I'm having a hard time getting this new thing in. I tried lightly tapping it with a blunted slot screwdriver but it started to damage the seal a bit. I greased both surfaces

Any easy way to do it without buying that specialty drift tool sized just for this seal.

 

get a big socket that will fit around the outside ring of it and hammer that in.

 

I checked - my biggest socket is the 36mm, and it fits in the inside ring only. Maybe i'll go to princess auto and buy an el cheapo 12pt china socket just to fit it. Probably cheaper than the drift.

 

Caped, I got it in, good call on that. But I damaged my 2nd grease gun (a free cheap china import...), beleive it or not the barrel for the grease gun was an exact fit so I pounded the end of the grease gun where the handle is to pull back the spring, and it killed the gun. Luckily I still have my Made in USA Lincoln model.

I got the axle in but I didn't feel so good on how hard I had to push it in, even when sure it was meshed properly. It did the click sound and when I try to withdraw it, it doesn't come out...BUT I notice there is a small gap between the housing and the tranny. It's not exactly flush. Maybe the RE4F02A is slightly different than the ones you guys have.

Also, I was concerned I was damaging the brand new axle by pushing it in right from the center part. It's the only way I could get force. It actually got 'stuck' in the boot for a second and I had to pull it outwards to get it unstuck. I have no idea what that was all about.

 

You can use a 1/2" extension and a plastic mallet or the old seal! install it with loctite would be better on the outside diameter...grease or oil should only be used on the lip!

 

um... i think you'll be ok. the VG trannies should be obscenely easy to install axles on, as i refreshed myself on when doing nc90gxe's 5spd swap. take a pic of the axle's nonflushness if you want, but i think you'll be ok.

 

Where did you get the seal from? I've had advance auto parts try to give me the wrong size seal twice. Their parts system lists that the seal works for both RE4F02A and RE4F04A. There's another listed that only works for the RE4F02A and is slightly smaller than the latter seal. Go with this one.

 

I got it from the dealer, and I got the part# from FAST for my VIN#

OEM #38342-21X01

 

Next time (Hind sight huh!?? ) .. .. try putting the new seal in the freezer for a while,.. and right before you go to install it,.. warm the exterior mounting area with a heat gun and or small torch if you can be careful with it ... it'll go in much easier

 

I'll try that soon - I need to put in all the new seals in the VG30E. Why is that though - does the actual diameter (rubber) shrink a bit when you put it in the freezer?