Is crankwalk blowin out of proportion

[ddimestalon]

Ive been reading up on this issue and asked some of my local dsmer's and some said that it was a worry and concern, and some said it was blown out of proportion by the forums. I wanted to know what you guys really thought about this issue. Is it a concern? or is it just something that is rare and is blown out of proportion by the forums?

 

[Defiant]

Hmm. well, it's a concern, but I do believe it's a bit more spoken of and worried over than it really deserves. Keep in mind how often people complain about bad things compared to how seldom they tell about good.

 

[ddimestalon]

Originally posted by Defiant
Hmm. well, it's a concern, but I do believe it's a bit more spoken of and worried over than it really deserves. Keep in mind how often people complain about bad things compared to how seldom they tell about good.

I just purchased a 95 talon tsi AWD (i also have a 95 esi) and alot of people said it was in the 95-96's, but when i did a search on here and skimmed through some of the threads i noticed it was more reported on the 97's fwd cars. That was just my observation. And if the first gens after april of 92 had seven bolts in them how come there not reported as having some case of cranwalk. I just posted this to get a feel from the forum.

 

[jpolizo]

A bloody good question! The problem is that there are no real good surveys on DSM cars at large. There are surveys of folks who use the forums and surveys of folks who have had a car crankwalk, but I don't know of anything that says "out of x cars produced since 199x, y have suffered crankwalk".

My car is a '97 with 100K miles on it and there's been no crankwalk symptoms so far. If I get it now, I figure some engine problem after 100K miles of hard driving on a 2L engine that puts out over 200HP is not unacceptable. The problem, rather, is that it does not appear to be a fixable problem.

Crankwalk is unlike other engine problems that can be handled with even a major rebuild. The surveys on folks who do have crankwalk, seem to indicate that once you get it, your engine is very likely to get it again and sometimes rather quickly. You can't change a few bearings and be on your way again, for very long.

So what I wish we all knew is how to repair an engine that has crankwalked and have it perform about as well as a new shortblock would. Until then, the repair choices for me are: get a new shortblock from Mitsubishi, or do a 6-bolt conversion.

 

[Mudd]

Since it is inherent in ALL 2g's, it WILL happen, it's just a matter of time and mileage. I've had 2 2g turbos, one with 80k on it, the other with 60k on it. Different clutches, FWD and AWD, and both were well taken care of. No crankwalk on either. But it will happen, it's just a matter of mileage.

I've seen cars with as little as 30k get crankwalk, and I've seen cars with 250k on it still going strong. I've heard conservatve estimates from a few of the more promenent dealerships at 20% for cars under 100k.

For the longest time everyone thought the 99's were immune due to some redesign in the thrust bearing, it's now proving just as likely (now that the mileage in the 99's are getting up there) as the 95-98's were. I think, from what I've witnessed. is that it's a matter of luck and care/maintenance of the car.

I think it's just god's way of telling you top go 6 bolt anyway.

 

[Tallen]

oh yea its a big problem! i have had 3 friends that i know of get the evil CW. everytime i start my car up and hear a squeeky belt or somethign i scare myself into thinking i have it
but yea...it basically all depends on luck.

 

[DSMTurbos]

i say its blown out of proportion and i have had it

 

[FourG63 97GST]

Its like a plane crash, you only hear about it when it happens

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by jpolizo

Crankwalk is unlike other engine problems that can be handled with even a major rebuild. The surveys on folks who do have crankwalk, seem to indicate that once you get it, your engine is very likely to get it again and sometimes rather quickly. You can't change a few bearings and be on your way again, for very long.

This has to be the most nettling aspect of the phenomenon. I've read a few sites about guesses regarding what causes it, but I've not seen anyone mention the fact that the crank is running transversely, and that during all cornering, the thrust bearing has to deal with the crank's (and to a point, the connecting rod's) weight as it is subjected to lateral loads. I don't know if that has any more or less effect than heavy clutches, oil robbed by piston squirters, or any of the other suspected contributing causes. And is there any other car that has such a known incidence of occurance?

 

[herostar]

I think it's deffinately blown out of proportion. I think you hear about it more here because it tends to happen more often when the engine's power output is increased. The plane crash example is a good one.

 

[DSMJim]

The funny thing is a lot of people say "no crank walk here" but 99% of them have never really checked.

I'll bet if you check your cranks side/side (end play) movement it's out of spec right now. Not enough to really call it "crankwalk" because your car is still running however it's outside of the normal wear spec the manual gives which is technically crankwalk. It's my belief that EVERY 2G motor will crank walk, it's just a matter of time. Many people have gone to the ends of the earth to try and stop crankwalk from happening and eventually the motor develops crankwalk and dies no matter what they do or how much money they spend. It's just a fact of life with a 7 bolt motor. Basically if you have a 7 bolt 2G motor just live knowing that you will eventually have to pony up and put a 6 bolt 1G motor into your car. Thats life.

Most people never want to measure their end play because they will find out what they don't want to know. Ignorance is bliss as they say...

