Does Rear main seal = dropping oil pan

[body80]

So i have an oil leak coming from between the engine and transmission. I believe it's the rear main seal.
I've already done the valve cover gaskets so I know it's not them.

It's a 3.5L to start off with..........

I know the transmission has to come out but my question is has ANYONE done the rear main seal on the 3.5L without dropping the oil pan. From everything I've seen it appears you have to drop the oil pan also.
I just wanted to see if anyone has some first hand experience.

It doesn't appear to be your standard rear main seal that you can pop out with a screwdriver and press in a new one.

Why does Nissan have to make things so difficult?

[Towncivilian]

I had the RMS done by AAMCO, they dropped the trans and were able to replace the seal. Unfortunately my oil pan gaskets were leaking too (noticed afterwards) so they replaced those too at extra cost, and used an OEM RMS part rather than the aftermarket part they originally used.

[body80]

Yea I saw your post about your experience. I'm wondering if they didn't cause the oil pan to leak because they didn't replace the RMS properly. The FSM states to pull the oil pan out and replace the gaskets. Then you install the RMS and the oil pan gasket rest into a recessed seat in the bottom of the RMS.

I just wanted to see if anyone has managed to angle the RMS in and onto the oil pan gasket without removing the oil pan.

[Towncivilian]

I'd imagine the pan gaskets were leaking prior to that, though since the oil just collected around the bellhousing weep hole I just assumed it was the rear main only. I suppose it's possible they caused it - I did also review the FSM before handing the vehicle over and in fact I printed out the relevant section of the FSM and placed it on the passenger seat. I don't think they used it at all though. I'm fairly sure all they did was pull the trans.

They also said two bolts around the bellhousing were missing somehow and they replaced it free of charge. This means the bolts either worked themselves loose or they were lying. I did have my RMS replaced before at only 1,720 miles (that's not a typo) so it's possible Nissan did not torque the bolts properly or something, but either way, I'm not worried about it.