The Red October

I've read its a good idea to replace these at the same time the timing belt is done. I looked in the bentley for instructions, and it says I need a seal puller, and another special device to push the seal back in. Are those tools really necessary? If not, what common tools will work?

Also, is there any chance of putting the gear and sprocket back on and getting the position off slightly, making you think the timing is right when it is really not?

How hard is it to remove the cam sprocket and the crankshaft gear?

diagnosticator1

the crank seal can be pried out carefully with a screw driver, the cam seal is under a bearing cap, and is easily removed and installed with the cap removed. The crank seal should be carefully driven in place squarely, using a seal pusher plate to use a plastic hammer against. A tool that uses the crank bolt, to push the seal into place is the preferred method. The crank bolt is very tight, a crank holding tool is required to loosen and tighten the bolt again. The cam pulley is not hard to remove, and is keyed on the camshaft. Same with the crank pulley. The pulley position for belt installation is confirmed with the belt replacement instructions.

absolutegtr

Couldnt he just use [the proper size] socket for the crank seal, instead of a fancy tool?

diagnosticator1

I don't know if there is a deep socket that would be suitable or not.

The Red October

okay, so it sounds like the cam seal will be easy, and the crank seal will be more of a challenge. Is the crank holding tool a specialized tool that I will have trouble obtaining, or will I be able to find it at autozone or someplace similar? What about the tool to push the seal back in place?

diagnosticator1

there are a couple of sources, one is Zelinda, the other is Baum Tools, and some others.

For pushing the crank seal, a tube with the same OD as the seal, and a big washer, along with the crank pulley bolt could be setup to push the seal into position.