[s-cars] front crank seal (aka crankshaft seal, main seal)

[Ben Swann]

My experience with the front crank seals after having removed and replaced
several is that even at 150K miles they typically show no wear and actually
look new.  IMO there may be as much risk in replacing one, especially if you
don't pull the carrier - in this case the pump, than if you just leave it
alone.  If it isn't leaking a drop and the area is indeed bone dry, you are
likely good for another belt change.  Pro-shops being paid to do this are
obligated, but if this is your own car, you can likely safely skip this step.
YMMV and I personally decide if to replace or not on case-by-case basis.

 

I'd appreciate any feedback even if to the contrary - I certainly don't like
to do jobs twice.

 

Ben

 

[Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2007 03:15:54 -0700 (PDT)

From: Theodore Chen <tedebearp at yahoo.com>

Subject: [s-cars] front crank seal (aka crankshaft seal, main seal)

To: s-car-list at audifans.com

Message-ID: <490283.69369.qm at web50603.mail.re2.yahoo.com>

Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

 

i'm in the middle of a timing belt job.  the front crank seal isn't

leaking a single drop.  car has 145k miles on it.  last belt was done

at about 50k miles.  i don't know if the crank seal was replaced.

 

i have a rental timing belt tool kit that includes the official

audi crank seal puller, same as the one depicted in fred munro's writeup.

 

should i replace the seal or leave it alone?  i don't know if the one in 

there is original or a replacement, but i do know it isn't leaking at all.

 

-teddy]