips that would help? Great appreciate and welcome any tips or tricks.

Thanks!!

OnyxCobra · Apr 10, 2011

RTV sounds like a good idea, I put a new one in my car and I think it still leaks. bastard. Sucks you just put everything back together. I'd suggest using the back side of the old one to press in the new one so it goes in as even as possible.

1bad95 · Apr 10, 2011

yeah it sucks big time, wishing now i just left the old one in which was just dripping slightly. just figured while i was taking it all apart for the clutch and stuff id do it while i was in there

evilcw311 · Apr 10, 2011

if you dont line it up just perfect before smacking it in then it will leak.......like a stuck pig...... bad example, i know.

we notched a piece of wood for mine so that when we tapped it in it was applying pressure evenly around the whole seal as we tapped it in. dont grease the hell out of it but you can lightly oil the whole and it wont cause any later problems

1bad95 · Apr 10, 2011

yeah i gotta make an install tool to make sure i apply even pressure to it

evilcw311 · Apr 11, 2011

i had a short section of a 4by4 post from an old yard project. notched out the middle and there ya go. worked pretty well and put it in perfect first try. try and stay away from a harder material as you want just a little give when tapping it with the mallet or hammer.

1bad95 · Apr 11, 2011

yeah i was looking at getting maybe a piece of 4" pvc with an end cap on it to tap on. should fit perfect on the RMS

Slykin · Apr 11, 2011

I just used the old seal with a big socket against it to tap it in. No problems since. Didn't use RTV or anything either.

1bad95 · Apr 11, 2011

did you use a rubber seal or teflon?

Slykin · Apr 11, 2011

I guess it was a rubber seal.. same as the one that came out lol.

CC'S95GT · Apr 11, 2011

How did the rubber part of the seal fit around the crank?
Did it go over easy or was it a snug fit.
Over time the seal can wear a groove in the crank where it rides.
You should be able to feel the groove.
If it is grooved then you'll need to look into a smaller diameter seal.

MustangChris · Apr 11, 2011

never heard of installing with RTV.... . .

i installed mine dry (no lube)
used PVC +block of wood +hammer to install it... worked like a charm.

1bad95 · Apr 12, 2011

I used the Teflon seal, it was a Tight fit, but I greased it all up, then Saw online your not supposed to grease the Teflon seal. The first seal I bought didn't have the paper in with it that said to install it dry