Rear main and oil soaked clutch

[whamby]

My rear main is failing I have oil leaking out the bell housing and the cltuch is slipping badly. I have 104,000 on the truck. Is is possible to clean the clutch disc or does it have to be replced. I have a fairly new SB Con FE. I figured maybe some brake cleaner or such might clean the disc but I do not know how bad it is soaked yet.



thanks,

Scott

 

[JCBerry]

Scott

Unfortunately you need to replace the disc. You should also check the flywheel for any cracking, it should be resurfaced anyway and the pressure plate should be replaced with the disc. Once oil gets in the friction material it cant be cleaned off, if you do clean it you'll end up with clutch chatter. Also the pilot bearing & throw out bearing should be replaced.

Sorry

 

[whamby]

JCBerry,

The clutch has less than 11k on it it. I doubt my new roller pilot bearing needs replacing. I am a pretty mechanical person so I will inspect the flywheel and such when I get it apart. My mistake was not replcing the rear main when I had it tore down last time. I didn't expect it to fail and didn't want to start fixing things that were not broke. I called Peter at SBC and he says since my clutch is Feramic and not organic there is a good chance I can clean it because it will not absorb oil like a organic clutch. Either way I am going to send him some pictures when I get it out and he will tell me what he thinks. Worst case he said to send the disc back and he will reline it. Since it is so new he didn't recommend changing the pressure plate. If anybody knows these clutches it is Peter.



Scott

 

[mberry]

Whamby,



Follow whatever Peter says and I think you will be fine. Everything is so new you may not need to replace anything other than that bad seal.



JCBerry,



Under normal circumstances you would be absolutely correct.

 

[bombero]

Amen on Peter at SBC. Just crious as why your main seal let loose? When you replaced your clutch did you notice any oil or ?. Is the shaft on your trans shaking around??

 

[whamby]

I am not sure yet as to why the seal let loose. It was completely dry when I done the clutch. It is not pouring now it is just starting to get all over the bottom of the truck and only a small drip on the driveway when left overnight. As you know a little oil looks like a lot when blown over the bottom while driving. It is not dripping wet just a hint of oil. The bell housing is the worst area. The clutch can be slipped in every gear with my Ramifier I have turned it off until I get the problem resolved. It may be another week before I can get it torn down to see what happened.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

It is far more likely that the input seal of the transmission is leaking trans oil onto the clutch. The main seal is on the other side of the flywheel and the clutch is protected from those leaks by the flywheel. OTOH, the transmission input bearing retainer would send oil right to the splined area of the disk hub. Smell, etc. the leaking oil and check oil level in the trans.