Replacing crankshaft seals (Opel Vectra C)

1. Typically, front oil seals (from the timing drive side) the crankshaft bearings are installed in the oil pump housing.

2. To remove the rear (from the flywheel side) to replace the oil seal, you must first remove the flywheel/drive disk.

3. Carefully drill or punch two holes in the rigid end surface of the seal. Screw a pair of screws into the holes. Grasp the screw heads with pliers and carefully, so as not to damage the mounting surfaces, remove the seal from the mounting socket.

4. Clean the contact surfaces of the seat and the shaft journal, carefully removing any burrs or scratches that could cause the new seal to fail.



5. Lubricate the sealing lips of the new oil seal with clean engine oil and, using a cylindrical mandrel, press the oil seal evenly into the seat with the lips facing inward and flush with the block surface (see illustration).

Note: A suitable socket head or a piece of pipe of suitable diameter can be used as a mandrel - make sure that the mandrel rests only on the hard edge of the seal.

6. Remove any traces of oil and reinstall the flywheel/drive plate.