Dodge RAM 1500 1998 Owner's Manual page 1498

DR
CRANKSHAFT OIL SEAL - FRONT
REMOVAL
(1) Disconnect both battery negative cables.
(2) Raise vehicle on hoist.
(3) Partially drain engine coolant into container
suitable for re-use (Refer to 7 - COOLING - STAN-
DARD PROCEDURE).
(4) Lower vehicle.
(5) Remove radiator upper hose.
(6) Disconnect coolant recovery bottle from radia-
tor filler neck and lift bottle off of fan shroud.
(7) Disconnect windshield washer pump supply
hose and electrical connections and lift washer bottle
off of fan shroud.
(8) Remove the fan shroud-to-radiator mounting bolts.
(9) Remove viscous fan/drive assembly. (Refer to 7 -
COOLING/ENGINE/RADIATOR FAN - REMOVAL).
(10) Remove cooling fan shroud and fan assembly
from the vehicle.
(11) Remove the accessory drive belt (Refer to 7 -
COOLING/ACCESSORY DRIVE/DRIVE BELTS -
REMOVAL).
(12) Remove the cooling fan support/hub from the
front of the engine.
(13) Raise the vehicle on hoist.
(14) Remove the crankshaft damper and speed
indicator ring.
(15) Remove power steering pump.
(16) Remove accessory drive belt tensioner.
(17) Remove the gear cover-to-housing bolts and
gently pry the cover away from the housing, taking
care not to mar the gasket surfaces. Remove crank
seal dust shield with cover.
(18) Support the cover on a flat work surface with
wooden blocks (Fig. 68), and using a suitable punch
and hammer, drive the old seal out of the cover from
the back side of the cover to the front side (Fig. 68).
INSTALLATION
(1) Clean cover and housing gasket mating sur-
faces. Use a suitable scraper and be careful not to
damage the gear housing surface. Remove any old
sealer from the oil seal bore. Thoroughly clean the
front seal area of the crankshaft. The seal lip and the
sealing surface on the crankshaft must be free from
all oil residue to prevent seal leaks.
(2) Inspect the gear housing and cover for cracks
and replace if necessary. Carefully straighten any
bends or imperfections in the gear cover with a ball-
peen hammer on a flat surface. Inspect the crank-
shaft front journal for any grooves or nicks that
would affect the integrity of the new seal.
(3) Apply a bead of Mopar Stud & Bearing Mount
to the outside diameter of the seal. Do not lubricate
the inside diameter of the new seal.
ENGINE 5.9L DIESEL
Fig. 68 Removing Seal from Cover
1 - PUNCH
(4) With the cover supported by wood blocks, install
the seal into the rear of the cover using crankshaft seal
installer Special Tool 8281 and driver handle C-4171
(Fig. 69). Strike the driver handle until the installation
tool bottoms out on the inside of the cover.
CAUTION: Do not distort or damage seal.
(5) Install the plastic seal pilot (provided with seal
kit) into the crankshaft seal.
Fig. 69 Installing Seal Into Cover With Tool 8281
1 - SEAL INSTALLER 8281
2 - DRIVER HANDLE C4171
3 - SEAL
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