Rear main seal question

[JackJ217]

Started working on replacing my rear main seal while I have the trans out to swap it, only to realize after cleaning up the plate that there is already a wear sleeve on my crank. I ordered the felpro BS40011 rear main kit, which is the one that says to install dry and it doesn’t use a wear sleeve.

My dilemma is I don’t think that the rear main was even leaking, but I figured I should replace it while I’m in here.

It has a National brand rear main seal in it, which I can’t seem to find online anywhere. There’s a small groove on the wear sleeve, but my guess is I’d find an even bigger groove on the crank if I were to remove the sleeve.

Should I just reinstall the plate with the old seal? It looks to be in good enough shape, or is that groove on the sleeve big enough to cause problems? I can just barely catch my fingernail on it.

 

[Nero]

If the seal has been removed from the crank, replace it is my logic. Ive reused them before in this manner and they didnt last long.

 

[JackJ217]

If the seal has been removed from the crank, replace it is my logic. Ive reused them before in this manner and they didnt last long.

That’s kinda what I was thinking. Would you remove the sleeve and use the seal I have, or would you recommend getting a new seal with a sleeve?
I guess that depends on how the crank looks under the sleeve…

 

[Rdnck84_03]

That all depends on how the crank looks when you get the sleeve off.

James

 

[Nero]

Usually they are sleeved for a reason.... I'd leave it, and replace the seal.

 

[miked]

Just to clarify. The sleeve is used to repair a shaft or journal with out changing to a specialized seal.
it was designed to change the diameter of the journal as little as possible.
and still work with an original seal

These sleeves can and do wear out. So if there is a definite groove showing up in the sleeve it should also be replaced. If you can't feel the groove it should be good.
Most of my experience with these sleeves has been in non automotive situations. But they work the same .

 

[miked]

Of course, spray welding the seal area was our preferred method of repair but this ment disassembling the equipment which was not always feasible.