Rear Crankshaft Main Bearing Seal: Service and Repair

Special Service Tools

Removal
1. Open the engine compartment and fit paint protection sheets.
2. Open the driver's door, or both doors if necessary, to allow the side glass to drop. Ensure that the doors remain open until after the battery has been disconnected.





3. Disconnect the battery ground cable.
Remove the battery cover.
4. Remove the transmission.
5. Remove the drive plate.





6. Install and align the seal removal tool 303-538 to the crankshaft.
Unscrew the two nuts towards the head of each bolt to allow the bolts to install fully into the crankshaft.
Unscrew the center bolt until it is below the face of the main tool and position the tool to the rear of the crankshaft.
Lightly tighten the two screws so that they fully locate in the crankshaft.





7. Hold the tool against the crankshaft and lightly and evenly tighten the two nuts to the face of the tool; to secure the tool and to hold it parallel to the face of the crankshaft.





8. Secure the oil seal to the tool using the three self-tapping screws spaced evenly around the face of the tool.
Use the punch (provided) and a hammer to pierce the seal face and provide a pilot hole for one of the self-tapping screws provided.
Install a self-tapping screw and tighten by 1 1/2 turns only. DO NOT TIGHTEN BY MORE THAN TWO TURNS OR THE SCREW MAY BREAK.
Repeat the above steps for the other two screws.





9. Hold the two bolts stationary and loosen fully the two nuts.





10. Tighten the centre bolt. This will draw out the seal and tool assembly which will be supported by the two bolts.





11. Remove the two bolts to release the tool and seal assembly from the crankshaft.
Remove the three self-tapping screws.
Remove and discard the seal.
Unscrew the centre bolt until it is below the face of the tool.
12. Clean all relevant components.

Installation
1. Ensure that the transit sleeve is correctly in place and install the new seal over the crankshaft. Do not use any lubricant on the seal, the transit sleeve or the crankshaft.
2. Carefully remove the transit sleeve, leaving the seal in place.





3. Install the tool to the crankshaft.
Ensure that the centre bolt is unscrewed to below the face which is to be installed to the crankshaft and position the tool to the crankshaft.
Check that the nuts are fully unscrewed and enter the two bolts to the crankshaft threads and lightly tighten.





4. Tighten the nuts, finger tight, to hold the tool assembly against the seal. Check that the seal and the tool are approximately parallel to the rear of the engine.





5. Press the seal into the housing.
Hold each bolt stationary, in turn, and tighten its nut a small amount (approximately two to three flats) in turn, to press the seal fully into the housing. until the tool is in contact with the cylinder block.
6. Remove the tool from the crankshaft.
Check that the seal is located correctly.
7. Install the drive plate.
8. Install the transmission.
9. Remove the paint protection sheets and close the engine compartment cover.
10. Connect the battery and install the battery cover.
Reset the side glass memory.