Hi,
When I was tapping in the rear main seal, I noticed the seal looked a little wavy - around 4-6 oclock it's in deeper about ~0.25-0.5mm. The rest of the seal looks uniform. Would you do it over again? Or would you just tap in the rest of the seal to match the deepest 4-6 oclock part, so it's all the same depth?

Thanks.

 

Nope do it again. You dont want to have to pull the tranny for a $8 part.

The seal needs to be flush.

 

What if I were to remove the back plate and push it out a bit. Will this work?

 

In order to remove the rear plate you need to drop the oil pan.

This is how i do it when i replace the rear main. Its much safer than pulling the seal and you can rtv up the oil galleries on th e plate but obviously its more work. Then just put the seal on the plate so its flush and slide the plate back on and put the bolts back on.

There are two nuts that go through the pan and tighten onto the plate. Thats why you have to drop the pan. It slideson real easy. Just remember to put grease on the inner lip of the rear main seal so its not dry on startup. It takes a few seconds for the seal to break in.

 

I have to replace the oil pan seal anyway because it's leaking. I don't mind removing the oil pan.

Can I remove the rear plate, then pop out the seal again and reuse it if it's already been installed crooked?

 

Trust me dont risk it. Its not worth it. Its only an eight dollar part. If its been installed cockeyed just get another.