This procedure covers removal and replacement of the rear main crankshaft seal on a 2011-2014 Ford F-150 with 5.0L Coyote V8 engine and 4WD, requiring transmission removal for access.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Rear main crankshaft seal × 1 — Use OEM Ford specification
• Oil drain plug crush washer × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Transmission pan gasket or RTV × 1 — Depends on transmission type
• Rear main seal housing gasket or RTV × 1 — Use OEM specification
• Exhaust flange gaskets × 2 — As needed for disconnected pipes

Fluids

• Motorcraft 5W-20 Synthetic Blend engine oil — 7.5 qt
• Motorcraft MERCON LV ATF — 11 qt
• Motorcraft Transfer Case Fluid — 2.5 qt

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Disconnect negative battery cable
3. Raise vehicle and support securely on jack stands at frame rails
4. Remove engine oil drain plug with new crush washer ready, drain oil completely
5. Remove skid plates and belly pans for access to transmission and transfer case
6. Mark front and rear driveshafts at flanges for installation alignment reference

Procedure

1. 1

   Disconnect exhaust system
   Disconnect exhaust system at manifold flanges or at convenient slip joint ahead of transmission. Support exhaust with wire or stands to prevent damage. Remove exhaust hangers as needed for clearance during transmission removal.
2. 2

   Remove transfer case and driveshafts
   Drain transfer case fluid into appropriate container. Remove rear driveshaft by removing bolts at differential and transfer case flanges (note alignment marks). Remove front driveshaft at front differential and transfer case. Disconnect transfer case shift linkage and electrical connectors. Support transfer case with jack and remove mounting bolts, then lower transfer case from vehicle.
   ℹ️Transfer case weighs approximately 80 lbs. Ensure jack is positioned securely before removing mounting bolts.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts59 Nm (44 lb-ft)
3. 3

   Disconnect transmission connections
   Disconnect transmission cooler lines at transmission (have drain pan ready for fluid loss). Disconnect electrical connectors including transmission range sensor, solenoid body connector, and turbine speed sensor. Remove transmission dipstick tube. Disconnect shift cable from transmission lever and bracket. On 4WD models, disconnect any vent hoses.
4. 4

   Support engine and remove crossmember
   Position transmission jack under transmission oil pan with wood block to distribute load. Apply slight upward pressure. Install engine support fixture across engine bay or position floor jack under oil pan with wood block. Remove transmission crossmember mounting bolts and remove crossmember from vehicle.
   ⚠Engine must be properly supported before removing transmission crossmember to prevent engine or transmission from shifting.
   Torque spec

   Mounting Bolts59 Nm (44 lb-ft)
5. 5

   Remove starter motor
   Disconnect starter motor electrical connections. Remove starter mounting bolts and remove starter from bellhousing. Set aside in safe location.
6. 6

   Remove transmission bell housing bolts
   Remove all transmission-to-engine mounting bolts. There are typically 6-8 bolts of varying lengths around the bellhousing perimeter. Note bolt locations and lengths for proper reassembly. Remove inspection cover from bottom of bellhousing if equipped.
   Torque spec

   Transmission-to-Engine Bolts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
7. 7

   Remove transmission assembly
   With transmission jack supporting full weight, carefully slide transmission rearward away from engine. Transmission input shaft must clear crankshaft pilot bearing and torque converter must remain with transmission. Lower transmission slowly while ensuring all connections are clear. Once clear of vehicle, remove torque converter and set transmission aside safely.
   ⚠Transmission must move straight back to avoid damaging input shaft, pilot bearing, or torque converter. Do not allow transmission to hang on input shaft.
8. 8

   Remove flexplate
   Install flywheel holding tool to prevent crankshaft rotation. Remove flexplate mounting bolts using breaker bar. Bolts may be very tight. Remove flexplate from crankshaft and inspect for cracks or damage. Inspect torque converter pilot for wear.
   ℹ️Flexplate bolts are critical fasteners. Replace if recommended by manufacturer or if threads show damage.
   Torque spec

