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: 243
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.
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Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,836
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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.
