I'm doing my timing belt & water pump on my 00 GS4 & I noticed the front seal has been seeping a bit.

does anybody know how to replace it?

thanks

 

Just pull it out with a pick or hooked tool being very careful not to scratch the crank etc... Try wrapping whatever tool you are using with good quality electrical tape to help prevent scratches/gouges.

Once it's out, take your new seal and reinstall. Make sure you get it seated all the way in and that it is sitting just behind the bevel portion of the block.

The easiest way to seat it would be to apply a small amount of oil around the inside of the seal (NOT the outside) push it in as far as you can by hand then take a large socket that is about the size of the seal, align it square to the seal and gently tap the socket with a mallet to get the seal the rest of the way in. Once it gets to *just* behind the beveled portion of the block you are good, don't put it in too far.

Hope that helps

 

excellent. I thought that was how but then I remembered doing the rear main in my '78 cougar when I was a kid & having to lower the crank to get it in.

thanks a lot

 

I have not worked on GS main seal, but this is my experience with seals.

1. Instead of *****-footing with the seal and try to pry it out by leverging it against the shaft, go for the middle with a pick (almost like a screwdriver throught the filter). This approach is clearly destructive for the seal, but believe me you would not be re-using the seal in any case.

2. Instead of engine oil, use brake hydraulic fluid to smear/lubricate the new seal. [this may be a myth but I learnt this from an experienced mechanic].

3. Use the old seal to help press in the new seal. The key is to ensure the new seal goes in evenly, so a 360degree visual access is important. (use mirrors if necessary). For small seal, a socket is a good driver.

Salim
ps: If the myth is wrong please post.

 

the seal is in TIGHT; picks won't work through the inside nearest the crank & the ring part of the seal seems to have metal inside so I can't stab a pick through the flat ring area of the seal.

Salim, do you mean hammering or pushing it IN with a screwdriver so it becomes crooked?

 

i use a seal puller... hammer the seal puller thru the face of the seal, and pry...

i usually use grease to lube the inside edge of teh seal, and i tap the seals in with a 3/8" drive 6" long extension...

word of advice... match up the seal visually first... slide the new seal onto the shaft to make sure it matches the old seal before you destry your old seal taking it out..

like the others have said, DO NOT scratch the crank shaft...

 

f.y.i. the seal looks to be installed in the oil pump housing. there's no way I'm dropping the pan & taking that out.

Pardesi, thanks for the diagrams but there is no seal retainer to remove from the car. the seal seems to be installed from the front side of the engine.

 

No, no screwdriver should be used pushing the seal in. As you ease the new seal in by fingers, try to keep it even (visually look all around). For the last bit you may need some blunt force and then use the old seal to ditrubite the pressure (for small seals I use the back of the socket .. the shaft can sit inside the center hole and the diameter of the socket a size smaller than the seal. For main seal this would not work).

Good luck

Salim

 

ok gotcha. I'm still trying to figure out how to get the old one out.

 

We made a special tool to install the crank seal. When install the seal, I would made sure the inner lip is totally flush! Good luck.
JPI

 

I went down to autozone & looked in the Haynes manual for the sequoia v8. It says to cut the inside of the seal out along the metal w/ an exacto knife & pry out w/ a flat screwdriver. then use grease to lube up.
I polished the crank a little using a fine emory cloth & installed the seal just Barely countersunk. I tried to do it flush but went a hair too far.
thanks guys