Crankshaft seals — removal and installation (VW Sharan 1)

The front and rear crankshaft oil seals should be replaced after each removal of the crankshaft or oil seal flanges. Oil seals are usually replaced using a special tool and taking the necessary precautions. If oil leaks are detected in the oil seal locations, they are replaced. Oil seals can be replaced on an installed engine.

Oil leaking through the rear crankshaft oil seal can cause the clutch to slip. Oil leaking through the front crankshaft oil seal can cause the drive belt to slip, or damage the V-belt or toothed belt.

Removal the front oil seal

Removal of the front crankshaft oil seal is carried out in the following order:

• remove the timing belt, drive cover and drive belt;
• lock the crankshaft in a stationary position with a locking device or engage the gear and apply the parking brake;
• remove the crankshaft pulley mounting bolt (vibration damper), to remove the front oil seal, do the following:

• screw the Allen screw of tool 3083 as far as possible into the crankshaft (Fig. 141);

• unscrew the inner part A (Fig. 128) of the puller 2085 by about two turns (about 3 mm) from the outer part and fix the puller in this position with the set screw B;

• lubricate the threaded head of puller 2085, put it on the seal as far as possible and screw it into the seal (Fig. 142);
• loosen the set screw B and screw in the inner part A (Fig. 128) of the tool with uniform pressure until the seal is pressed out;
• clamp the puller in a vice and remove the seal from it using nippers.

Removal the rear oil seal

Remove the rear crankshaft oil seal in the following order:

• remove the gearbox, clutch and flywheel (or if the car has an automatic transmission, then you need to remove the drive pulley);

• install the lever (Fig. 143) of puller 2086 on the crankshaft flange and use it to remove the rear oil seal;
• if you don't have puller 2086, you can remove the rear oil seal using a screwdriver, but you need to make sure that the oil seal cover is not damaged.

Note: If the engine is removed, unscrew the front or rear oil seal cover (fig. 136 and 137) and remove it together with the seal. Then knock the seal out of the cover from the inside.

Installing the front oil seal on a removed engine

When installing the oil seal on a removed engine, do the following:

• lubricate the working surface and the outer side of the seal with engine oil and carefully press it into the cover so that the outer surface of the seal goes completely inside. When working with a hammer, be careful not to deform the seal;
• carefully install the oil seal cover with the gasket over the crankshaft onto the cylinder block and center it well. Tighten the mounting bolts evenly around the circle with a tightening torque of 10 N·m.

Installing the front oil seal on an engine that is not removed from the vehicle

(The original can be found at: «vwmanual»)

When installing the front oil seal on the engine, perform the following operations:

• place the guide sleeve 3083 (Fig. 144) of the special tool on the crankshaft journal. Lubricate the inner and outer sides of the seal with engine oil and place it on the guide sleeve;

• place the pressure sleeve of the same tool (Fig. 145) on the guide sleeve 3083 and tighten the crankshaft vibration damper bolt located in the center until the oil seal is seated in its place;
• after installing the front oil seal, remove all parts of the tool.

Installing the rear oil seal on a removed engine

When installing the rear oil seal on the engine, do the following:

• lubricate the working surface and the outer side of the seal with engine oil and carefully press it into the rear cover so that the outer surface of the seal goes completely inside;
• carefully install the rear cover with the gasket over the crankshaft onto the cylinder block, center it well and tighten the mounting bolts evenly in a circle with a tightening torque of 10 N·m.

Installing the rear oil seal on an engine that is not removed from the vehicle

When installing the rear oil seal on an engine that has not been removed from the vehicle, proceed as follows:

• tap the seal gently with a hammer to position it in the middle. Be careful not to damage the seal's working edge;

• using device 2003/1 (Fig. 146) or a metal circle with a hole in the center for the edge of the crankshaft, secured with two bolts in the threaded holes of the clutch pressure plate, tightening both bolts evenly, press the oil seal into the correct position.

Note: After installing the front or rear oil seal on the engine, all further assembly work is carried out in the reverse order of disassembly, depending on which oil seal was replaced.