Rear Seal still leaking!!!

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Jul 28, 2003 | 08:28 AM

nzabka

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From: Lincoln NE

Rear Seal still leaking!!!

I spent the whole weekend in the heat replacing the rear main seal on my 351w in my '85 f150. Guess what. It's still leaking.

What on earth could've I done wrong? I followed my haynes manual step by step. It's definately in the right way, with the lip toward the engine. While I was back there I double checked around the intake and everywhere above to and there weren't any obvious "wet" oil spots. The old seal was was completely shot and I'm pretty sure that the leak has to coming from the rear main. I tapped that baby in as far as it would go. No grooves in the crank as far as I could tell with the naked eye. Any suggestions or 2 cents on this would be appreciated. Also, I replaced the oil pan gaskets and I'm sure they're not leaking.

One of the guys at work say I should drive it a while and it will probably stop leaking. Has any one ever had this happen?

Jul 28, 2003 | 05:54 PM

nzabka

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From: Lincoln NE

Rear Seal still leaking!!!

Anyone?

What about the actual lip that touches the cam shaft? I pointed it in towards the motor? Was I wrong, should've it faced me. It seemed like it would have tore if I pushed it on with the lip facing me. I gotta know. it's driving me crazy.

Jul 29, 2003 | 05:43 AM

macguyver

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From: Minneapolis, MN

Rear Seal still leaking!!!

Nick, you're right in that the lip should face in toward the engine.
Did you offset the ends of the seal? By that I mean, when the upper half is in place, did one end stick out past the block about 3/8 to 1/2 an inch? Did you lube it when you installed it? Is the main bearing in good shape? Is the drain passage in the main cap to the rear of the bearing open and not clogged?

Last edited by macguyver; Jul 29, 2003 at 05:46 AM.

Jul 29, 2003 | 07:40 AM

nzabka

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From: Lincoln NE

Rear Seal still leaking!!!

Um, you must be talking about a 2 piece seal when your talking about the uperhalf. ??? Mine was a one piece seal. Yes I did lube it, I used new motor oil. I'm not sure about the drain passage in the main cap. I didn't know to look at that while I had it apart. Would anyone happen to have a picture of this by chance?

Thanks for the reply macguyver!!

Jul 29, 2003 | 08:23 PM

Diesel_Dummy _

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Rear Seal still leaking!!!

you can get a repair sleeve that slips over the end of the crank, be very carefull when installing it, it is very thin and will bend easy.

there is a groove in the crank and this is why it will not seal, and the seal goes the spring side towards the inside of the motor

Jul 29, 2003 | 09:29 PM

nzabka

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From: Lincoln NE

Rear Seal still leaking!!!

So, when you put on the sleeve, does it still take the same seal or is it a kit or something with a seal made for it

Jul 31, 2003 | 08:34 PM

Diesel_Dummy _

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Rear Seal still leaking!!!

yeah you use the stock seal, they (sealed power i think) also makes the same sort of sleeve kit for the front seal also

i had to use both on my 89 mustang HO roller swap thats in my 1990 F150 now, and no leaks anywhere!