rear main seal
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 140
From: Weatherford, TX
rear main seal
I noticed oil leaking thru the bellhousing, looks like the rear main. Oreilly has 2 kinds.
National brand, rubber seal
Felpro brand, teflon
Then from GM there's a new rear cover with a seal installed. I don't have a rear seal tool, so maybe I'll have better chances just changing out the cover. What do you think?
National brand, rubber seal
Felpro brand, teflon
Then from GM there's a new rear cover with a seal installed. I don't have a rear seal tool, so maybe I'll have better chances just changing out the cover. What do you think?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
Certainly it needs to be changed however, are you aware that you need to remove the drive-train to get to it? I mean, rear wheels, carriage assembly, differential, transmission, torque tube and finally you'll be able to get to the bell housing. Now if you are a manual transmission, the clutch as well will come out. The seal is cheap. If you are a manual, time to do the clutch at the same time unless you are really low miles and the clutch is in good shape. Consider the clutch's slave cylinder and pilot bearing at the same time.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,482
Likes: 3
From: Carmichael ca
Be sure its not an oil sender leaking down the bellhousing. If you do change it, change the rear cover gasket also. Be careful with the oil pan bolts that go into the rear cover, they're easy to strip.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 140
From: Weatherford, TX
Thanks, yes the drivetrain is already out. I verified it's not leaking from above, at the oil sender. I'm not sure which seal to get. Also wondering if I can tap/press in a new seal without a seal tool, or maybe better off replacing the whole rear cover.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Uncasville CT
The new style seals from the dealer are very easy to install. They are marked which way it is installed and can be seated by hand. I would not waste any money on a seal install tool or a new rear cover.
When I bought my seal from the dealer there was only one type in the system.
Charlie
When I bought my seal from the dealer there was only one type in the system.
Charlie
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 4,326
Likes: 140
From: Weatherford, TX
Thanks, that's good to know and saves me some $$$. I was surprised to find the seals in stock at Oreilly. I think the teflon type is newer and the older style is rubber. The teflon type is a few bucks more, so I assume it's better. 
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
Fel-Pro is a high-quality, first-class, seal/gasket manufacturer. If they offer a Teflon coated version I, for one, would be very inclined to use it. They have a long history of improving upon factory gasket/seals used by all the OEMs.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,962
Likes: 29
From: Van Buren Arkansas
Wounded Warrior Escort '11
I just replaced the clutch on mine via a former GM Mechanic. He had to go borrow the dealer's tool to do the seal for whatever reason...I don't know why.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
Likes: 244
From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16
If he removed the rear engine cover, he may have just wanted to be certain that the alignment was correct when he re-attached it. The alignment of the rear cover (and front cover for that matter) is critical to the oil pan bolt holes being lined up correctly as they share a couple fasteners. I would think that if he just removed the rear cover only, and did not touch the oil pan (as far as loosening, etc), that he could just re-attach it without disturbing the alignment, but maybe better safe than sorry.