 

[ddimestalon]

Originally posted by DSMJim
[B Basically if you have a 7 bolt 2G motor just live knowing that you will eventually have to pony up and put a 6 bolt 1G motor into your car. Thats life.

Most people never want to measure their end play because they will find out what they don't want to know. Ignorance is bliss as they say... [/B]

Well where can u find a 6 bolt engine? And how how come u can't use a 1st gen 7 bolt engine? If u say a 7bolt 2g motor will get, how come u can't just swap any first gen motor, why does it have to be a 6 bolt? I know 6 bolts are better, but i was just askin?

 

[Tevenor]

Until you know the reason for Crankwalk, you will never be able to figure out the number of people that suffer from it. It has turned more and more into a DSM urban legend. Yes 2G cars get it. Yes there are 2G cars that never get it.

In either case, the point is there are far too MANY cars that get it, no matter what the percentages.

 

[Brett95GST]

Crankwalk is blown out of porportion, but its the only way other car owners (VW, Honda, Toyota, etc) can somehow try to bring DSM's down.

 

[RuBiCaNT5X]

This might just be an urban legend all in itself, but I don't think there has been 1 instance of a 99 getting CW. I doubt there were that many created, but from what I read, Mitsubishi did something to them at the end of 98 during production of the 99's that band-aided the situation somehow. This is just what I remember from reading many CW threads and have no idea of the validity.

 

[4whlbst]

I' going with the ignorance is bliss thing. Because I will never check to see if my car has CW, I am sure it does, to some extent, but I will never check. I am just waiting for the day when I make a left and the pedal falls to the floor, in the meantime I just scare myself half to death every time the car makes a funny noise or the oil pressure needle moves out of the norm. I think I will just build a 6-bolt know and save myself all this stress.

 

[Mudd]

Well, I have personally seen 2 99s crankwalk. One GSX (a/t no less) and a GST Spyder. The GSX had under 20k on it and bone stock, the Spyder had around 50k, and was mildly modded with an ACT2100. Both got new engines. Mitsu supposedly redesigned the thrust bearing and journals, but the problem is still there.

Originally posted by RuBiCaNT5X
This might just be an urban legend all in itself, but I don't think there has been 1 instance of a 99 getting CW. I doubt there were that many created, but from what I read, Mitsubishi did something to them at the end of 98 during production of the 99's that band-aided the situation somehow. This is just what I remember from reading many CW threads and have no idea of the validity.

 

[Smokin GST]

i used to think it was blown outta proportion. and then, at 100400 miles, COMPLETELY out of the blue... crankwalk. car just stopped running. turns over but won't start. i couldn't believe it, because i always said "no way in hell am i getting crankwalk" and i always told people not to worry. screw that! 6-bolt all the way... and now i'm getting a 6-bolt

btw, this was in my 97 GS-T.

 

[ddimestalon]

where can u buy a six bolt from?

 

[red91tsiawd]

Originally posted by ddimestalon
where can u buy a six bolt from?

i got a buddy with a short block in the need of a rebuild if u wanna pm me (of course its a 6 bolt, its outta a 91 )

 

[DSMJim]

Originally posted by ddimestalon


Well where can u find a 6 bolt engine? And how how come u can't use a 1st gen 7 bolt engine? If u say a 7bolt 2g motor will get, how come u can't just swap any first gen motor, why does it have to be a 6 bolt? I know 6 bolts are better, but i was just askin?

You can get 6 bolt from the junk yard, or from Japan. The early 7 bolt motors seem not to be a likely to get crankwalk however for all the trouble I would be making sure it was a 6 bolt I was getting in my car. Luckly for me, Magnus is about 20 mins from my house and I stop by regurarly so if something goes at least im only in a 3-12 week waiting period ot get my car fixed ...

The cases of problems in 6 bolts are soooo small that they are considered crank walk free. Any car can crank walk, I have seen a honda B18C do it and Supra guys with the 2JZ have noted some cases of it however it's very unlikely just like a 6 bolt motor. Which is why everybody goes with a 6 bolt to be sure.

 

[ddimestalon]

so does a person replace the enite motor or replace the shortblock? i've heard some guys replacing the 2nd gen head with a first gen 6 bolt head.

 

[ddimestalon]

Im just askin, as i was talking to a friend, but he was telling me that if u change the block and crank with a 6-bolt u will have to change the tranny too. He also said that once u go past about 80,000 the chances of gettin it are rare too.

 

[hoffman]

if crankwalk scares you .......buy a honda.

and i love how you guys keep pointing to "only 2gs get crankwalk". guess what, ALL DSMs are subject to it. 1Gs are not immune, not even the fabbeled 6 bolt. and its not a matter of milage or luck or increase of hp. noone knows what causes it, it just happens.

so get over it. if it happens to you, get a rebuild and stop crying. if it doesn't spend more on go fast stuff til it comes, if ever.

 

[ddimestalon]

Originally posted by hoffman



so get over it. if it happens to you, get a rebuild and stop crying.

whos crying people were asking questions and giving there opionion and advice