Ok next challenge - I had a rear main seal leak



So I pried out the old one



And I can't get the new one in ... I keep chasing it around in a circle there is always one spot that won't go "in" .. like a damn tupperware lid that you just can't get sealed! Any tricks?

 

It didn't come with an alignment cone?

 

soft mallet and tap it in.

 

When I tap the side sticking out it pops out the opposite side
When I go around in a circle tapping the part sticking out goes around in a circle LOL
I try holding in the side that's in a bit with my fingers and tap the other side, it still pops out.

I'll try again tomorrow. It's hard lying under the car too...

 

No cone

 

Rubber seals don't use one. You just need to tap it in a little at a time in a circular fashion.

 

It was really easy to do mine with it off the motor. But to be fair it was on the engine stand too lol. Try a small flat piece of wood or something to hold more of it down while tapping.

 

Really wanna get fancy, get a piece of wood that covers the entire thing and cut the center out so its a ring of wood, lay a 2x4 across that and hit it.
Reusable too.

 

Thank you for the ideas guys.

Here hold my beer...

 

OP, looks like your pilot bearing is in backwards

 

^^
Good eye. Definitely in backwards. The recessed side should be the exposed side. Makes for sliding the trans input shaft much easier.

 

Also on the bearing, bushings tend to be the choice because if the bearing goes it will **** THINGS UP!

 

Oops
Well it lasted while the T56 was in LOL
Can I just pull it and throw it out now that I'm putting the TH400 in?

 

yes not needed for auto trans. also you should pull the cover off then tap the seal in and then install it that should get it to fit. i know thats how lq9's have to be done since its so tight on the crank shaft

 

Another useful tip, hopefully you cleaned the oil residue out of there before you put that seal in, it can leak again if it's not cleaned first.

 

Good thing this is not my day job. It took me 4 hours to remove the pilot bearing and install the rear main seal and bolt up the flywheel. It is officially more an auto car now then a M6 car

The pilot bearing was a bear. Grease did not work. Bread did not work. Finally wet toilet paper got it out.

Thank you all for the help.

 

Since it's an auto there should not be a pilot bearing in place. Take it out before the trans goes on and you bolt the converter to the flex plate. Torque converter may not seat properly with the bearing in place.

 

Thanks it's out!