I am replacing the head gaskets on my 2003 discovery. The Valve oil seals look old. I figured I would replace them since they came with the head gasket kit. What is the best way to remove them without damaging the valve guide. Mine are stuck like crazy.

 

The seals are taken with the heads to machine shop, the machine shop skims the heads, replaces seals, guides if you order it, laps valves, etc. You get back almost new heads. The process is detailed in attached shop pages. If you want to do it you'll need to borrow a valve spring compressor.

 

Sorry, I should have been more descriptive. I did take the heads to a shop and they told me the valves were great. They just milled the heads. Then when I go home, I found the valve stem oil seals in the HG kit. I had a valve spring compressor, so I decided to change them myself. I got them off with quite a bit of effort.

Now the question is, how far should they go on?? I pushed them down till the bottom touched the valve guide but, it seemed like the rubber is now touching the top of the valve guide. Will this be OK?