I think I have a rear main seal leak and want to replace it but the manual says I have to lift the motor to get the oil pan off is this right? I should be able to replace it without dropping the tranny....I sure hope so. Its an auto trans

 

My coworker changed his rear seal when he changed his clutch. Goes without saying that he had his transmission out. He did not mention dropping the oil pan, and I can not see why that would have to be done. Separating the engine and trans is a must, I suggest removal of the trans.
Another side note, when he bought the seal, he bought it from a New Holland Equipment dealership. NH uses the 5.9L in many small framed tractors. The part came in a Cummins bag, inside a NH bag. No difference in part, but from NH it was 25% less!!

 

is the seal one piece or two?

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By The manual if you drop the oil pan and remove the rear crank cap you can get the seal out and the new one in without dropping the tranny

 

It is one piece.

You have to drop the tranny and clutch and flywheel. Thats all you have to remove to get to the seal. You'll see it around the crank. I would suggest getting a small drill bit and drilling 2 small holes in opposite sides of the seal big enough to screw in some sheet metal screws( or screw attachment on a slide hammer). Use a pair of vice grips or aforementioned slide hammer to get the old seal out.

Clean up both mating surfaces. If you find that the crank is grooved from the seal Cummins also sells a rear main seal kit that includes a speedy sleeve you can drive over the end of the crank. Either way the kit should come with a driver to set the seal at the depth that it is supposed to be.

IIRC the seal gets installed dry.

 

does anyone have a link of a writeup on this? Wouldn't mind seeing some pics. Will be doing mine next week.

 

Just verify it's the crank seal and not the pan gasket leaking. Lot of unnecesarry work for not steaming it off first to see where the oil is coming from (for me).

 

According to my 3rd gen service manual, need to drop the transmission, auto or manual. If a manual, might as well grind the flywheel and install a new clutch and pressure plate. Auto, replace the front pump seal. When I had my converter installed, it took them (transmission shop) a half day, so be prepared for that. I got a new seal sitting here, just don't know if it the same for a 99.

 

So if I find out it is the oilpan leaking can I remove the pan without lifting and blocking the motor?

 

I have never done it myself, but have been told you need to lift the front of the engine to make clearance for the pan to be removed.

 

I'm thinking you do need to lift the motor up some. I think that front X member sets just under the pan.