Rear Main Seal

whitemts · 02-21-2011, 09:30 AM

Can someone tell me for sure, is the rear main seal on a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee Lerado in two pieces that can be changed by removing the oil pan? I have a leak and it seems like a big job for me so I called the garage. He said he looked it up and the transmission needs to be taken out and its a one piece seal.

**the88thpianoman** · 02-21-2011, 09:34 AM

I had a shop tell me the same thing. It's definitely a two piece seal that you change through the oil pan.

whitemts · 02-21-2011, 09:44 AM

Thanks for the reply. How much did you pay to have yours done? Or did you do it yourself?

whitemts · 02-21-2011, 10:03 AM

I just called another garage to get a quote and this guy swore up and down that the trasmission needs to come out and they havent made two piece seals for years. The quotes have been about $450 to do the job. I guess I either drop it off and let them figure it out or I take it on myself. Does anyone have any advice for this?

whitemts · 02-21-2011, 10:33 AM

So the second guy called me back and said "you were right this main seal is two pieces, you're looking at about $600 to do the job". I am going to attempt this one myself.
One question I have off the top of my head is: after reading a few posts (and looking at my Haynes manual) there is a bottom metal part that unbolts and has the lower half of the seal in it, how do you get the upper part of the seal out and replaced? I assume this upper part has a shaft pressed against it? Any tips for this job would be greatly appreciated!

**WiCkeDuDe** · 02-21-2011, 01:53 PM

The 4.7 v8 is a one piece and the tranny has to come out. The 4.0 can be changed from below and is a 2 piece.

Roundy7 · 02-21-2011, 04:02 PM

if you do have the 4.0 then here you go

http://www.moabjeeper.com/articles/t...?articleID=238

nickblack · 02-21-2011, 06:33 PM

Just make sure to use a BRASS punch when removing the upper part of the seal, otherwise you risk terminal damage to your engine if you nick anything. Also, use the anaerobic RTV silicone sold by Mopar where RTV silicone is called for. Most people who have immediate failure after install of new seal is because regular RTV cures in an aerobic environment. Need the anaerobic for this application. Very important. Cost about $15 tube at Mopar dealer. Follow the Jeep factory Manual on this one, not the Haynes. Jeep Manual gives more detail.

Scibbyz99WJ · 05-01-2011, 11:01 PM

discovered my rear main is pretty bad today. anyone have an estimate time frame? i plan on doing it this coming weekend, and i definitely dont want to pay the previously stated $450!!!

4Doors · 05-02-2011, 09:19 AM

Here are the videos I made that can help give a general overview of what's involved when doing the RMS on a 4.0.

http://youtu.be/ft4LhJWOgtk

http://youtu.be/f5o5sZbCEsw

**MStaffin** · 05-02-2011, 01:58 PM

This is an old thread.
Anyways you can do it yourself theres also a place a mallcrawling or jeepin that has a good wright up.

Time frame about 4+ hrs. I did it with 2 guys took 2 hrs to get the pan to come loose. 1 Hr to brake the bearing cap nuts loose and about another to get the seal up. I remove my plugs so that the crank could turn and it helpped feed the top seal in better but I did rip it. So get two seals. Go to autozone and get the double lip one. Get the pan gasket at napa.