C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Replacing rear main seal

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 7, 2015 | 03:37 PM
  #1  
01silvercoupe's Avatar
01silvercoupe
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Default Replacing rear main seal

When replacing the rear main seal, how important is it to replace the cover gasket too? I see oil at the bottom of the seal but everything around the cover looks good. Also, how hard is it to remove the rear main with the plate still in the car? Any good techniques?
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2015 | 02:38 AM
  #2  
NITRO UK's Avatar
NITRO UK
Burning Brakes
 
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 936
Likes: 8
From: England United Kingdom
Default

Check out these guys , I think I would change the cover seal , gasket while your in there https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ment-tool.html

Great guys to deal with
Cheers
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2015 | 12:22 PM
  #3  
Anthraxmm's Avatar
Anthraxmm
Racer
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 330
Likes: 2
From: Visalia California
Default

For about $50 you can get a new rear cover with a gasket and the rear main seal already installed. That's what I did and it was a lot easier than trying to get out the old seal and then getting the new one in. Just put a dab of rtv where the cover meets the oil pan.
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2015 | 12:26 PM
  #4  
Anthraxmm's Avatar
Anthraxmm
Racer
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 330
Likes: 2
From: Visalia California
Default

Also to change the cover in the car is a bit of a PITA. you'll want to remove the bellhousing. That is after you remove the rear cradle, diff, trans, and torque tube. It's a good weekend by yourself if your good with a wrench.
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2015 | 12:41 PM
  #5  
01silvercoupe's Avatar
01silvercoupe
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Anthraxmm
Also to change the cover in the car is a bit of a PITA. you'll want to remove the bellhousing. That is after you remove the rear cradle, diff, trans, and torque tube. It's a good weekend by yourself if your good with a wrench.
Yeah, everything is already removed(currently replacing some differential components) except for the bell housing. The bolts don't look like they are easy to get to. I guess I'll roll back under the car on wednesday and see if I can get to those bolts. What brand cover/seal did you go with?
Reply
Old Jun 8, 2015 | 03:22 PM
  #6  
Anthraxmm's Avatar
Anthraxmm
Racer
10 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 330
Likes: 2
From: Visalia California
Default

I got it from tick performance, it's a GM part.


There's the new one installed. In fact I wasn't able to completely remove the bellhousing. I removed all the bolts but one I had to back off as much as I could then just pulled the housing back.
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 12:41 PM
  #7  
01silvercoupe's Avatar
01silvercoupe
Thread Starter
Instructor
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 110
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by Anthraxmm
I got it from tick performance, it's a GM part.


There's the new one installed. In fact I wasn't able to completely remove the bellhousing. I removed all the bolts but one I had to back off as much as I could then just pulled the housing back.
Cool, Thank you!
Reply
Old Jun 9, 2015 | 01:05 PM
  #8  
StingrayRebel's Avatar
StingrayRebel
Acct Suspended APR 2026 by request
 
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10,367
Likes: 1,272
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
C5 of Year Winner (performance mods) 2019
Default

I would do the rear cover gasket and main seal regardless if they were leaking or not just for cheap insurance if the drivetrain was out for whatever reason... no sense in buying a new rear cover in my opinion, I just bought the rear cover alignment tool from saccity corvette along with a new rear main seal and cover gasket... those cover alignment tools work like a charm and I haven't had any front or rear main/cover gasket leaks since using them
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Replacing rear main seal

Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-1

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-2

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

 Brett Foote
story-7

Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-8

10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

 Michael S. Palmer




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:05 AM.

story-0
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-2
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)

Slideshow: Ranking the top 10 Corvette engines by torque output.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:58:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!

Slideshow: A Corvette pace car nearly matching IndyCar speeds sounds exaggerated, until you look at the numbers.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-04 20:03:36


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!

Among a rather large group of them.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-04 13:56:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!

Slideshow: the top 10 things Corvette owners want in the C9 Corvette

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-30 12:41:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know

Slideshow: 10 Important Corvette 'firsts' that every fan should know.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-04-29 17:02:16


VIEW MORE
story-9
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2

Slideshow: Should you buy a 2020-2026 Corvette or wait for 2027?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-22 10:08:58


VIEW MORE