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I haven't seen any info about this issue /type of repair or maybe I'm looking in all the wrong places. I picked up a 2003 MCS for an extremely good deal because the last owner said it had an "unfixable" rear main oil leak. It definitely had a leak, just getting it home and letting it sit gave a nice puddle/ drops between the trans case and block. Got it taken apart seal looks fine, wet, but fine. The surface the seal rides on had a gouge probably from a previous removal, and it really caught my nail when riding over it. Making small repairs no biggie but this seemed like a machine shop visit to fix. So I tried looking for repair sleeves, couldn't find one for the R53 crank. Guess its not a common engine repair product. I did however find a repair sleeve for something like a mustang or similar older NOT mini crank that fit the nominal size listed.
MicroSleeve - MS342
Sleeve install tool - MST331
Install was a breeze. No hefty repair. I didn't have to take apart the engine to get to the crank. This seems like it was too easy. What's the downside? Where is the other shoe going to drop?
I'll have the 2 pieces joined again this weekend after some other gasket replacements if all goes well and try to give an update afterwards.
Has anyone tried this repair with or without success?
I did a lot of these crank sleeves on Detroit generators when I was in the Coast Guard way, way back. Pretty common repair for lip-type seals that wore a groove in the crank. Never heard of it for the Mini though. Mine could use it as I have 240,000 miles on my engine and I changed a leaking rear main seal at 165,000 and it is still leaking. Eventually takes out the clutch along with the mess under the car.
Where did you get the new seal to fit the sleeve? Typically the new seal is slightly larger I.D. to allow for the sleeve thickness. Would be good info to have when the day comes that I get in there to replace the clutch again.
I am currently using an SKF PN: 36153, at least I hope it is as it came in an unmarked box. It doesn't have the rubber outer coating so I used a light coating on the outer metal ring of gasket shellac. Other gasket PN;s that may fit are a Mitsubishi crank seal PN: 1052A904. This part and its cross refs are only available it seems in South America '21-'23 L400 or European VW fullback(?). Victor reinz seal PN 81-37611-00 91 x 111 x 10 OR PN: 81-35476-00 91 x 111 x 10 the seal lips of these 2 are different but same sized I found by dimension and may also work out. I believe the dimensions for the seal need to be around 91.5mm or 92mm x 111mm x between 7 and 10mm. This last width section can almost be any size as the seat for the seal goes back pretty far. I neglected to measure this part before putting in the new one. The initial measurements may differ on your sleeved crank due to differing thicknesses of sleeve. These measurement were made with quite possibly the cheapest caliper with an accuracy only to "000.X" so I may be already shooting my self in the foot here. :( It has over 150 Mi on it so far with it still being dry. Here's to hoping it stays that way. If it doesn't work out, while going through the myriad of seal catalogs I saw Timken will make a seal for any dimension so maybe ill try that out for S's and G's. Custom sizing application seal order
I really appreciate your efforts to solve the crank seal problem since I was thinking I'd have to replace the entire crank to fix my leakage. Now, I've ordered the parts so the next time I do the clutch I can fix the seal as well. Thank you very much for sharing the information with us.
