Which rear main seal to use?

[cp2295]

I have a 98 4.0 ohv. I gotta pull the tranny after 5k on my new rms cuz it's leaking like crazy. I think if I remember correctly I used the fel pro sleeve and seal. Which seal type should I use now though? Ptfe? Teflon? No sleeve style?

 

[hank857]

I bought the form seal off the dealer, ran about $55. 1st dealer wanted $100 reduced to $80! I have seen them on the net for around same price. The sleeve is to take up any wear on the crank. The shop I used recommended the ford seal vs aftermarket. Actually I had replaced some years ago and also thought as did the shop it was a rear main leak. Once trans out of way it turned out to be leaking valve and intake manifold gaskets, oil ran straight down and came out as if rear main. If ya can pull trans 1st to verify source of leak.

 

[cp2295]

Yeah I mean I peaked down there from the top didn't appear to have any leakage from up top and it's not leaking down the sides of the bell housing. Just coming straight out the bottom of the inspection hole (or whatever that rectangular hole is). Kinda sucks because It has a new clutch and slave so I can't justify the time spent on this as much haha.

It seems every rms I replace leaks. I also do it carefully lube it with oil and evenly tap the seal in with a block of wood and a finish hammer. I've also always used rubber fel pro and am kind of skeptical now of their rms. Or rubber seals.

Should I go with the more expensive Teflon fel pro seal, the very expensive motorcraft seal, or am I stuck with the sleeve and seal since I used it once already?

The engine is goin to be pulled next summer and swapped with a sohc anyways but this leak is so bad I couldn't wait that long.

 

[cp2295]

Bump I'm thinking fel pro Teflon seal btw

 

[JoshT]

or am I stuck with the sleeve and seal since I used it once already?

That seems like the biggest question to me.

After my rebuild I had a rear main seal leak, and it was with the Teflon seal. I can't tell you if it was a problem with the seal/surface or our installation of it. We pulled it and installed a rubber rear main seal and it hasn't leaked since.

 

[adsm08]

Get the rubber Fel-Pro, pack the back side of it around the spring with vasoline, lube the inside with vasoline, not oil. Then, instead of forcing it straight on twist it as you push it on to "thread" it on to the crank. Once it starts and is on straight, not rolled anywhere, then you can tap it into place.

 

[cp2295]

Good tip I'll go with the fel pro rubber or the rubber with the sleeve depending on if there's grooving or scratches on the crank

 

[adsm08]

Here, this is the way I do them.