i am tackling my leaking rear main tomorrow. and i looked at my new rear main seal set. but i'm stumped as what the flat rubber keyway looking things are. there are two of them, and they have a matching pair of thin metal pieces as well.

can someone clear this up for me?

I believe those go on each end of the bearing cap where the rear main seal sits to keep oil from leaking around the rms. I am geting ready do the same. Also where did you get your seal and what brand?

Thanks,

Mike

Rob......I wouldn't recommend that you try to change the side seals while the engine is in the car. You have to remove the rear bearing cap to remove the old side seals. This is not an easy job. I don't even know if it can be done while in the car without a special tool to remove it ( extremely tight fit). I don't think side seals even go bad ( never heard of it happening). If a seal is leaking, your chances are 99.9 that it is the rear seal (a relatively easy job once the tranny and flywheel are off). Be careful when you pry it out with a screw driver or seal puller that you don't gouge the polished area of the crank that the seal rides on. Good Luck......All IMO. Guy

thanks guys.

and i got the seal "kit" from napa. i used to work there so i get rediculous discounts. the kit was 10 bucks cheaper than just the seal. and knowing where those go, i think your right, i'll replace just the seal and see where that puts me.

there is a slight chance i only need to do the oil pan gasket, but i expect it is the rear main seal. we will see tomorrow am!

When you have the seal out check the rear main for a groove worn from contact with the seal lip. You may want to reposition the seal so that the lip is making contact on an area not worn.

Easy enough to see and feel with the seal removed.

When you have the seal out check the rear main for a groove worn from contact with the seal lip. You may want to reposition the seal so that the lip is making contact on an area not worn.

Easy enough to see and feel with the seal removed.

good thinking! i'll look into it!

ok got the z all tore apart, wow that driveshaft was a pain, the nuts are on the back side of the flange? will it bind if i flip that over so i can get to it easier next go around?

also, i got the tranny out. then saw the rear main seal, and i was able to grab it with my fingers and pull it out. there was no play but it wasn't a tight fit either! is this usual?

also, there was no groove, so i plan to just lube and reassemble tomorrow.

second note, looks like someone used teflon tape on my head bolts!!!! i plan to clean off some of the tape i can get to from the top, but its nothing big to worry about right?

also, i got the tranny out. then saw the rear main seal, and i was able to grab it with my fingers and pull it out. there was no play but it wasn't a tight fit either! is this usual?

Just saw this in the FSM by coincidence.

yep. that looks just like mine!

i'll double post my question in the help me section as well.

but because my old one practically fell out, i don't know how far my new one should sit. should it be flush with the back of the block? right now i'm about 3/16in away!

i'll double post my question in the help me section as well.

Why do that? Now we have two threads with the same question.

-Mike

Why do that? Now we have two threads with the same question.

-Mike

maybe because if someone saw it in the help me section, they will answer, while if they followed this thread and didn't have anything to add, they wouldn't post.