Replace Rear Main Seal?

[Quattroguy98]

Getting ready to replace my clutch with a sweet RA4 Clutch Kit from ECS, and have read that it might be a good time to replace the rear main seal as well. My car has around 150k currently. Is this something that I should do as preventative maintenance? Or mess with it when it starts leaking?

Seal Link:
http://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalo...0t-p-1505.html

[MikTip]

I replaced mine while I was in there...

Better to do now than to be forced to do so later! Doesnt cost much...

But there are some here who say leave it be if its not leaking...

Pay now or pay later...you decide!

[Fourplay]

I would avoid messing with it if it's not leaking. Much better to leave it than mess with it and have to pull everything again to fix it if it doesn't seal properly.

[Charles.waite]

Given that its actually fairly easy to install it properly, I would repalce it.

Anyway, if you discover it IS leaking, then your clutch swap is on hold until you get one. Because only a complete moron (or a masochist) would buttone the clutch up and put the tranny on KNOWING that a $25 seal located behind the flywheel is seeping and you could have addressed it...

My advice, buy it. If you don't need it great. If you do, you are prepared.

FWIW, my Rear Main Seal was leaking when I replaced my clutch at 95k this past fall. Very glad I saw the warning signs (dirty oil dripping out from between the engine block and tranny bellhousing) and deduced it must be the RMS. Would have been a VERY annoying way to have left the job half done while I tracked down a rear main seal on a Sunday....

[walky_talky20]

I've seen them fail at 120k, followed by the 01A 5-speed input shaft seal at 125k. Together, drenching a brand new clutch in oil from both sides.

So you can guess what 2 items I replaced when I put a new clutch in at 170k. My rear main was not leaking, but it was falling apart.

[audinaut]

Are you DIY'ing the clutch? The booktime at a shop for replacing the rear main seal is about 15 minutes more than a clutch job. So if you're paying someone to do your clutch your better to have them replace the RM seal too on their warranty.

If you're DIY'ing the clutch, it's up to you whether you want to deal with the RM seal later if it starts going bad.

I'd replace it. The common thing that goes wrong with replacing the RM seal without dropping the oil pan is making sure you have good RTV coverage/seal on the RM seal to oil pan surface.

[jacobsen]

You will regret it, mark my words. Replace it now, it's a couple screws and it's out, super easy job, adds 10 minutes to the whole job, no brainer/why not/ do it kind of job. It's not hard to place the new seal. Follow torque spec and you won't have a leak, now the front crank seal... That's a tear or 2 but hey it's an audi.

[A4orce84]

You will regret it, mark my words. Replace it now, it's a couple screws and it's out, super easy job, adds 10 minutes to the whole job, no brainer/why not/ do it kind of job. It's not hard to place the new seal. Follow torque spec and you won't have a leak, now the front crank seal... That's a tear or 2 but hey it's an audi.

I'm assuming yours started leaking?

[SJorge3442]

I did my clutch at 110k. I didnt dare touch the rear main. It looked great, why mess with it. I come from a long family of gear heads and they all swear up and down to never touch any seal that isnt leaking. Is this old school mentality? Sure. Do I listen to them still? You betcha. Some things are better left untouched. Ill just leave this meme here.

[jacobsen]

I'm assuming yours started leaking?

No... Mine never leaked but on a turbo motor... You should always replace seals... Plus new beyond full price clutch kit from ECS with old rear main? Like huh? Not replacing rear main? what reason could there be? Like fries without seasoning... Lets say that at some point after he replaced that clutch the rear main starts leaking and destroys the clutch kit... No small job, woulda shoulda coulda for like 30 bucks, I got mine on ebay it was a VR reinz, identical to the old one... Now the front crank seal in my opinion is more likely to leak, but there are folks on here reporting leaky rear mains...

[diagnosticator]

I get the impression that "don't change the seal" is similar logic to the "don't change the ATF, or else" reasoning. The pseudo logic sounds convincing, but the actual facts involved are ignored. Oil seals are contact type seals. They wear out. Having the trans out with easy access to the seal, considering a seals expected life time in service is used up at 100K miles. Realizing the relevant technical facts involved along with the practical considerations, seal replacement as part of a new clutch install, is not really debatable, IMO.

[Charles.waite]

^^ agreed. Not to mention installing it properly really isn't that hard if you have the tool the flange comes with.

[MikTip]

I get the impression that "don't change the seal" is similar logic to the "don't change the ATF, or else" reasoning. The pseudo logic sounds convincing, but the actual facts involved are ignored. Oil seals are contact type seals. They wear out. Having the trans out with easy access to the seal, considering a seals expected life time in service is used up at 100K miles. Realizing the relevant technical facts involved along with the practical considerations, seal replacement as part of a new clutch install, is not really debatable, IMO.

Very nicely put!

[Quattroguy98]

Thanks guys! So is there any additional things I should replace while I'm in there for a clutch job?

[Sales@DriveAuto]

We suggest replacing them whenever doing a clutch replacement - it's a cost effective insurance item.

[Quattroguy98]

Bump, asking if there is anything ADDITIONAL to the rear main seal to replace while doing a clutch-job.

[SJorge3442]

Bump, asking if there is anything ADDITIONAL to the rear main seal to replace while doing a clutch-job.

the input shaft seal on the trans. Other than that, everything is replaceable with the trans in place. Maybe do a clutch slave while you are at it. pepboys sells the luk OEM replacement for like 60. Find some coupon codes online and get it for around 40.