Front crank seal

MarksmanAkula · Nov 6, 2020

Anyone ever swapped out the front crankshaft seal on a liberty? I'm 95% certain I have heavy oil slinging from that area (All over the front pulley, steering rack, oil filter, etc.).

Just looking to get an idea of how hard it would be.

jeeptorino68 · Nov 6, 2020

Done it a couple times.
It is easy enough
You need a special puller and installer for the balancer pulley. You can borrow these from autozone. You need the long length installer.

Get a seal puller if you dont have one. I have only done this job with the whole timing cover off the jeep so its easier to install the new seal into the housing by uaing a big aoft hammer and or block of wood

MarksmanAkula · Nov 6, 2020

jeeptorino68 said:
Done it a couple times.
It is easy enough
You need a special puller and installer for the balancer pulley. You can borrow these from autozone. You need the long length installer.

Get a seal puller if you dont have one. I have only done this job with the whole timing cover off the jeep so its easier to install the new seal into the housing by uaing a big aoft hammer and or block of wood

Any specific links to those tools?

(It may sound stupid but I prefer to own tools rather than rent, unless necessary. Got multiple vehicles at home that I service regularly.)

Also dont really wanna pull the whole timing cover off, would rather keep the disassembly minimal unless necessary.

kejobe · Nov 6, 2020

I did a few. Used a 2 jaw puller to remove the pulley. Flat head screwdriver to get the old seal out. Small hammer to tap around the seal till it was in place. Just be careful not to kink or warp the seal. Make sure it starts and goes in as straight as possible. Put pulley on and tapped it on with same small hammer until the bolt caught the threads. Tightened bolt to press pulley on. Haven’t heard back from them so must be fine.

Did mine with the timing cover removed because I had to do a couple other things there anyway.

JeepJeepster · Nov 6, 2020

Ive rented the tools from autozone twice and I always rent the wrong stuff the first time. I think it takes the installer that doesnt say its for a chrysler, but I cant remember for sure.

I used a seal puller and bought the miller tool to install the new seal.

MarksmanAkula · Nov 6, 2020

Found this video -

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- Seems fairly easy to get the balancer off, and to get at the seal. May require some disassembly with the front end but thats okay. Still avoiding taking the timing cover off.

jeeptorino68 · Nov 7, 2020

No need to take the cover off. It just helped in my case...the old seal was really in there....stuck. I was doing some other work in there anyways.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N22CYOE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_edRPFbTS4W9V3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

This puller works...but I always have to use a long 1/4 drive ratchet extension because the push rods included are not long enough
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5JMHHA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_fabc_geRPFbD9WGVNX

JeepJeepster · Nov 8, 2020

ahh, I now remember also having to use a 1/4" extension since those rods were too short.

SPYROS060120 · Sep 6, 2022

HELLO GUYS. NEW TO FORUM. I HAVE CHANGED 3 TIMES MY FRONT CRANK SEAL IN LIBERTY KJ 2.4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE SEAL FAILS BECAUSE OF SOMETHING ELSE. PLEASE HELP.

MarksmanAkula · Sep 9, 2022

SPYROS060120 said:
HELLO GUYS. NEW TO FORUM. I HAVE CHANGED 3 TIMES MY FRONT CRANK SEAL IN LIBERTY KJ 2.4. DO YOU THINK THAT THE SEAL FAILS BECAUSE OF SOMETHING ELSE. PLEASE HELP.

Need more info on your repair. Why did you replace it? Are any surfaces warped/damaged? Has the front of the vehicle ever been in an accident?

SPYROS060120 · Sep 9, 2022

MarksmanAkula said:
Need more info on your repair. Why did you replace it? Are any surfaces warped/damaged? Has the front of the vehicle ever been in an accident?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY AKULA WELL, CAR BEEN SITTING FOR TWO YEARS. ONLY TWO LITERS OF OIL IN IT. AFTER FIRING IT UP ITS WAS LEAKING LIKE CRAZY FROM FRONT CRANK SEAL. CHANGED CRANK SEAL AND TIMING BELT AND DROVE 200 MILES. THEN IT STARTED LEAKING AGAIN HEAVILY FROM FRONT CRANK SEAL AGAIN. NOW IT IS ON THE WORKSHOP. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THE FRONT BAR BEHIND THE GRILLE IS BENDED INWARDS BUT NOT TORN APART THE ACCIDENT WAS FROM PREVIOUS OWNER SO I DONT KNOW ANY DETAILS. THE GUYS IN THE SHOP TELL ME THE FCSEAL IS AGAIN DESTROYED AND ITS PROBABLY CRANK THRUSTS THAT CREATE THE PROBLEM. ANY THOUGHTS?

MarksmanAkula · Sep 9, 2022

SPYROS060120 said:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR REPLY AKULA WELL, CAR BEEN SITTING FOR TWO YEARS. ONLY TWO LITERS OF OIL IN IT. AFTER FIRING IT UP ITS WAS LEAKING LIKE CRAZY FROM FRONT CRANK SEAL. CHANGED CRANK SEAL AND TIMING BELT AND DROVE 200 MILES. THEN IT STARTED LEAKING AGAIN HEAVILY FROM FRONT CRANK SEAL AGAIN. NOW IT IS ON THE WORKSHOP. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THE FRONT BAR BEHIND THE GRILLE IS BENDED INWARDS BUT NOT TORN APART THE ACCIDENT WAS FROM PREVIOUS OWNER SO I DONT KNOW ANY DETAILS. THE GUYS IN THE SHOP TELL ME THE FCSEAL IS AGAIN DESTROYED AND ITS PROBABLY CRANK THRUSTS THAT CREATE THE PROBLEM. ANY THOUGHTS?

Id have to agree with either crank issues or timing cover issues. crank could be walking or moving, timing cover could be warped/bent, or you could be getting excessive crank case pressure and its forcing oil past the seal and or blowing the seal out due to pressure.

DadOSix · Sep 10, 2022

I’m going to vote for excess pressure in the crankcase.

A few reasons but it all leads back to blow-by of the compression gases.

No engine is 100% efficient, got to be some blow-by.

That is why/where pcv systems come in.

I’d replace the seal again, and then start the engine. Remove the oil filler cap and see if / how much you get there.

Next look at the pcv valve and lines going to the intake. Maybe plugged. If it was cracked, you’d not have excess crank case pressure.

SPYROS060120 · Sep 10, 2022

PVC VALVE IS CLEAR. WHAT ABOUT OIL FILTER CAP REMOVAL??? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO LOOK FOR???

SPYROS060120 · Sep 10, 2022

UPDATE. ALSO MY DISC AND BALL BEARINGS ARE TOTALLY WORN. DO YOU THINK THAT WAS THE CASE OF CRANK SEAL FAILURE?

Justin Holland · Sep 11, 2022

This is what you need to pull the harmonic balancer off. Think it was like $40 off Amazon

Justin Holland · Sep 11, 2022

Also, you might want to clean the area and add some dye to your oil to check and see if its actually that front main seal. It could be the oil sending sensor, which is right above the filter housing.

DadOSix · Sep 11, 2022

SPYROS060120 said:
PVC VALVE IS CLEAR. WHAT ABOUT OIL FILTER CAP REMOVAL??? WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO LOOK FOR???

Pressure / blow by.

If your pcv is working correctly, you should have a slight vacuum when you open the oil filler.

If you get fumes / vapor / oil splashing out at you, then the pcv may not be working , or you may have bigger problems.

Front crank seal

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