Rear main seal w/clutch job??

[steveu812]

I just rec'd and email from the owner of a '99 996 I'm interested in (90k mls.). He specified in the ad that it had a new clutch so I inquired if the mechanic had also replaced the rear main seal. He said he called the "(expert Porsche guy)" and they replaced "...the Disc, Plate , bearing , and Slave Cylinder - the seal was not replaced as no need."

Now I've worked on numerous cars, but never a 996, Is there any sane reason to have NOT replaced the RMS while the clutch was being done?

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by steveu812

I just rec'd and email from the owner of a '99 996 I'm interested in (90k mls.). He specified in the ad that it had a new clutch so I inquired if the mechanic had also replaced the rear main seal. He said he called the "(expert Porsche guy)" and they replaced "...the Disc, Plate , bearing , and Slave Cylinder - the seal was not replaced as no need."

Now I've worked on numerous cars, but never a 996, Is there any sane reason to have NOT replaced the RMS while the clutch was being done?

Only if you did not know any better, and were unaware of the RMS problems and the cheap PTFE seal fix Porsche came up with to fix it. The new design seal cost about $20, factor that into the cost of doing the clutch and it is peanuts..........

[jwgn777]

If he was cheap enough to not do the seal while the trans was remove than I wonder how the rest of the vehicle was maintained.

[steveu812]

So I called the guys shop and the mechanic said that the new Porsche seal doesn't have a spring on the lip and is desigend to utilize the engines oil pressure to give it enough tension. He had several of the new type seals fail so if it's not leaking he leaves the old one in.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by steveu812

So I called the guys shop and the mechanic said that the new Porsche seal doesn't have a spring on the lip and is desigend to utilize the engines oil pressure to give it enough tension. He had several of the new type seals fail so if it's not leaking he leaves the old one in.

Gee, so I guess the couple hundred we have installed are going to be coming back..................... And the only time the new seals leak is when someone has installed them incorrectly..............

[steveu812]

Hmmm. Good to find this out now. Thanks

[FPB111]

If it isn't leaking why change it?
I had a non-leaking RMS changed along with the leaking IMS flange seal update. (pre LN IMSB) They had to go back in twice until we got one that did not leak. In hindsight, at the time, I wished I had not disturbed the good seal.

5 years later I installed the LN IMSB and the new, no spring, RMS so far ~200 miles no leaks. The old seal (#3) had sweated enough to reach the top of the IMS flange.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by FPB111

If it isn't leaking why change it?

Easy: It is a $20 part that can oil down and destroy a new clutch and flywheel worth nearly $2K.

The redesigned part works very well, and has proven itself to be long lived. Why on Earth would you not replace a questionable part with a proven winner for $20 during a $2K repair?

[matt demaria]

There are two schools of thought on it:
1. If it is not broke don't touch it.
2. Performing the operation as preventative maintenance at a slight additional cost.

Personally I would hate to look at the customer in the eye sometime in the future and tell him the RMS is leaking now and I should have done it with the clutch.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by matt demaria

Personally I would hate to look at the customer in the eye sometime in the future and tell him the RMS is leaking now and I should have done it with the clutch.

My point exactly, particularly over a $20 part..............