What did you do to your BF today???

[trailrider098]

Took apart the front of the engine to confirm the front main seal is leaking before ordering the parts. Lots of fun!

Bob

a good chance to replace the keyway on the crank. My b6t was starting to wobble when i got rid of it. its not that hard of a job at least

[Bob Martin]

The key is brand new. I just replaced the front seal, along with the rear seal, head gasket, intake and exhaust gaskets, new water pump, t-stat and timing belt. Then the car sat for a while until I figured out I had a bad main relay. Now, the brand new front seal leaks oil like a SOB!

Bob

[BFMRGTX]

I feel your pain, Bob. Both seals are weeping on my block. Still don't know how or why it's happening; I've followed the FSM to the letter.

Terry

[DeeAOne]

absolutely nothing.

a good chance to replace the keyway on the crank. My b6t was starting to wobble when i got rid of it. its not that hard of a job at least

is that common with the b series? mine completely broke off while driving.

[808]

Very common.

[trailrider098]

I feel your pain, Bob. Both seals are weeping on my block. Still don't know how or why it's happening; I've followed the FSM to the letter.

Terry

The same thing happened when I built my bp, the second time that I had to do it I dipped the seal in oil before pressing it in. I don't know if it helped but it dosent leak anymore.

DeeAone- there was a recall to fix the keyway at one point IIRC

[DeeAOne]

wow...now you guys tell me. lol i could have saved a 100% fine b6 before that happened. grr lol

[gpd323]

The crank pulley wobble is not only caused by a possible worn keyway/cranknose issue.

the other reason is the drive pulley on the crank that drives the alt/PS/AC pump belts has a vulcanized rubber sandwich piece between 2 metal pulley pieces. This rubber fails over time and allows the pulley to wobble.

Its not always the crank keyway.

Even my BPT pulley wobbles a bit, and I know its not the cranknose or keyway.

[gpd323]

The same thing happened when I built my bp, the second time that I had to do it I dipped the seal in oil before pressing it in. I don't know if it helped but it dosent leak anymore.

DeeAone- there was a recall to fix the keyway at one point IIRC

Thats what I do also, dip the seal in motor oil and then use the old seal flipped over and a socket to gently tap the new seal in.

PS: Yes there was a TSB for the crank issue. I know of one GTX in 1995 that got a new crankshaft installed under the TSB after the nose snapped off. That was keith Armbrusters GTX at the time.

[DeeAOne]

wow thats crazy. this was just a few weeks ago. bolt was no where to be found. i was on the interstate.

[BFMRGTX]

I remember reading a post on the yahoo forum regarding the crank keyway issue. The person (was it John Jackson?) stated that the keyway failure was most likely due to the design and placement of the pulleys, and the stress it caused to the crank pulley. He said that it was best to keep the belts (AC, PS, Alt) as loose as possible, w/o them squealing, to keep the load minimized.

Or something to that effect.

[bighed323]

sanding and painting the door pillars today. got the right finished. my daughter is helping with the tape. got some on the tires. tape i mean.

[gpd323]

I remember reading a post on the yahoo forum regarding the crank keyway issue. The person (was it John Jackson?) stated that the keyway failure was most likely due to the design and placement of the pulleys, and the stress it caused to the crank pulley. He said that it was best to keep the belts (AC, PS, Alt) as loose as possible, w/o them squealing, to keep the load minimized.

Or something to that effect.

I remember that statement too. Seemed at the time the AC equipped GTX's were experiencing more crank nose failures than non AC cars.

I don't have AC but after reading that I went out and loosened all my drive belts!

[gpd323]

wow thats crazy. this was just a few weeks ago. bolt was no where to be found. i was on the interstate.

Holy crap, you actually found all the parts after the crank bolt went away?

Must have made a good mess in the timing belt area.

Good thing the engine is a non interference unit, or else all sorts of engine damage could happen.

[bighed323]

got both door pillars painted flat black after lots of sanding and cleaning.