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3sge rear main seal?

3266 Views 10 Replies 4 Participants Last post by  conechaser
I am currently working on an 86 celica gts. I have changed the clutch flywheel and rear main seal only to have the rear main seal fail after a few days of driving. So I made sure to put a toyota seal in the second time. Guess what it failed too. The problem I am seeing with the seal is that the dust cover portion or "outer lip" fits entirely too tight making it not only difficult to install but it tears after a few days of driving. I have tried many different manufactures to see if I come up with something different but they all fit the same. Entirely too tight on the outer lip.
Has anybody else experienced this problem and if soo what do you recomecnd.
Thank you in advance
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No need for 2 posts...

And it sounds like you are installing it wrong.....
alltracman78 said:
No need for 2 posts...

And it sounds like you are installing it wrong.....
double post was a computer mistake.

As I am an ASE master tech with 25yrs experience I think I know how to properly install oil seals. Keep in mind I not only checked and rechecked the part numbers with the origional seal I removed, I removed the rear housing and slowly worked the last seal on with longer bolts to assure an even press of the seal all around the crank. While this method is slower than the old hammer method, it assures you that the seal will not be distorted in the instalation process. But low and behold it still fits too tight on the outer dust seal portion. And it leaks due to the tearing of the dust seal portion of the seal.

What do you want for a pic?
Did the retainer come out with the seal? If not, drive it out.
if you have a good camera take a pic of the seal on the crank close up, maybe something else is wrong like the wrong crank?
toyomoho said:
Did the retainer come out with the seal? If not, drive it out.
Yes it did but the problem is on the crank side of the seal or inner diameter portion.
Should be the factory crank from what I can tell. By the looks of the car it doesnt appear to have had routine maintenance.
The I.D. is too small then. Must ask the obvious: do you still have the first seal that came out (might be the right seal, but not OEM crank), did someone install a Speedi-seal on the crank, does the seal install relatively easy when not held in it housing, is sealing surface on the crank damaged, is the seal being pushed out of the housing because of overpressure inside the engine, was a little grease applied on the seal prior to sliding it on?

Check Rockauto for your year/Model/Make. They list the diameters for a silicone seal, see if your dim's match those listed.
conechaser said:
As I am an ASE master tech with 25yrs experience I think I know how to properly install oil seals.
My apologies.
I don't usually see someone like you asking that type of question.
If they do, they normally state they have the experience so [hopefully] dumb stuff can be ruled out....

No worries. :)

I do have 1 question.
You said it's the "dust seal portion".
Yet it seems to be the part that seals the crankshaft "shaft" that you are talking about.
The part of the seal that the inner spring holds to the crank.

Toyomoho has a good suggestion.

Some random suggestions.

Is the spring too tight?
How easily does it slide onto the crank?
I have to ask, theres no damage on the crank itself, right?
Your problem might be hardened NOS.


Also, Toyota warrenties thier parts.
Usually only if installed at the dealer, but they might warrenty it for you. :shrug:
It won't hurt to try.
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conechaser, can you push the seal over the end of the crank with your hand and a little grease, if not something is the wrong size, it should fit hammer tight in the retainer but try it without the retainer and see if it will slip onto the crank with your hand
Well long story short I used another Factory toyota seal amd messaged it and the housing into place. Between that and a few new curse words I think this will hold now. I hope.
I took a little more extra car to polish the sealing portion of the crank with emory cloth also. All back together again and so far no leaks. Only time will tell now.
Thanks for all the input, I hope I could be of some assistance to you all some day.
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