Freeze Plug Leaking....Advice.
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Freeze Plug Leaking....Advice.
Just my luck, had a new radiator put in my 78 Bronco and now that I have a working cooling system, a freeze plug starts to leak. It is a slow leak on the passenger side out of the plug that is directly under the motor mount. I don't see any way to get to it. Is this a hard job? Do you think an auto mechanic will kill me with labor on this? It looks as if the engine will have to be lifted to even access the plug. Please let me know if there is another way. If the engine does have to be lifted it is probably a good time to have the rear main seal fixed, it has been leaking for quite a while. Thanks for any help with this.
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From: houston
Trying to replace a freeze plug with the engine in the truck is going to be very difficult. I won't say it can't be done but if it were me, I would opt for an expansion style plug. This is a rubber plug that you expand by tightening a bolt in the center of the plug. If you had a thermos bottle in your lunch box as a kid(ya, I'm that old)it works the same way. Measure the hole and go to the parts store and ask for an expansion plug. When you see it, it will be self-explanatory how it works. Now getting the old one out will be your only problem. Good luck.
Cargo Master
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I've replaced a couple of them. I can't recall having a problem with access but I do know there wasn't much room and they are a pain in the butt. The way to get them out is to put a screwdriver up in the lip of the cup and tap it with a hammer. You'll twist the plug such that half is in the block and the other half is sticking out. Then you just pull it out. Then you just tap a new one into the same hole. I just did one on my 72 F100 about 3 mos ago.
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From: Houston
I havent had to ever change a freeze plug, but I have had to lift a 351 engine to change the oil pan gasket and it is not as hard as you would expect. Just remove your fan shroud unbolt the engine mounts, disconect your exhaust at the y pipe and jack it up.
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Would I also have to loosen the tranny mount to lift the engine? Since I would have the engine lifted, would this be a good time to fix the leaking rear-main seal? Thanks.
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Just and update. Took it to a local repair shop and they changed out two of my freeze plugs for $187. Not a bad price in my opinion, sure beats me laying under the Bronco breaking more stuff than I fix. They also confirmed that my rear main seal is leaking, they said they would fix it for around $500. I have to do some thinking on that though. Thanks for all the advice.
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Yah, $500 does seem like a lot but I have grown tired in the last few years of working on my vehicles. I pretty much have all new cars now and I usually don't keep them past their warranty just so I don't have to work on them. Of course I love this Bronco so I will never get rid of it, I just have to accept that I will probably pay someone else to do the bigger jobs. Not a snob or anything, I just don't enjoy it anymore. My wife also prefers that I send it out for work so she doesn't have to hear me swearing from the garage.
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From: Birmingham AL
I have had good luck in the past with putting an oil additive in the oil for fixing leaking rear seals.
1988 EB Bronco - 302 - AOD - 3.55 Lim Slip 8.8- Manual Hubs and Transfer Case - BFG 32/11.5 AT - 209,000 miles
1988 EB Bronco - 302 - AOD - 3.55 Lim Slip 8.8- Manual Hubs and Transfer Case - BFG 32/11.5 AT - 209,000 miles
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