Main Seal Time
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Elder User
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From: SoFla
Main Seal Time
Okay all. It's main seal time. She's had a slow ( silver dollar ) size and thin leak each morning for 2 years. Ford mechanic friend has worked on my Bronco before and will do seal this Sat on his day off at the work bay.
Q1. I do need this done-right? (is the leak a timebomb waiting to go off?)
Q2. Ford charges 1000$ by the book. What is a fair price for this "side job?"
Dutch
Q1. I do need this done-right? (is the leak a timebomb waiting to go off?)
Q2. Ford charges 1000$ by the book. What is a fair price for this "side job?"
Dutch
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Fredericton NB, Canada
I did mine on a week-end at my friends house. Taking the engine instead of the tranny out is a much easier choice. Took a full day to take it out, replace the rear/front seals and oil pan gasket. With my friend and I working from 8a-8p we got it done. Mind you we have taken carbureted Ford engines out before so there were no surprises.
-Matt
-Matt
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,000
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From: North Dakota
It does not have to be done unless it bothers you. Ford trucks will last forever but you wont get them to stop leaking. I put over 200,000 miles on my f-100 with a rear main seal leak that was pretty bad(quart every 2 weeeks). Just keep up on the oil and it wont hurt anything. I put in a rebuilt engine 8 months ago and my rear main is already leaking little drops in my Bronco. It does not bother me at all.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Fredericton NB, Canada
On rainy days you get to see pretty little rainbows in the parking lots. Bad rear seals can negatively effect your oil pressure. When they are really bad your crankshaft can become damaged (scored) which makes it more expensive. Should you have to run out right away in a panic to fix it? No. But put some money away every pay-check and have it done. Have them check the status of your crank for any marks or gouges. If some are found, depending on how bad have them either install a new crank or install a sleeve.
-Matt
Oh, and also. degrease the engine and tranny and power wash it. Run it warm again and check for leaks. Make sure your not leaking from valve covers and/or oil pan. Use Fel-pro rubber gaskets in either instance.
-Matt
Oh, and also. degrease the engine and tranny and power wash it. Run it warm again and check for leaks. Make sure your not leaking from valve covers and/or oil pan. Use Fel-pro rubber gaskets in either instance.
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Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Rochester
Main Seal
Dutch,
I've had it done before and I've also done it before. $300-$450 sounds about right. If you do it yourslef it will cost you time and about 20-$25 for the seal and gaskets (oil pan). It's really not that hard to do yourself...I've always taken the tranny out, taking the engine would be a PITA...depends on year of your bronco...manual/auto trans.
I've had it done before and I've also done it before. $300-$450 sounds about right. If you do it yourslef it will cost you time and about 20-$25 for the seal and gaskets (oil pan). It's really not that hard to do yourself...I've always taken the tranny out, taking the engine would be a PITA...depends on year of your bronco...manual/auto trans.
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From: Cameron, OK
I've had a bit of luck stopping those leaks by packing an RTV sealant into the spring groove on the seal itself. I had a rear main leak on my 4.0L in our explorer and it was a fairly new seal that had just been put in... had about 20k miles on it when it started leaking again. So with the new seal I put a thin coat of RTV around the engine surface and on the outside of the seal in case there where any scratches or dents from previous seal removals. Then once the seal was in place I packed the spring groove with RTV as well... That was at 170K and when I sold it, it was at 225K and no leaks that I could see. I would say if you tear it down that far, go ahead and change the seal, but the RTV works as a good backup... I suspect I gouged the engine surface prying the old seal out and that's where my new leak came from, I had the same problem on the transfer case seals a few years ago, RTV just fills the voids...
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Lynnwood, WA
Usually, there's no sudden catastrophic failure -- they just keep leaking more and more, so replacement can be postponed for a while. Had done it once while being a poor student, and I think it's a $400 - $500 job. My car had clutch, and I got sick and tired of clutch replacements. If you want to try it, it's doable in a day, but I'd start on a Saturday, just in case. 
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From: SoFla
Okay, the Ford mechanic (friend) says he is taking out the transmssion. Is this the standard procedure? Also he will change the oil pan gasket-, front/rear seals. He said 30-35$ for gaskets/parts. Am I the only one that get's on edge and short tempered when someone "else" is working ontheir rig?
Dutch
Dutch
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From: Rochester
Originally Posted by Dutch123
Okay, the Ford mechanic (friend) says he is taking out the transmssion. Is this the standard procedure? Also he will change the oil pan gasket-, front/rear seals. He said 30-35$ for gaskets/parts. Am I the only one that get's on edge and short tempered when someone "else" is working ontheir rig?
Dutch
Dutch
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From: Rochester
Valve covers
Originally Posted by tombob
I had a rear main replaced on my '80 three years ago and it is leaking again==so says a mechanic. I wonder, though, if the leaking valve cover gaskets could cause oil to run down and mimic a rear main leak?
This is a quick fix that does not require alot of labor and money. Feel around the valve cover gaskets for oil first, sometimes it is impossible to find the leak! It is certainly less time consuming and cheaper to repalce the valve cover gaskets...get good quality gaskets!