DIY: 1998 V70 REAR Cam Seals using SKF 11809 9443310

[xHeart]

The seal at exhaust was sitting flush with a small leak, while the intake was a hair outward. I could feel it on my finger pad. Comparing the two, intake came off with little resistance with a pull on screws.

Assuming it was original, it lasted 17 years well passed all warranty.

[xHeart]

I forgot to mention that if you have a leak from the REAR Cam Seals, you will find out at these locations:

- At the 2 small hoses feeding the PCV system (directly under the cap/rotor area).
- Oil will pool down below the Intake Boot.
- Oil will be found under the Transmission Housing.

2001 V70XC with 141k-mi shows fluid at the bottom of engine at transmission housing as the photo indicates. I will look pass the air-intake tube and vacuum lines to locate the housing for the rear-exhaust cam seal.

Meanwhile, this is a single VVT engine hence only rear-exhaust cam seal, rear-intake is capped. Therefore I ask... Would the core of the procedure be any different than this DIY?

[OldSkoolMadSkilz]

Here's the safest way to pull the seal. I was lucky enough to snag one used on ebay for cheap a few years back.

Also, I'd like to mention that it's a good idea to wipe the ID of the seal with oil before installing it.

[OldSkoolMadSkilz]

- Oil will pool down below the Intake Boot.
- Oil will be found under the Transmission Housing.

Had to laugh when I read this, because mine blew on a trip from Maryland to Texas. Oil pooled on the tranny housing...on the cat...on the undercarriage...on the back bumper...on the back window...and on the windshield of the van I was following in. the only places it didn't pool was in the engine and the driveshaft (it's on a shelf in the garage).

[FLXC90]

Just did cam seals, first one (intake cam) literally fell out.
I used a 90degree pick from harbor freight digging in to the inner lip from just off the cam, angled slightly away from the cam, easy as pie on the exhaust cam.

Thanks cn90, I decided to do the cam seals from a little oil when I changed tune up parts. Aside from that I was discouraged when I was looking to find trans drain plug the other night. Looking under the car there was lots of oil on the front of the servo cover, but it was CLEAN motor oil mixed with grime from (years?) of cam seal leakage. I recently seafoamed the oil, changed it to Castrol high mileage 10-40, guess the goo in the motor was holding most of the oil in! Now maybe I can degrease the pig.

[dosbricks]

Since this thread popped up again, I would like to add that I recently used it as a guide to successfully change the rear seals on the S70 and wish to offer thanks to cn90 for the excellent DIY. No more leaks.

[OldSkoolMadSkilz]

Finally changed mine. The front seal was fine, but the rear seal had actually popped all the way out and was resting against the sensor rotor!

I pushed the seals in too far, which I'm hoping is ok. Got me thinking though. These seals are 7 mm deep. VW uses 10mm deep seals. I think this would make them 42% less prone to popping out. Has anyone ever tried using a seal with the same ID and OD, but deeper?

[erikv11]

I never have heard of it and it would probably work but here is some food for thought on that topic: The rear cam seals are very easy to get too. Any time something causes increased crankcase pressure (blocked or frozen PCV line, etc.), perhaps it is good to have relatively (that's relatively!) loose rear cam seals there as a type of escape valve. Otherwise, crankcase pressure could blow out through, for example, the rear main seal, which requires engine removal to fix.

[OldSkoolMadSkilz]

I never have heard of it and it would probably work but here is some food for thought on that topic: The rear cam seals are very easy to get too. Any time something causes increased crankcase pressure (blocked or frozen PCV line, etc.), perhaps it is good to have relatively (that's relatively!) loose rear cam seals there as a type of escape valve. Otherwise, crankcase pressure could blow out through, for example, the rear main seal, which requires engine removal to fix.

LOL, interesting point. Kind of like a freeze plug!

[phils94850]

Excellent write-up CN !

My C70 the rear seals were leaking badly.. I had no choice but to get them from autozone, they went in fine probably a little to easy but no more leak for now ...Im guessing that was a bad idea ??