Front main seal leak
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 22
Likes: 3
From: North Jersey
Front main seal leak
Just wanted to get some opinions. I have a 2000 Vette in really nice condition. Recently my mechanic replaced the rear main seal, new McLeod clutch, cut the flywheel and installed a new slave cylinder. I brought it home and noticed a little leak was still occurring. A very minor leak. He checked it and said that the front main seal has a tiny leak also. I just paid $1,900 for the first job... would you spend another $1,100 ish to now fix the front seal and he suggested replacing the harmonic balancer also. Thoughts?? thanks.
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If your harmonic balancer hasn't been replaced, I would replace the balancer and front main seal as it is all part of the job cumulatively - that is how I did it last year. You can also put in a cam while it is all apart since that is also in the same area 
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 22
Likes: 3
From: North Jersey
Hello. So the mechanic is saying that the front seal is also leaking that’s why I’m still getting drips of oil on the ground. But its definitely much better than it was since he did the rear main seal. Do you think it’s worth it to spend another $1000 for the front seal?? - that amount includes replacing the harmonic balancer also.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Orlando Florida
There may come a point where you have to change the balancer, but from what I’ve read here it’s not a forgone conclusion. To me, I can slip a lot of cardboard under the car for a K-buck. For others, the logical answer would be to bite the bullet now.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Feb 2022
Posts: 22
Likes: 3
From: North Jersey
And it’s not like the oil is splashing all over the place like it did before the rear main seal was replaced - it was a mess! It’s definitely a much smaller leak now. I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Lucas stop leak product. I’m thinking about putting that in the engine and seeing if it seals up this leak
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From: Florida
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Hello. So the mechanic is saying that the front seal is also leaking that’s why I’m still getting drips of oil on the ground. But its definitely much better than it was since he did the rear main seal. Do you think it’s worth it to spend another $1000 for the front seal?? - that amount includes replacing the harmonic balancer also.
Thats a fair price. Just don’t let him use another GM balancer. Dayco PowerBond is about $100 and has great success . He should check hoses belts, tensioner, and pulleys while in there. Now’s the time when it’s apart and right in front of him.
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