stagea Stuck rear main seal retainer

[Selli160]

Hey everyone I’m doing a clutch job on my rb25 stagea and have got to the stage of replacing the rear main seal. This bloody rear main seal retainer WILL NOT BUDGE  I’ve tryed for hours to break the gasket seal but have gotten no where. On my first attempt to remove the retainer I snapped it basically in half “pics attached “ trying to pry it off from the block. I have got another one but at still struggling to get the broken one off. There is very little room to get to each side of the retainer from under the car with a screwdriver or pry bar. After doing some research I found that you don’t even have to take the retainer off to get the seal out but it’s too late now I need to replace it. If you guys know any little tricks or tips to get it off that would be greatly appreciated??

Edited September 9, 2019 by Selli160

[Duncan]

Probably a dumb question....but you've removed all 4 bolts from underneath, right? pic only shows where 2 of them should have been.

Other than that....no trick...must just be a nasty old gasket, possibly some sort of incorrect sealant in the past.

[Rusty Nuts]

There are two locating pins in the bottom part of the retainer, you will have to get the bottom of the retainer moving FIRST then lever it off evenly all round (not necessary now its rooted) there is a fair bit of compression exerted on the retainer by the pan plus whatever sealant was used. You can see the pins clearly in the photo's.

Edited September 9, 2019 by Rusty Nuts

[Selli160]

Thanks guys for all the help. I kept at it for a bit more with the screwdriver and hammer and a little bit of liquid gasket remover and it slowly Came off. Took a while but got there in the end