Front main seal replacement questions (M30)

vanbavaria

vanbavaria

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I know im on the E9 forum but i figured the engines are pretty much the same.

So started the ‘72 Bavara this morning to do a service and noticed a nice transverse oil spray line forming on the garage floor. I can see the oil flinging out from behind the vibration dampener upon closer inspection.

My Question?

1) has anyone replaced there front main oil seal and have any pointers?
2) do you have to remove the lower timing chain cover to replace or can you manage to do the replacement on engine?

Any info or sources would help, summer is around the corner and I want to have everything tickaty boo for cruising.

Thanks everyone!
 
The seal is easy, getting to it is the issue. You will have to not only remove the lower timing cover but the crank nut as well. Then pound the seal out (or use a seal remover tool). Reinstall not quite in the same position so that it hits an unworn spot on the crank shaft. Getting it started straight is important, the seal can easily get cocked and damaged if it isn't started correctly.
 
Be advised that removing the lower timing cover can be a bad experience - you can expect the pan gasket and the head gasket to get damaged.
Be very gentle........ taking that timing cover off.
 
appreciate the replies. With that said no body’s ever attempted to replace the front main seal with out having to remove the timing cover? Or is that simply not possible.

if the timing covers got to come out I might as well go all in and do the timing chain, guides and sprockets while im in there.

Thoughts?
 
Don’t scratch your crank surface…….
Think about it.
 
vanbavaria said:
appreciate the replies. With that said no body’s ever attempted to replace the front main seal with out having to remove the timing cover? Or is that simply not possible.

if the timing covers got to come out I might as well go all in and do the timing chain, guides and sprockets while im in there.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Of course it is possible, and I strongly suspect that it has been accomplished as a "field repair," but this approach is hardly ideal. (Maybe, if the engine were out of the vehicle and on an engine stand . . . ) Once you remove the crank pulley you might be able to "cleanly" remove the old seal. However, as already noted, avoiding damage to the exposed crankshaft is a concern - as is properly seating the new seal in the timing case cover with the crankshaft in place.

autobooks_manual_031.jpg


autobooks_manual_023.jpg
 
tochi said:
Of course it is possible, and I strongly suspect that it has been accomplished as a "field repair," but this approach is hardly ideal. (Maybe, if the engine were out of the vehicle and on an engine stand . . . ) Once you remove the crank pulley you might be able to "cleanly" remove the old seal. However, as already noted, avoiding damage to the exposed crankshaft is a concern - as is properly seating the new seal in the timing case cover with the crankshaft in place.

autobooks_manual_031.jpg


autobooks_manual_023.jpg
Click to expand...
This is great info! Thanks Tochi my old Haynes Manuel most definitely does not get into this amount of detail. May i ask your source is for this? The more literature the better i figure.

4CC4579C-D929-46D4-977D-72FAE5BA2D86.jpeg
 
bluecoupe30! said:
That looks like the Autobooks shop manual. I believe it is attached to this site, go to Home and then Technical Literature.
Click to expand...
Is that Michael! Hope your keeping well. I can’t seem to find this auto books site online with all the crap popping up under that heading. You wouldn’t be able to send the link could you?
 
vanbavaria said:
appreciate the replies. With that said no body’s ever attempted to replace the front main seal with out having to remove the timing cover? Or is that simply not possible.

if the timing covers got to come out I might as well go all in and do the timing chain, guides and sprockets while im in there.

Thoughts?
Click to expand...
I have done it and you do have to be very careful. You should use a proper seal tool if you are going to attempt this. As Don says you can scratch the crank and then you have opened another whole can of worms.
 
OCCoupe said:
I have done it and you do have to be very careful. You should use a proper seal tool if you are going to attempt this. As Don says you can scratch the crank and then you have opened another whole can of worms.
Click to expand...
Yes decisions will be made once I gain access after pulling everything off the timing cover.
 
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