Topic: rear main seal on 2.5 liter

[Erik]

Quickie....

Changing my rear main seal before i bolt up the rest of my drivetrain and i have a stupid question....

seal orientation...

which way does the seal go in?  Normally i reinstall it the same way the old one came out BUT to me it looks as though the old one was installed backwards....  i could be wrong... it's already happened 3 times today.... but i want confirmation before i continue.

metal side out?



or rubber side out?



the old one was metal side out... which made sense, i guess, until i went to install the new one and saw that it wouldn't just slide in real easy like most seals do.....  it does, however, slip in real easy rubber side out.

so what's the verdict?  did my rear main leak forever becuase it was installed wrong?  or was it leking because it was worn and yes i shoudl install it metal side out as the old one was?

thanks guys

-Erik

[rwing1]

I think it should be Metal side out...  and you should check real close for a groove worn into the crank seal surface...been there done that!  New seal will still leak if there is a groove worn into the crank that needs to be polished.

[Erik]

ok you're right, metal definatly out.

and no ring worn into my crank or any wear shown anywhere else. 

so happy :)

thanks!