Hi all, please please if anyone can help me out with this, on at least a round about cost I would appreciate it. I have a '02 Durango...4.7L, looks like the rear main seal is leaking between the motor and trans. It's a small leak right now, but I'm sure it's only going to get worse with time. Can anyone give me a roundabout figure to get this fixed with labor and all? I imagine they would have to disconnect the driveshaft, and unbolt the tranny to slide it back to get to the seal right? Any comments would be appreciated! Thanks!


Tim

 

Not gonna be cheap, lots of labor. I don't know what the book time is, but I'd imagine 4 or 5 hours both in and out for the trans at least. Flex plate must come off then to replace the seal. Probably over a grand. May as well throw on a new converter seal while the trans is off.

Personally, unless it's horribly leaking I wouldn't bother with it.

 

Ok thanks bud...it looks like it's a pretty small leak..I keep checking my oil level and It looks full all the time..sometimes it does not leak at all and there is nothing on my garage floor. It's been doing it for 6 months now and does not appear to be any bigger. That's a lot of money lol I will probably not mess with it then. Thanks again for your help.

 

Yeah, save it for if the trans needs to come out sometime and tackle it then.

 

Sounds good!

 

If it helps to put your mind at ease, mine does the same thing and has been doing so for many many years. My oil changes are 7.5K and I'm not having to top off at all. Also I use 0W20 full syn, so probably leaks more than 5W30 or high mileage. No drips on the ground, but underneath always looks like this...

 

OK thanks! I run 5w20 synthetic...but yes both of your posts have put my mind at ease. Again I appreciate it.

 

I recently replaced the rear main on my 5.9L Took a bit of doing but I didn't have to remove the transmission. I had to get everything away from the oil pan and then simply dropped off the rear main bearing cap and punched out the main seal, which comes out in 2 pieces. I'm not sure if the 4.7 is the same way with a split 2 piece rear main.
I was quoted from a shop around $700 to do it.
It took me about 6 hours to get the front diff and drag link out the way from the pan. the trickiest part was removing the thin flex plate that covers the bottom end of the transmission and also slides up under the oil pan, the motor mounts bolt through this plate and made it tricky to remove and to get back in with out completely removing the mounts or completely unbolting them. This was all new to me so it took a while, plus not having a hoist and just jack stands made things interesting.
Like I say maybe the 4.7 is different. If it is then, i guess disregard everything I just wrote! LOL

This is my 2 cents on rear mains.

 

Rear main seal is a one piece seal, Mopar number 5302788. Transmission would need to come out to make the repair. I would add engine dye first and make sure it the rear main. Valve covers will also leak in the back and look like a rear main leak. You can check for leaks will a black light after the dye has been put in.