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Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Actually found a KDP starting to walk!!

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I helped a neighbor change his front seal and timing cover gasket on his 1995 dually with over 230,000 miles, lots of oil leaks! Anyway, we pulled the fan and shroud, the balancer and cover and changed the seal and gasket. While we had it off, I checked his KDP and it was walked out about 1/8in! I checked mine when I did my front seal at about 175,000 miles and it hadn't even started to move, still a couple thousands below the case. We walked it back in without removing the coolers. We used a pnuematic hammer and custom attachment (used a bench grinder) on EXTREMLY LOW AIR PRESSURE!! Walked it back in really easy. We tabbed it, good to go. Just thought some of you might be interested. The only difference, besides miles, between our trucks is that mine's a toy (mostly dyno stuff and recently we bought a camper trailer) and his is a tool (pulls gooseneck trailers all the time). If you are going to change the front seal and gasket, I highly suggest checking out the KDP. There's lot's of pics on the TDR to show you where it is and what it's all about. Total job took 2 hours, including blasting away 10 years of caked oil and road grime! Good luck.
 
I did mine last saturday with 184K on the clock and it was moved out about the same. Acouple whacks with a hammer and punch and it seated back in fine.





Oh yeah, one of the case bolts was finger tight too. :eek:
 
Yeah, if if was my truck, the old hammer and chisle method would have been fine, but I really didn't want to send a hammer through my buddy's cooler by accident. The air hammer worked well, but I would suggest using really low air pressure just to make sure you don't do anymore damage. I guess this KDP thing is for real!
 
How hard was it to change the front seal? Mine is leaking, and it has messed up the driveway, so now I park in the street... Street also looks like crap now as well...



Was it difficult?

How Long did it take?

What all tools were needed?



-Chris-
 
yeeaahh, know the feeling! we just sold our house too. I wonder how many comments were created by the oil stain centerlines on both sides of the driveway.



seal is easy. just follow the really terrible directions and pictures (or lack there of) in the box and you'll be just fine. you'll be left with this re-inforced round rubber thing, maybe a dust boot on some applications, but not needed for our truck, I think. At least I haven't used it on three trucks I've changed it on. change the timing cover gasket while you're at it. oh, and admire the well engineered geartrane and thank yourself for buying an engine with gears instead of a belt or chain!!
 
So... . How long did it take??

What all Tools do ya need???



Before I jump in and tackle it, I need to make sure I have sufficient tools, know what I mean?



-Chris-
 
Chris,



Email me at -- email address removed -- for the KDP tab instructions. That's what you have to do to replace the seal properly.
 
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all the steps to do the KDP are the same as changing the front seal and gasket. they are also detailed in the shop manual and I think the Haines manual. You DO NOT need to remove any coolers, and if you do the job while the engine is cold, you won't need any new coolant. just tie the hose out of the way so it doesn't dump any fluid. while you have the case open, check the other timing case bolts (besides the ones that hold the cover on) because I've heard some of them like to come loose. another trick to getting the balancer off if you don't have a barring tool (which I don't) is get a long breaker bar with the 15mm socket and put it on the bolts on the balancer, keep it tight in tension in the direction of loosening and hit the end of the breaker bar with your palm. I call it my "manual impact method!" You shouldn't use an impact wrench to remove it as it is connected to the crank shaft with all those connecting rods and bolts and stuff that you don't want to loosen in the process.
 
Yikes!! I'll give you one guess where it's at... ... ..... (oil pan, couldn't stand the suspense!). shouldn't do any damage down there. you were lucky it dropped out and didn't do any damage. You must have heard a thump while you were crusin' one day and wondered what it was, and then never thought about it again!
 
Kdp Mia

Actually it put a small dent in the cover and I noticed some nicks in the gears. This indicates that the pin bounced around for a short time before it fell into the pan. Thank GOD it did not do any serious damage. I am a firm believer in "Killing the dowel pin".
 
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