Cam Shaft & Crank Shaft Seals at 83k on '00 1.8T?
 

I am in the middle of my timing belt change and I am wondering if I should change the cam shaft and crank shaft seals or just leave them alone? Are these hard to change? Are any special tools required?

To get the front crank seal off...
 

...you need to remove the crank gear, which (in theory) requires a pulley holder or special Audi tool. This is what I used:

<img src="http://images36.fotki.com/v1296/photos/4/48510/6548224/IMG_3796-vi.jpg">

Not sure if you need some type of seal puller to get it out, because I just decided to leave mine alone. If it ain't broke....don't break it :-)

Crank seal (gear removed):
<img src="http://images41.fotki.com/v1265/photos/4/48510/6548224/IMG_3798-vi.jpg">



Andy

I used an impact

likewise - mine look good
 

Yeah, mine look fine too, so I am going to leave them alone and do them at the next timing belt service interval. I pulled the gear off the camshaft as well as the water pump pulley and they are both fine. How many miles are on your seals?

My belt looked pretty good for 83k. There were no cracks or frays. The tensioner looks okay, although it doesn't appear to be applying a lot of tension to the idler pulley. The bearings all spin freely. Even my water pump is in good condition w/ no cracks on the impeller. My setup would most likely have made it to the original 105k service interval.

The worst thing that I found is that my valve cover gasket is leaking.

I will replace all of the timing belt parts as I have already purchased them and I have everything torn apart.

Not a good idea - shock loads on a crank are bad MMkay!? :)

Good plan. VCG is a common leaker. I've got 136K on those seals.

a comment...
 

<center><img src="http://samstagsales.com/images/vw_matra_3415.jpg"></center><p>Here's the factory crankshaft holder tool#3415. There is a also a press mandrel or assembly if preferred.

mandrel...
 

<center><img src="http://i34.tinypic.com/2wp59hk.jpg"></center><p>I believe this is the press mandrel your looking for the seal application.
Regards

i'll replace next time at 160k.
 

I have 196k on the seals on my '99 GTI vr6, so I am not too worried about these at 83k.

Also, it amazes me that we can only get 80k out of these belts whereas I can get 200k out of the chain on my vr6 and it has had zero problems. Supposedly the chains will go 250k+. I guess they just stretch and get noisier over time.

It's not usually the belts --&gt; (older) tensioners have been sketchy.