Can't get front seal out!

[slipnfall]

Hi there - I'm have my front lower cover completely off and degreased(what a PITA if I may say so!), but am stuck on the front oil seal. I took a dental-hook like tool and got a good stick to pull it out(making sure not to hit metal). I thought I was a good ways into it, and pulled some out. To my suprise I pulled a spring out(well, the sping I guess). But the seal 'ripped' all the way around. There's still a ring of rubber in the deeper groove that I can't get out. It's really hard! I'm afraid to score up the lip so I just wanted to get some suggestions. This should be cake b/c the cover's off.

Thanks!-Jamie

[DAEDALUS]

If you can get under it without scratching the metal, it'll pop out easily if you dent it inward first toward the center. Or try using a wooden dowel to bang it out from the back. The wood shouldn't scratch the aluminum. You're right--should be cake.

[slipnfall]

Thanks for the suggestions - I ended up getting it out this morning. I used the 'pry point', near the oil passage, to bend it towards the center, as you mentioned. It slid right out then. I never realized the complex make-up of an oil seal(this is the first one I've serviced). I assumed it was all rubber, but that's far from the case here! A stiff metal band and spring inside...

Anyways, thanks again!-Jamie

[s13sr20chris]

I never realized the complex make-up of an oil seal(this is the first one I've serviced). I assumed it was all rubber, but that's far from the case here! A stiff metal band and spring inside...

heh, this is a nissan. we do things right round here. at least part right.

[Darius]

On a scale of 1-10, how difficult is it to replace a front oil seal on a 96 altima? I read the service manual and it didn't appear to be too hard. I've never taken a crank pulley off of an engine before so I was curious as to how hard it is to get it on and off. Also, are there any other tricks to it like bending the oil seal to get it out?

Sorry to highjack, but I thought this was mostly related to your question.

[s13sr20chris]

not difficult. you must have 27mm socket with some kind of breaker bar or impact wrench to remove crank pulley bolt. you must removed all drivebelts. you need a med-large 2 jaw gear puller($40 at sears) to get pulley off. then you need a seal puller to just yank that old seal out($10 at sears). its fairly simple.

[slipnfall]

In regards to the crank pulley, I suppose I got 'lucky' with mine. The engine was on a stand, so I braced the crank by lodging a wrench between the stand and the flywheel bolts. I used a breaker bar, and a rubber mallet to break the bolt loose. After that I was able to get the pulley off by carefully tapping around the edge w/the same rubber mallet.

Of course this won't help your situation w/the engine still in the ka, and I wouldn't reccomend hammering on the crank pulley(I knew mine was going to a machine shop anyways). As far as bracing of the crank goes, I have heard some creative stories about people installing a breaker bar, then lightly turning over the engine w/the starter.

I'm with ^^: get the two pullers and you shouldn't have any problems.

-Slip

[3Q Jay]

so, what i think i've read is that [ka24de altima]: 1 if the front crank seal only, the job can be done all from the 'outside' without having to remove the front cover. 2. if the o-ring then [obviously] the front cover must be removed.so far, i don't believe this is my problem [see other post titled ka24 oil leak], just keeping in mind for future.

[s13sr20chris]

yup