I did this write up a while back and posted it on another Corvette web forum. One of the members there complained that he was actually the one that took the pictures I used so I deleted it from that forum.
Anyway, I've changed a large pile of rear seals over the years- this works.
Basic, easy to follow, do it once
rear main seal change.
Once you have the pan down, remove the oil pump and pickup. Remove the
rear main cap. The lower half of the
seal is right there. Don't scratch the bearing. Take a small screwdriver and pop the lower half out of the cap, then use the screwdriver, (I have one that I did a little bit of grinding on so it's got a better flat end) and push on the exposed end of the upper half of the
seal. You may hve to tap it a little bit to break the upper
seal loose. Drive it out until you can get a good grip on it and then just walk it on out. Now the old
seal is out, clean the block and the
seal groove with something like brake cleaner, just hose it out really well.
The trick part is next. GM and the aftermarket have 3 different widths of
rear seals. The difference in them is from the dust lip on the back to the wiper lip on the forward side of the
seal. The best (and widest one) is the one you need to find. The biggest distance between the two lips. You may have to hunt for it. GM had them all under the same part number, but there are different ones. The side of the
seal that is "UP" in this picture is the "FRONT"
Take the
rear main cap to your bench grinder and use the wire wheel on the mating surfaces adjacent to the
seal. Look at the second picture. Where you want to buff the cap is where the sealant is applied. Don't get so far forward to catch the bearing. Buff the cap, get it really clean. Then hose it down with the brake cleaner too. Let it dry while you install the upper half of the
seal.
In the package there is a little plastic "spoon". Use it to install BOTH the upper and lower halves. Put a little bit of grease on the lips of the upper
seal. If you don't, the rib on the inside of the
seal gets sliced off and will seep underneath the
seal.
Once you have the lower
seal in place, wipe a little bit of grease on the lips of that
seal too. Apply a very thin coat of form-a-gasket or an anerobic sealer or something like that on the cap next to the
seal. Just above the pan gasket groove. Install the cap, torque to specs and install the oil pump, and pan. Use a dab of RTV at the corners where the gasket turns to go over the cap or timing cover. Do this on both the old style 4 piece gaskets AND the new one piece..
I've done lots of
rear main seals over 15+ years of working for Chevy dealers and NEVER had to do the same one twice.
I hope this helps and I also hope I didn't confuse the issue for you. If you have any questions, just drop me a note..
hnoes
