Finally have to pull the trans.

[Shran]

I use a little bit of wheel bearing grease or vaseline or engine oil... on the inside. Very light coat of RTV on the outside of the seal and I wipe out the seal channel with a rag and brake cleaner. I remove them with a screw like Robbie said although I have a slide hammer that I use with the screw, not totally necessary if you don't have one.

When installing it I try to get it started on one side and slowly push it over the crank, sometimes turning the seal a bit until the sealing lip is all the way over the crank. Then I will tap it in lightly with a rubber mallet and work around it until it's seated evenly, or use a piece of PVC/pipe/whatever fits.

Often I will order 2 or 3 rear main seals just in case I trash the first one - nothing worse than ruining a seal and having to wait additional day(s) for another one.

 

[9723]

I use a little bit of wheel bearing grease or vaseline or engine oil... on the inside. Very light coat of RTV on the outside of the seal and I wipe out the seal channel with a rag and brake cleaner. I remove them with a screw like Robbie said although I have a slide hammer that I use with the screw, not totally necessary if you don't have one.

When installing it I try to get it started on one side and slowly push it over the crank, sometimes turning the seal a bit until the sealing lip is all the way over the crank. Then I will tap it in lightly with a rubber mallet and work around it until it's seated evenly, or use a piece of PVC/pipe/whatever fits.

Often I will order 2 or 3 rear main seals just in case I trash the first one - nothing worse than ruining a seal and having to wait additional day(s) for another one.

Sounds good, but two or three? They're $33 each at Napa...where are you getting them? What brand?

Thanks!

 

[Shran]

Almost always RockAuto. I haven't checked prices on there. I would only buy one and be very careful if my only option was $33!!!

 

[9723]

Almost always RockAuto. I haven't checked prices on there. I would only buy one and be very careful if my only option was $33!!!

I could probably get one at AZone, but I don't buy anything important from them. So it's either Napa, or I wait a week or 10 days for shipping. Ford has them for $13. The Napa one I purchased for my car, I think is very high quality (it doesn't even look like the others, brown and heavier duty), but that's one of the reasons I took it to a shop ($12). At $33, I was scared I'd ruin the thing.

 

[9723]

Like this one that's only $18 at Rock Auto....probably harder to put in.

 

[Dirt Squirt]

I used the outer/base of a line head from a string trimmer to install rear main seals on my 5.0 Mustangs. Perfect size! Measure carefully!

 

[9723]

Almost always RockAuto. I haven't checked prices on there. I would only buy one and be very careful if my only option was $33!!!

I could get the $33 one from Napa, order the $18 one from rock, then if i didnt need the second one, return that one to Napa. They're identical....haha, but I wouldn't do that.

 

[9723]

Eh....I'm getting them online and wait. I've got some chores to catch up on anyway.

 

[9723]

Is the engine oil up to the rear main seal? Do I have to remove oil so it won't leak?

Thanks

 

[RobbieD]

No, the oil level won't be up that far. Oil level has to be out of the turning crankshaft to prevent foaming, so it's well below the main seal.

 

[9723]

Yeah, that's what I thought. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[9723]

But why not use bread! Get the bearing out, then feed a duck!

What size bolt are they using in the vid? My caliper would suggest 9/16 or 14mm. I can't get either without ordering online.

I suppose I'll have to try 1/2".
.

 

[bilbo]

What size bolt are they using in the vid? My caliper would suggest 9/16 or 14mm. I can't get either without ordering online.

I suppose I'll have to try 1/2".
.

I did the bread trick to remove my pilot bearing. I used a 3/8” socket extension if I remember correctly. Whatever it was, it worked like a dream.

 

[Paulos]

I always use a particular 9/16" socket that I have. The pilot bearing is mounted in the flywheel, so changing it when the flywheel is removed for resurfacing is easy. The OD of the bearing is 21mm or 53/64", so a little less than that works great.

 

[fastpakr]

I always use a particular 9/16" socket that I have. The pilot bearing is mounted in the flywheel, so changing it when the flywheel is removed for resurfacing is easy. The OD of the bearing is 21mm or 53/64", so a little less than that works great.

That's great for applications with the bearing in the flywheel, but the OP's situation is different.