What is the easiest way of replacing the front cam seal - does the seal pull out from the front after I remove the cam sprocket ? Or do I need to pull the valve cover off and push it through from the inside ? In the FAQ's it was mentioned that you need to remove the #1 bearing cap on the cam shaft so I'm a little confused.

When I replaced mine, I did the following:
1. Removed the bolt holding the sprocket on. I used a rubber strap wrench to hold the sprocket while loosening and tightening this bolt.

2. Took off the cam cover and removed the front cam bearing cap.

3. At this point you can take out the old seal with your fingers. (no danger of nicking the seal surfaces this way)

4. Oil the new seal and slip on the camshaft into the proper location.

5. Reassemble in reverse order. I was able to reuse the cam cover seal but you might want to use a new one.

This was a very easy seal replacement.

Jim,

did you mark the cam sprocket and replace it exactly as it was positioned before? or is it keyed and only one way to replace it?

Also, what happens if the cam turns after the sprocket is taken off? any problems there?

thanks

The sprocket is keyed so it can only go on the camshaft one way. After repalcing the seal, sprocket, and cam cover, I installed a new timing belt and tensioner. I had also replaced the other two seals.

If you are re-using the t-belt, you would just turn the camshaft until the timing marks on the sprocket an engine line up then install the belt on the sprocket and release tension on the tensioner. This is assuming the crankshaft and intermediate shaft have not moved. I've not done just the cam seal replacement but did the job as part of a replacement of all seals, the t-belt, and the tensioner. You need to be sure that all timing mrks on the crank, intermediate shaft, and camshaft are lined up and the t-belt properly installed.

Yes you can pull it out the front after the cam sprocket is removed.
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92 745T 120K; 83 242Ti 188K

Ps-- Belt-cover removes easier once the fan and the pully-wheel are removed.