Front Crankshaft oil seal removal - last step of winter job

chrisg · Dec 26, 2012

Evening all !

As my winter job this year, I'm replacing the cam & balance belts and whilst in there the front crankshaft oil seal which has been leaking for some time.

I'm now at the 'bottom' of the job, ie nearly finished dismantling before starting to put back together - having carefully photographed, marked and noted just about everything !

Question is, has anyone safely removed the front crankshaft oil seal ? Without getting brutal with a screwdriver, I'm struggling to work out how to remove it.

The rear crankshaft seal is very straightforward as there is a notch in the rear engine case to prise it out with a screwdriver.

Any suggestions or recommendations gratefully received !

Yours

Chris

robdimond · Dec 27, 2012

Chris,

I'm about to do mine so will let you know if I find any tricks! I was planning on pulling out the oil pump drive gear and then getting a seal puller in.
I wouldn't be worried about destructively removing the seal as long as you don't scratch the crank or the block.

Rob

timfield · Dec 27, 2012

yeah I did mine a couple of months ago and found a groove in the oil pump drive, so I would say replace it as a matter of course, this would also give you the room to pull the seal out. I had to be a little rough with the oil pump drive ring but as I knew it was going in the bin it was not a problem and then left the room to get the seal out. You also need the O ring that fits before the drive ring.
I hope this is of some use!?
cheers
tim

Hilux · Dec 27, 2012

Screw in (carefully) two self tappers 180 degrees apart and use them to pull it out

Worked for me loads of times

chrisg · Dec 27, 2012

Thanks for the responses, in typical fashion having had a day at work thinking through the issue, after 5mins tonight I got sorted.

The solution was simple, apair of surgical scissors, I used the thin, spikey blade to prise the oil pump drive out - between the seal and the drive, few wiggles and out it popped. With the drive out there was enough space between the crankshaft and the seal to pop it out. Dead easy !

As I suspected (photo taken but not yet uploaded) the pump drive sleeve had a prounced lip where it's been running in the seal, hence my continued oil leak from the front end, all I have to do now is order new seals, once the o ring that goes up against the drive, and a new drive sleeve and fit everything back again !

Chris

All I