HI THERE, I JUST FOUND OUT THAT MY 91 BRONCO XLT, 4X4, 5.8 LTR, E40D TRANS HAS A LEAKY REAR MAIN SEAL. IVE BEEN TOLD THAT I CAN REPLACE THE SEAL WITHOUT JACKING UP THE ENGINE BY SEVERAL PEOPLE BUT I DONT KNOW AS IVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE. I WAS TOLD THAT I CAN REMOVE THE PAN AND REACH UP, REMOVE AND REPLACE THE SEAL WITHOUT A TON OF TROUBLE BUT I WILL NEED PATIENCE. IF ANYONE CAN HELP I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IT, IT SHOULD BE EASIER ON ME TO DO IT MYSELF THEN TO PAY $450 TO DO IT. THANKS IN ADVANCE AND BLESS OUR TROOPS

 

It was my impression that you had to pull the tranny out to get at the seal.

 

Give us a break with the ALLCAPS.

You have to either pull the engine or the transmission to change the rear main.

 

this is correct you have to pull the engine or trans. i think the trans is the easiest but thats just my opinion. i also thought my rear main seal was leaking when it was actually the oil pan gasket. just be sure to clean it up real good and make sure of where the leak is. i would bet its probably the oil pan gasket.
450.00 is a good price to have the rear main done as the best price i got was about 600.00 plus parts. the oil pan gasket can be done without removing the engine but i think its a very tough job unless you have a lift. again just be sure its the rear main before you do the job. it would suck if you still had a leak when finished. and always work safe.

 

These guys are correct! Ford went to a one-piece seal in 1983, so you have to either pull the transmission or the motor. If you pull off the starter and look at the flywheel, a leaking rear seal will put oil all over it. If the flywheel is clean, then it's most likely the oil pan gasket, or the dipstick tube where it mounts to the pan, that's leaking oil. The pan can be dropped without pulling the motor, but it is a real bear to even do that.