odonekanobe

Ok please help me out. I replaced my rear main seal last winter. Installed a sleeve on the crank just to be safe. It is leaking again. I'm trying to figure out what I did wrong so I do not have to do this again in the near future.



This is how the seal was sitting. Is it not in far enough? To me it looks right on, but this is my first time replacing one. (Well technically second, the first was the one here that's leaking.









Thanks in advance for any help.

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

Are you putting it on dry? I always coat mine with a coat of oil before installing.

Also how is the crank? I have seen them have grooves worn into them am wondering if that is a possibility on yours. In that case what I have done is set the seal a little further deeper or shallow to miss the groove. Not the best thing in the world to do but saved me having to get some machine work done.

odonekanobe

I lubed the seal with assembly lube prior to installing the last time. I did not lube between the housing and the seal, although when I removed it just now there appeared to be oil in there.

Last year when I did this I installed a crank sleeve from LC engineering just in case my crank had a groove in it. I didn't look at it today when I removed it, I will check it.

Otherwise does the placement of the seal look ok?

Thank you.

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

Looking at your seal and it could just be the picture, but it looks to me like the seal is almost flush with the crank. Below is a picture of a motor on the engine stand and I have the flex plate on and still it is sticking roughly 1/4th to 1/8th inch or so. My seal is probably much deeper as I cant see behind the plate.

voiddweller

It looks like its seated okay to me, but like Terry said, check for grooves. When I did mine on the 2nd gen a while back I put mine about a mm inside flush with the outer housing surface if that makes sense. I think I used motor oil instead of grease but both work I guess.

It could also just be a defective seal in the lot and you got it. Who knows

At least you can do it yourself and not spend 800.00 to some shop..

odonekanobe

So you are thinking it wasn't in far enough? It's hard to tell what's going on from your picture. Do you install the seal when the housing is off or when the housing is on the block?

Thank you.

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

I am thinking your seal is not set deep enough. I install the seal in the housing while it is off of the block. That way when you have the seal in the housing, you can look at it from an angle and see if it is seated all the way.

Also with the housing off and the seal installed, I will sit the complete assembly on the block and see where the seal is riding and if it is riding in the groove. There is where you can fudge the seal just a little so that it is not all the way in the housing and get around the groove. Some first class redneck way of getting around the groove. lol

Also where the glare/dot in the picture above, that is the crank shaft sticking thru the flex plate. The dot is on the crankshaft and against the flex plate. The picture is looking down from the top of the motor on an engine stand.

Terrys87

iTrader: (1)

Just curious, is this an automatic truck you are working on? Reason I ask is a standard truck the flex plate I am not so sure would go all the way on with how far your seal is setting out. I could be wrong on the flex plate not having the hole big enough with out pulling my motor off of the stand to see.

ThorInc

A question? You are using a genuine Toyota rear main seal as replacement?

odonekanobe

This is a manual transmission. It really didn't appear to me that the seal was sticking out at all but maybe it was. This is my first time after all and whatever I did didn't work.

odonekanobe

Good question. I purchased the seal and the crank sleeve through LC engineering. I do not recall if it was a factory seal.

The seal I have ready to go in is a fel-pro. Got it through Rock Auto and it said it was the improved design. I have reservations about going with a fel-pro. Should I pony up for the factory seal?

Thanks again.

ThorInc

My personal and honest opinion is the price differential versus time and effort for the genuine rear main seal is totally worth it. I went after market once and never will again for sensor and seals.

odonekanobe

So I picked up an OEM gasket. Before I throw it in, does this placement look correct?





I know this one looks like it's farther in towards the top, I'll double check but I think it's the angle of the picture.



What am I shooting for here? Even with the back of the seal housing?

odonekanobe

Here is the sleeve I installed last year. Got it from LC engineering. Is this how I want it to look?







Interestingly enough, the seal I got last year through LC engineering was a toyota seal. Not surprised by that. But the part #'s are different.

Old:



New:

odonekanobe

Hoping to start throwing it back together tomorrow but hate to have it leak and do it all again.

Could the sleeve be causing the leak?

Any and all help is appreciated. Thanks.

4x4 goo roo

Replaced one in my boat they gave me the seal and I had to use a special tool that knocked it in evenly

anndel

LC Engineering sells OEM Toyota.

odonekanobe

So it's a Toyota seal. Anything I should double check or verify before I put it back in? I really don't want to do this again in the near future.