Rubicon rear main - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

rubicon2004 · 08-31-2009, 07:23 AM

Looking for a little help. I have a 2004 Rubicon that has had a rear main seal leak for a while. I have replaced it twice now, once with a Felpro and once with Mopar unit. I have oiled it , soaped it and used rvt and still a leak. Any pointers would be greatly welcome, cause this is about to drive me nuts. And by the way the crank looks good, and it was installed right both times and torked to 80 FTlbs both times. Thanks for all the help.

iwishihad1 · 08-31-2009, 08:51 AM

ran into the same problem a while ago with my cherokee. done plenty of rear mains seals on other jeeps before with no problem. went to do mine, and it went smoothly. fired it up to go drive it, and it was leaking like a sieve. pulled it apart, and redid it with a new seal, same deal.

3rd time i used bearing grease instead of soap and its been great. not sure if the grease changed anything but thats what worked for me

Fyathyrio · 08-31-2009, 12:50 PM

I used a sealant called "The Right Stuff" instead of RTV. Better oil tolerance, better temp resistance, pretty much better then RTV all around. It comes in a can and shoots out like Easy Cheese, avail at pretty much any parts store.

The sealant doesn't go on the seal ends, it goes next to them where the bearing cap hits the corner of the block. I don't have access to my FSM, or I'd post the pic for ya.

rubicon2004 · 09-01-2009, 05:30 AM

Hey Thanks a lot, I will try both of your ideas.

08-31-2009, 07:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
rubicon2004 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Member # 141354 Location: St. Louis Mo Posts: 2	Rubicon rear main Looking for a little help. I have a 2004 Rubicon that has had a rear main seal leak for a while. I have replaced it twice now, once with a Felpro and once with Mopar unit. I have oiled it , soaped it and used rvt and still a leak. Any pointers would be greatly welcome, cause this is about to drive me nuts. And by the way the crank looks good, and it was installed right both times and torked to 80 FTlbs both times. Thanks for all the help.

08-31-2009, 12:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
Fyathyrio Wheeler Join Date: Feb 2005 Member # 43534 Location: Where the Navy sends me. Posts: 191	I used a sealant called "The Right Stuff" instead of RTV. Better oil tolerance, better temp resistance, pretty much better then RTV all around. It comes in a can and shoots out like Easy Cheese, avail at pretty much any parts store. The sealant doesn't go on the seal ends, it goes next to them where the bearing cap hits the corner of the block. I don't have access to my FSM, or I'd post the pic for ya. __________________ Midsouth Jeeps

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08-31-2009, 08:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
iwishihad1 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Member # 99055 Posts: 792	ran into the same problem a while ago with my cherokee. done plenty of rear mains seals on other jeeps before with no problem. went to do mine, and it went smoothly. fired it up to go drive it, and it was leaking like a sieve. pulled it apart, and redid it with a new seal, same deal. 3rd time i used bearing grease instead of soap and its been great. not sure if the grease changed anything but thats what worked for me

09-01-2009, 05:30 AM	#4 (permalink)
rubicon2004 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Member # 141354 Location: St. Louis Mo Posts: 2	Hey Thanks a lot, I will try both of your ideas.