   Flexplate Bolts85 Nm (63 lb-ft)
9. 9

   Remove rear main seal and housing
   Remove rear main seal housing bolts in reverse of tightening sequence (work from outside toward center). Carefully pry housing away from engine block using plastic pry tool at designated pry points. Remove old seal from housing using seal removal tool or carefully prying from behind. Clean all RTV residue from engine block mating surface and housing using plastic scraper and brake cleaner. Inspect crankshaft sealing surface for grooves or damage.
   ⚠Do not use metal tools that may damage aluminum sealing surfaces. Clean surfaces must be completely free of old gasket material and oil.
   Torque spec

   Rear Main Seal Housing12 Nm (9 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Install new rear main seal
    Lightly lubricate new seal lip with clean engine oil. Position seal in housing with spring side toward engine. Using rear main seal installation tool or appropriately sized seal driver, carefully drive seal into housing until fully seated and flush with housing face. Seal must be square in bore. Inspect installation to ensure seal is not cocked or damaged.
    ⚠Seal must be installed perfectly square. Cocked or damaged seal will leak immediately upon startup.
11. 11

    Install rear main seal housing
    Apply thin bead of RTV silicone to engine block mating surface or install new gasket per manufacturer specification. Apply small amount of clean engine oil to seal lip. Carefully position housing over crankshaft, ensuring seal lip is not damaged during installation. Install housing bolts hand-tight, then torque in sequence from center outward in multiple passes to final specification. Allow RTV to cure per manufacturer recommendation before adding oil.
    Torque spec

    Rear Main Seal Housing12 Nm (9 lb-ft)
12. 12

    Reinstall flexplate
    Clean crankshaft flange and flexplate mounting surfaces thoroughly. Position flexplate on crankshaft ensuring correct orientation (note any offset dowel pins). Install flexplate bolts with thread locker if specified. Using flywheel holding tool, torque flexplate bolts in star pattern to specification in multiple passes.
    ⚠Flexplate bolts must be torqued in proper star pattern to prevent warping. Uneven torque can cause vibration and failure.
    Torque spec

    Flexplate Bolts85 Nm (63 lb-ft)
13. 13

    Reinstall transmission
    Install torque converter onto transmission input shaft and ensure fully seated (should click into place and have minimal front-to-back play). Apply small amount of high-temp grease to crankshaft pilot bearing. Raise transmission into position with transmission jack. Carefully align transmission with engine, ensuring torque converter pilot engages crankshaft. Slide transmission forward until bellhousing contacts engine block evenly. Install transmission-to-engine bolts and torque to specification in star pattern.
    Torque spec

    Transmission-to-Engine Bolts55 Nm (41 lb-ft)
14. 14

    Complete transmission installation
    Install starter motor and torque mounting bolts. Reinstall transmission crossmember and torque mounting bolts to specification. Remove transmission jack and engine support. Reconnect shift cable, electrical connectors, and transmission cooler lines. Install dipstick tube. Verify all connections are secure.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts59 Nm (44 lb-ft)
15. 15

    Reinstall transfer case and driveshafts
    Raise transfer case into position and install mounting bolts torqued to specification. Reconnect transfer case electrical connectors and shift linkage. Install front and rear driveshafts aligning marks made during removal. Torque driveshaft flange bolts to specification. Reinstall exhaust system with new gaskets as needed. Install skid plates and belly pans.
    Torque spec

    Mounting Bolts59 Nm (44 lb-ft)

Reassembly

1. Refill engine with 7.5 quarts Motorcraft 5W-20 synthetic blend engine oil
2. Refill transmission with approximately 11 quarts Motorcraft MERCON LV ATF through dipstick tube (check level after starting)
3. Refill transfer case with 2.5 quarts Motorcraft transfer case fluid
4. Install new oil drain plug crush washer and torque drain plug to specification
5. Reconnect negative battery cable
6. Lower vehicle from jack stands

Verification

• Start engine and verify no oil leaks from rear main seal area while engine idles
• Check transmission fluid level with engine at operating temperature and in park
• Test drive vehicle and verify smooth transmission operation and no drivetrain vibration
• Recheck all fluid levels after test drive
• Inspect rear main seal area after 50-100 miles of operation for any seepage
• Verify no transmission fluid leaks at cooler lines or connections

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