Cam seals

[poissonverte]

Anyone know of something that works to remove these? Mine are so hard they bend nails, destroy everything else I throw at them. What gives? I figured a punch would be the same as a nail and a hammer. LOL..

 

[luigisho]

You try a small wood screw? Nice and sharp to bite into the seal. Just don't go crazy and mess up the mating surface behind it.

 

[290]

I just recently removed my cam seals with a pic and damaged the edge of the back surface right on the edge, after reading this im worried i messed up big time. its a little nik right on the inner edge of the back mating surface.

 

[luigisho]

Who can say how bad it is until it's up and running? I just put the warning out to prevent damage. Yours might be fine and maybe not. Only one way to tell.

 

[Xs SHO 1]

Mine are so hard they bend nails, destroy everything else I throw at them. What gives? I figured a punch would be the same as a nail and a hammer. LOL..

Try using a self tapper screw. Its easier to replace the cam seals in the summer time than in the middle of winter, like I did....

 

[93MTXSHO_STUD]

I used a good quality punch. Then I got a heavy duty dental pick and pulled it out. If you scratch the edge youd be in trouble.

 

[Off Road SHO]

And just to clarify what a couple of the guys have already stated; it's the inner and outer mating surfaces, not the back side, that are the sealing surfaces on a seal. The most critical one is the inner one that rotates. A scratch there will not only leak immediately, but the rotating scratch mark will actully wear away the inner spring lip of the seal, making a huge leaking mess. Clean up any scratches with crocus cloth or scotchbrite pad and oil.

Tom

 

[drivinhard]

yes, very wise to do before you put on new seals on the snout area where the cam gears go. Since surface rust/grit will tend to collect where the gears mate, good idea to clean them down to the metal during an R&R. Since the new seal has to slide across the snout end of the cam to get to the cap area, you don't want to sliding across all that grit and junk.

 

[poissonverte]

Thanks for the replies.. Im guessing a small drill bit might be a good way to start a pilot hole too.

Yeah, some guy was helping me and he decided to use his knife and try to pry it from the edges.. ended up scratching the outside metal where the seal meets the metal... I dont think its damaged further in or not, but ****** me off.

 

[poissonverte]

EDIT: Found a cool 3 dollar tool at Sears. One end its a pick the other is a VERY sharp stabby thingy. I think this should do it! If not, Im busting out the cement drill and drilling away, destroyed engine or not.. I will succeed.

 

[Robert93SHO]

1. Drill a hole in the seal.Carefully!
2. Use a small slide hammer/dent puller.

3. The seal behind the cam position sensor is a different story. Use an angle drill (carefully!). Thread a screw into the hole. Use a prybar and/or visegrips to pry it out.

These techniques work perfect and require much less effort than other instructions i have seen posted elsewhere. I've done it a couple of times.

 

[luigisho]

It also works better if you use 2 screws and can pull from more than one spot or be able to wiggle it loose.

 

[sho_sc]

Am I the only one that just removes the cam bearing caps when working the cam seals?

 

[Off Road SHO]

Am I the only one that just removes the cam bearing caps when working the cam seals?

I was wondering who that one guys was! Now I know. :wave:

Seems like a lot of work to me. A sharp punch with an ice pick or similar tool and then a small screw works very easily for me; sheet rock screws work the best.

And to the guy whose friend scratched the outside surface; don't sweat that, just put a thin coat of silicone sealant on the outer lip when you go to insert it. Nothing roates around the outer lip so feel free to seal it with sealant.

Tom

 

[AREA 91]

Quote:
Originally Posted by sho_sc
Am I the only one that just removes the cam bearing caps when working the cam seals?


2 guys, I've done it as well, oops, I was installing +40's!!!

 

[poissonverte]

Well that 3 dollar tool did the trick on 2 of the 3 seals. punched a hole and yanked them out. The front crank seal was a different story.. Had to pry it out with a screwdriver. No problems. Didnt do the CID seal though, just tightened the cap and RTV'd it heh. Hope that works