I need to replace the front seal on my son-n-laws truck with the 6.7L Cummins diesel. I see a big difference in the price of seals, from $40 up to $200 just for the seal. Truck has 100K on it do I have to install the sleeve? I have installed a lot of sleeves on the SBC and he Fords but the crank had wear grooves in it. The special tools to install the seal/sleeve are another $200/$300 depending where you buy them. So my question is do I buy the $200 seal and sleeve and the tools or go with the cheaper seal? I need to do this job this week while he is off work.

 

Think I would pull it apart, and have a look first, and order parts from there. I have rarely had to sleeve anything..... If they got that bad, I would replace the damper....

 

The Cummins main seal rides on the crank directly, not the damper like a V8.

I've rarely had to use a wear sleeve even on 200k+ mile engine, of course its all what the seal/journal has been subjected to in the past. If it seems concerning you can always make a shim or extension on the included seal driver to set the seal deeper or shallower in the housing, there is zero harm in this as long as the seal stays completely anchored in the case, you have around 1/4 inch each way to set the seal for where the tool will set it.

I would use genuine Cummins or Mahle seal only. Ask around local shops, someone may rent you the tool, im not sure if oreillys would carry something like that

 

I have seen some folks make 'offset' seals as well, where the lip of the seal is moved one direction or the other. Does such an animal exist for the cummins?