Replacement selector rod seal for (A5S390R)

[whizzkid23]

Originally Posted by Chamberlin

Good info regarding no lube, but I can't see how this is going to go on without something, even some trans fluid maybe. And my drive-shaft is removed BTW so the lever action you described wouldn't be possible unless I re-install first. But it did seem like it was having a harder time getting over the shaft, vs. going into the bore, but that might have been an illusion. Maybe I need to re-try assuming it's the outer bore that's fighting back!

The friction you are encountering when mounting the seal can only come from the outer bore. The selector rod has to be free to rotate, so it's absolutely not a tight fit when speaking about the shaft / seal clearance.


This said, the seal is hold in place only by the tight outer bore / seal clearance. Obviously, because of that, it's supposed to be a tight fit, the seal should not move once installed. Applying lubricant on the outside of the seal will not compromise it's ability to seal... it will only lower the ability of the seal to hold itself in place.


For sure I was also tempted to add some lubricant to make the job easier. But hey...after 12 years of service, the old seal seal moved toward the outside on it's own (generating the leak) so that given and including my knowledge on mounting rotary shaft seals, I did not do it.


For your reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDVzAtU8xDc


Minute 2:10 ...




Anyway. If you decide to mount it without lubrication, due to it's tight fit, you will probably NOT be able to get the seal in place without a leverage force. Eventually it could help to first let the transmission warm up (heat will increase the size of the seal bore on the transmission) but you will still need a "press" action. Pay a lot of attention on getting the seal pushed in straight,mostly for the first mm, this is vital! Also...choose a socket that will applicate the force as close as possible to the outside diameter of the seal! The more you go towards the inner bore of the seal, the weaker it's structure gets!


If you decide to mount it with some minor lubricant, it will eventually work and hold in place. Noone can tell if the fitting is tight enough to take some lubricant or not....only time will tell. But no major damage will ocurr if the seal moves towards the outside on it's own... the only thing that could happen is that it starts to leak again. So if you're not able to get it on safely without lubricant, try it this way. Probably 8 out of 10 mechanics would do it...