Is there a trick to getting this damn seal over the shaft and into the timing cover while installed on the engine. It seems so tight it doesnt want to go over the pump d/s without rolling the inner seal over. My first attempt leaked slightly and i stretched the seal a little on a socket of similar size to the pump d/s. The second attempt when i changed the opti out proved to be even worse. Im going to put an electric w/p on soon if I cant get this straight and plug that ****** f'er. Im guessing theres a sleeve tool or something maybe for installing it.

 

Stretch the inside of the seal a little (it will shrink back) and use the drive coupler or a socket butted up against the w/p shaft to slide the seal on. Once the inner part of the seal is over the front edge of the w/p shaft, you should be good to go the rest of the way.

 

I guess i messed mine up when i did mine! Should have just taken it off since i got an electric water pump but i wanted to be able to swap it back in case of emergency! Mine is leaking oil like a summa b!

 

I used the socket method that shoebox described and it worked very well. The socket is nice and smooth so slides on very easy...think I even slid the seal on the socket from the opposite direction to keep the rear of the seal in position and then butted the socket against the drive shaft and slid it on.