Replacing main rear engine seal

[Mitchs07explorer]

Anyone know of any good write ups on the process to replace the main seal for the 5.0 ex's? I did a google search and found some very old threads here. At one point the most relevant thread had some helpful links but the links have since gone down as they're over a decade old. Any help would be much appreciated!

 

[koda2000]

Anyone know of any good write ups on the process to replace the main seal for the 5.0 ex's? I did a google search and found some very old threads here. At one point the most relevant thread had some helpful links but the links have since gone down as they're over a decade old. Any help would be much appreciated!

Someone else recently inquired about doing this job. Of course the transmission has to be removed first. The rear main seal is a one piece design and getting the old one out is the first hurdle. Installing the new one requires a special Ford tool. I found on the internet where you can make one with stuff from home depot, but you have to use something or you'll ruin the new seal.

How bad is your leak? If it's not leaving drips on the driveway, I'd think twice about tackling this job. Pretty much all ford 5.0's leak a bit from the rear main seal. All mine do/did. also make sure your leak isn't more due to your valve cover gaskets.

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Someone else recently inquired about doing this job. Of course the transmission has to be removed first. The rear main seal is a one piece design and getting the old one out is the first hurdle. Installing the new one requires a special Ford tool. I found on the internet where you can make one with stuff from home depot, but you have to use something or you'll ruin the new seal.

How bad is your leak? If it's not leaving drips on the driveway, I'd think twice about tackling this job. Pretty much all ford 5.0's leak a bit from the rear main seal. All mine do/did. also make sure your leak isn't more due to your valve cover gaskets.

I need to take a REALLY detailed look in the engine bay, haven't had much time to be thorough yet. It could be coming from one of the other gaskets and really that's what I'm hoping (something I can at least get to more easily/hopefully). It doesn't really drip when it's just sitting but it seems to leave a more substantial amount of oil on the ground after its been running. I'm a fairly technical person but don't have a lot of experience when it comes to these kinds of repairs. I picked to the EX as a project so it's not my daily driver and I can take my time. But I also don't want to spend time or money for only a small gain. I'll ***** the other gaskets to see if one of them is really the issue. It's got 166k on it and under the hood it looks better than expected but it could be running the same set of sparkplugs and maybe the PCV valve hasn't ever been changed. Anyway, I'm just worse case scenarioing my situation and want to be prepared. I've always wanted one of the old 5.0's, I mean it practically runs the same specs as my 07 EX put I love that it has the V8! It'll sound a lot better once the header is fixed.

 

[SWIGIN]

My 94 Mustang GT has the one piece seal and I did it like I do any other seal. Taped it in with a hammer slowly. I did loosen the rear main and that helped a bunch then just retorque it.

I did that maybe 10 years ago and no leaks yet.

 

[koda2000]

OP - Here's a link to a YouTube video on installing the rear main seal with the engine on a stand that you may fine helpful. The mechanic goes through great pains to insure the seal is correctly installed.

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

OP - Here's a link to a YouTube video on installing the rear main seal with the engine on a stand that you may fine helpful. The mechanic goes through great pains to insure the seal is correctly installed.

Thanks!

 

[SWIGIN]

That video is basically what I did but under the car instead of it being on the stand.

Easy peasy.

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

That video is basically what I did but under the car instead of it being on the stand.

Easy peasy.

How did you remove your transmission, did you have a lift or did you use jack stands? I don't have access to a lift am going to attempt this in my garage. I thought I could use tall jack stands with blocks and a low pro transmission jack. Does that sound feasible to you since you've already done the job?

 

[SWIGIN]

Look at your other thread.......

 

[Mitchs07explorer]

Look at your other thread.......

Thanks!