Tools Required

J 38817-A Rear Main Seal Installer

1. Remove the transmission. Refer to Transmission Replacement in Automatic Transmission.
2. Remove the flywheel. Refer to Engine Flywheel Replacement .
3. The preferred method of seal removal is by drilling a (1/8 in) hole in the metal seal body and removing the seal with a body dent puller (slide hammer). Seal removal with a screwdriver blade between the seal lips and the crankshaft is also possible but extreme care is required to avoid damage to the crankshaft sealing surface.

1. Replace a small amount of GM Gasket Maker, GM P/N 1052942 or equivalent, at the crankcase split line across the end of the upper/lower crankcase seal.



2. Lubricate the rear main seal sealing lips with engine oil and slide the seal over the arbor of the J 38817-A . The garter spring faces the engine.
3. Thread J 38817-A into the crankshaft flange.
4. Install the seal by turning the handle until the tool bottoms against the crankcase.



5. When properly installed, the outer surface of the seal (2) should be 0.5 mm below (4) the surface of the engine block (1).
6. Install the flywheel. Refer to Oil Pan Replacement .
7. Install the transmission. Refer to Transmission Replacement in Automatic Transmission.