so i just got my car back together and ended up putting in a spare trans i had, and now either the input shaft seal is leaking oil all over my clutch, or my rear main seal is, and my clutch started slipping a lot out of no where. my question is, is if i take out my trans and replace whichever seal is bad, can i brake clean my clutch off and reuse it, or is it ****ed? this is a clutchmasters twin disk that is appx. 2 seasons old. i dont want to have to drop a few bills on the rebuild kit if i dont have to. thanks

 

check for the trans case being hair line cracked, i thought my rear main was leaking, changed it, still had the leak ended up being a cracked case, i replaced my disc, an brake cleaned pp an flywheel, i know it was only a fraction of the cost for my disc tho gl on what ever you decide to do.

 

Nope. Get a new clutch. I've tried cleaning them with everything and it will still slip.

 

Once it's soaked, you're done. Just like a brake pad- they will soak up anything you throw at it and stay in there!

 

Based on what you all are saying...would you suggest that if I'm going to replace a clutch then I should also replace the rear main seal along with it.

I just bought a '94 Prelude that has a very bad clutch in it so it needs replaced and I was wondering that if I'm already in there should it be changed just for good measure?? I'm new to Preludes and never dealt with clutch issues on any car I've ever owned so this is new territory for me.

 

If you don't pull the trans very often then yes.

 

I don't want to hijack this thread but if I'm replacing the clutch how much more labor time is involved in replacing the rear main seal?

 

once you have the transmission off its like 8 bolts on the cover, clean the gasket maker off both mating surfaces, change the seal, apply the gasket maker, and then put the bolts back on and TQ them down. i can't remember if its like the oil pump or not, if you're supposed to put gasket maker on the threads or not, so...yeah, check the manual.

i'd say about an hour though, and with most of that being cleaning. unless you can get the seal off and replace it without pulling the cover, i've never tried it, but that'd speed it up

 

Okay, so I am having this same problem as well, my clutch slips, but only when im driving in stop n go traffic. If im doing a highway run, or like a back road drive, it works awesome. I have only had the clutch in the car for 700 miles, so would this leaky seal (inner shaft) have killed my clutch already, or is there still a chance to clean it up and save it?

EDIT: The first 300mi on this clutch were highway miles, if that makes a difference

 

BUMP, i kinda need to know soon, so if I gotta start saving for a new disc or not.....

 

If the seal is leaking and the clutch has oil on it, replace it. The only clutches that can be "cleaned" and reused are carbon clutches.

 

Remove flywheel.

Use good flat head screw driver or seal extractor and yank out the seal. Clean the area. Lube up new seal with syl-glide or urea grease and install carefully so the seal spring does not pop out.

 

I've got a '95 Prelude Si and I'm replacing my clutch and flywheel as well as my rear main seal in two weeks. I've been doing a lot of reading, and I have photocopied the pages of my Helm's manual for notes. If you don't have a Helm's, get one. Best tool in my garage...it's always best to do it right the first time, and the Helm's hasn't failed me yet.

And yes, while the clutch/flywheel are off, it's absolutely a great time to replace the rear main seal. Mine doesn't need it (I hope) but I'm replacing it anyway since everything's off.

Good luck!