1st Gen. Ram - All Topics Discussion for all Dodge Rams prior to 1994. This includes engine, drivetrain and non-drivetrain discussions. Anything prior to 1994 should go in here.

Leaky rear main

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-05-2006, 07:16 AM
  #1  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
mhuppertz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Tijeras, New Mexico, 7,000ft up
Posts: 4,003
Received 126 Likes on 70 Posts
Leaky rear main

I got a lot of leaks fixed, but now I have a new one, and I'm afraid it's the rear main.
Can I "sneaky pete" a new one in there?
Old 10-05-2006, 07:49 AM
  #2  
Registered User
 
Geico266's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Nebraska
Posts: 3,988
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Not sure what you mean by sneak one in there. If pulling the tranny can be done sneekly then yup you can sneek on in there.
Old 10-05-2006, 11:04 AM
  #3  
Registered User
 
Falcon1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Graham, Washington
Posts: 632
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by mhuppertz
I got a lot of leaks fixed, but now I have a new one, and I'm afraid it's the rear main.
Can I "sneaky pete" a new one in there?
Nope you need to pull the tranny. It's a one piece seal. I did mine took abour 8 hours.

Greg
Old 10-05-2006, 05:07 PM
  #4  
Registered User
 
ChrisLib's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Boerne, TX
Posts: 1,517
Received 11 Likes on 6 Posts
Ahhh I feel your pain. My RMS is also leaking, infact it`s been leaking since I got the truck, and now I know why . I recently had the starter out to put in new contacts and when I pulled it down...LO and BEHOLD what looks like about 1/2 of the RMS lip was hanging off the starter nose...grrr. At least now I know with 95% certainty that it`s the RMS and not the cam plug leaking, altho I`ll re-seal that too when I do the job.
Old 10-05-2006, 05:14 PM
  #5  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
mhuppertz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Tijeras, New Mexico, 7,000ft up
Posts: 4,003
Received 126 Likes on 70 Posts
I'm just hoping that it's not going because the thrust surface is wearing away. Don't get me wrong, this is what I deserve for the way I sometimes drive the poor beast, but the thought of doing the mains makes me break out in a sweat! I haven't noticed any funky belt wear, so maybe I am OK still... praying!!!

If I have to pull the trans I might as well do the clutch, pilot bearing, and throwout bearing while I have her apart. I just heard my bank account make a big sucking sound!
Old 10-05-2006, 07:25 PM
  #6  
Registered User
 
rlyons's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Mossy Head, FL
Posts: 701
Received 32 Likes on 16 Posts
I guess our trucks are just getting old, mine started leaking this spring also but I am waiting for cooler weather to fix it if we ever get cooler weather. I put about 10,000 miles on it this summer towing my trailer and it never got any worse so I figure it will wait a few more weeks for this heat to break.
Old 10-05-2006, 07:47 PM
  #7  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
mhuppertz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Tijeras, New Mexico, 7,000ft up
Posts: 4,003
Received 126 Likes on 70 Posts
I guess so. My truck was completely dry when I bought it, and stayed that way for quite a while. It's kind of a bummer to have it leak after I bragged about how tight the Cummins was to all the Ferd guys... course their trucks all cavitated a long time ago and had to be rebuilt!!!!
Old 10-05-2006, 08:29 PM
  #8  
Registered User
 
ouchman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 425
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
FYI - as I recall the rear main seal goes in *dry* (right?) - in case you do it yourself.
Old 10-05-2006, 09:30 PM
  #9  
Registered User
 
Firstgenner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: left & wet; coast, that is...
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Dry installation is correct...I just did mine and cleaned the crank hub with acetone to remove any trace of oil, grease or dirt prior to installing the seal. The seal is Teflon and should not be installed with any type of lubricant, as opposed to your more common rubber seals.
Old 10-05-2006, 10:03 PM
  #10  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
mhuppertz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Tijeras, New Mexico, 7,000ft up
Posts: 4,003
Received 126 Likes on 70 Posts
Glad to know that, because I would have cleaned the area with lacquer thinner and glued the seal in with Ultra Copper.
Old 10-05-2006, 10:16 PM
  #11  
Registered User
 
Firstgenner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: left & wet; coast, that is...
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Mark,

I was referring to the crank hub and not the seal housing, in case we have our wires crossed on what should be "dry". The sealing area on the crank itself must be dry as well as the lip of the seal that rides on the crank. Sorry if it sounds confusing.
Old 10-06-2006, 12:35 AM
  #12  
Registered User
 
flashgordon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: WY
Posts: 2,319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
To maybe clairify it better...........the seal need to be dry to create the sealing effect by burnising(actualy slightly melting the lip of the seal from the friction of the seal and crank.) this make a more perfect surfice to keep oil in,and being teflon, is kind of a lubicant(like the eggs that just slide right out of a non stick pan.....teflon pan)

I know this seam vary strange but it works!!!!

If you fill the need to add sealnt to the metal shell of the seal.....it wouldn't hurt!!!!!
Old 10-06-2006, 10:36 AM
  #13  
Registered User
Thread Starter
 
mhuppertz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Tijeras, New Mexico, 7,000ft up
Posts: 4,003
Received 126 Likes on 70 Posts
Originally Posted by flashgordon
To maybe clairify it better...........the seal need to be dry to create the sealing effect by burnising(actualy slightly melting the lip of the seal from the friction of the seal and crank.) this make a more perfect surfice to keep oil in,and being teflon, is kind of a lubicant(like the eggs that just slide right out of a non stick pan.....teflon pan)

I know this seam vary strange but it works!!!!

If you fill the need to add sealnt to the metal shell of the seal.....it wouldn't hurt!!!!!

Thanks Flash, that is exactly the kind of info I love (and need).
Old 10-06-2006, 11:32 AM
  #14  
Registered User
 
flashgordon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: WY
Posts: 2,319
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
NO prob glad to be able to help!!
Old 10-06-2006, 11:53 AM
  #15  
Registered User
 
G1625S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kirkwood, NY
Posts: 4,767
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 5 Posts
I speedie-sleeved mine, just to be safe. The silly sleeve was more than the seal


Quick Reply: Leaky rear main



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:01 PM.