Rear main seal? do it or leave it?

[shenanigans]

so should I do it or leave it, doesn't appear to have any issues, shoudl I not mess with a good thing? Or is it guranteed to leak on me.

http://www.porteighty.biz/uploads/Bi...0car%20168.jpg

http://www.porteighty.biz/uploads/Bi...0car%20166.jpg

[StudlyCamaro]

how many miles on the motor?? it sure would suck if you get the trans back in the car and a few hundred miles later it starts leaking...

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Just replace it.
I replaced my clutch twice, and I bought the rear main both times, but changed my mind at the last minute both times.
I kick myself in the *** daily for not doing it.

Although it doesn't leak bad, only a drip a day and only if I am parked on a steep driveway, but it does.

[shenanigans]

52kish miles...

never had a drip.

[Copperhead]

change it...88xxx and leakin...you'll have to buy a rear main housing gasket as well..just bought both..lookin at under $15 dollars in parts..do it for your piece of mind...3.8's are known for the rear seal or housing gasket to leak...

[shenanigans]

ack.. I want to do it and i don't, I am worried ****ing with it will make it worse, I keep seeing people complainging about doing it and still having issues.

[Rob Bell]

Since you already have it apart, I would definately do it. Like Studly said, you may get a couple hundred miles more and then, all of sudden, it starts to leak. We all know they're prone to leak, it's probably just a matter of time.

[zlexiss]

Originally posted by shenanigans:
ack.. I want to do it and i don't, I am worried ****ing with it will make it worse, I keep seeing people complainging about doing it and still having issues.

Same here, I'm getting my clutch done this weekend and thinking the same thing.

I'm going to get the parts, use them if there's evidence that the seal is on it's way out, otherwise I won't mess with it if it looks good. Looks like there's a lot of infant mortality problems with swapping these out.

[AZ3.8Camaro]

Ah, just do it right when you do it, and it won't leak.

[shenanigans]

Originally posted by zlexiss:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by shenanigans:
ack.. I want to do it and i don't, I am worried ****ing with it will make it worse, I keep seeing people complainging about doing it and still having issues.

Same here, I'm getting my clutch done this weekend and thinking the same thing.

I'm going to get the parts, use them if there's evidence that the seal is on it's way out, otherwise I won't mess with it if it looks good. Looks like there's a lot of infant mortality problems with swapping these out. </font>[/QUOTE]Thats what I was thinking about it too...

local guy made a good point, I'll probably kill this clutch in 10k miles and I'll just do it then [img]smile.gif[/img]

[black98V6]

honestly I'd do it, but mine leaks ;)

ya know it's hit or miss with things like this.

on a side note good to see you managed to get the tranny pulled. I haven't been on the board much but have been following your clutch issues espicially after my master cyl crapped out on me.

[RedFrk13]

I just pulled my tranny last night. One of the reasons is to replace my rear main seal. I took off the rear cover and the bolts holding the cover on have a sealant on them. I cant tell it it was built onto the bolt or not.

Does anyone know if I need to buy these bolts or just buy some kind of sealent to go into the bolt holes?

By the way, the rear main seal would probably be a pita to change without taking the this cover off. This way, you can just push it out from behind, instead of trying to pry it out with a screwdriver.

[blacksport]

Change it! That $10 seal isnt worth having to drop the tranny to replace it when it goes.


If you're already there take insurance and do it now. It is a PITA to do if it goes out when your car is all together.


I just put mine back in without new sealant.

[iGoRa]

DO it !

[3.4 slow to go]

Originally posted by Rob Bell:
Since you already have it apart, I would definately do it. Like Studly said, you may get a couple hundred miles more and then, all of sudden, it starts to leak. We all know they're prone to leak, it's probably just a matter of time.

it's so frikin easy, even I did it on the engine stand.