97 GST crankwalk?

[Semprini]

Ive done a lot of reading on this site about the crankwalk issue and Im getting a little nervous. Some people say its not that big of an issue and others make it seem like theyre all ticking timebombs. Im goin to look at a stock 97 GST this up coming week. I really want a turbo model 2ng gen but this whole issue is scaring me a bit. I saw someone post that it happenes between 50-70K miles. The one Im looking at has 95K. Ive read the FAQ and understand what to look for as far as syntoms. Can the this happen at any time or is it something that happens after you mod the shit out of the car, or just plain beat the shit out of it?

 

[v8killerr1]

I can happen modded or stock. Usually when the car has higher miles and if it hasn't happened it probably won't. Crankwalk isn't common as you think. I have a 97 gst with 101k miles on it. The motor went three months ago on the dyno. It spunt a rod bearing so I just replaced it with a built 7 bolt with the oil squirters removed, modified thrust bearing and the crank was hardened far beyond factory specks. It has 350 miles on it with no problems so far.

 

[Phil97GST]

i have a 97 gst and i had crankwalk like 8 months ago and my car had 120k miles on it, i dont want to scare you but just take car of it, because i didn't but i learned my lesson.

 

[tylermartindc]

what sort of preventative maintenance can you do?

 

[brute]

Any car with a crank can have "crankwalk." It's not that common. It's either going to happen or it's not. No sense living your life in fear. Just like dying. If you're going to die today, you're going to die. But if you can't do anything to prevent it, don't worry yourself night and day over it.

 

[Gst18]

There are certain things that can be done to prevent crankwalk. The most important thing to do is disconnect you neutral safety switch. That eliminates the need to push down the clutch during start up. By doing this you arent applying a force on the crank which in return applys force on the thrust bearings.
If you search a little more you can find a video on how to do that.

If yo u have any more questions you can look here...
http://members.shaw.ca/costall/1000Q/answers-terms.htm#whatiscrankwalk

I bought my car with 52k miles and now it has 87k. I was very worried about crankwalk. Just dont let it get to you. As long as you take care of it, it will take care of you.

 

[Semprini]

Well I think my car is getting this disease... While replacing the clutch we noticed some "play" in the crank. The clutch pedal felt weird after replacing the clutch assembly. About an inch before the pedal hit the floor it gets real tight, like a spring kicks in. Basically its the the pressure plate bottoming out and has no more to go. Well after some time I took a pry bar and wedged it against my crank pully and had someone push on the clutch at that point. Putting a little pressure on the pry bar and hitting that spot in the pedal moved the crank slightly. Looks like a rebuild is in my near future


also.. a few weeks ago my pedal wen to the floor out of nowhere, this is where I shit my pants. Turned out the master cly was leaking so that was replaced along with the burnt clutch. The pressure plate was so weak that it didnt even pop off, it had to be pulled of with a pry bar.

and I wanted to add I dont beat my car at all... The clutch was the original off the assembly line and lasted 102xxx. The pedal keeps pressure and I havent had any problems with it going to the floor, its just the play we found in the crank itself...

 

[Zmann42087]

that sucks man... sorry to hear that.

63k on my 7-bolt, so far so good. *knock on wood*

 

[Hot Cheese]

I never have seen. My boyfriend says he has physicaly seen it only once. Everytime I hear of somone having it... turns out to be some other failure. Anytime I hear "crankwalk" it is either on a forum or "it happened to a guy I know"

I have also seen about five 7 bolts rebuilt from mild to wild..none of them suffered from crankwalk. Just seems like it SOUNDS like a bigger problem than it is. I remember reading somewhere "RRE maybe" that research showed most of the crankwalk motors also suffered from old oil pumps that are not within spec.

 

[Hot Cheese]

Also removing the clutch safety switch seems to put everyone at easy knowing there is no pressure on a dry main bearing while it is on startup ... meaning before oil gets a chance to build pressure and oil everything up

Oh and here is something for those that want to oil it all up BEFORE you start it. Works pretty well for a guy I know ... plus saves you motor on start up. Ceap insurance.
www.accusump.com

Jessica

 

[HustlerTalon]

I bought my 97 gst two years ago with 90k miles, and at 98k miles, the car crankwalked on me. I swapped to a 6bolt and sold the car. I bought myself my 90 talon and never worried about crankwalk again.

 

[WOTDSM]

6 bolts walk too my friend.... My old 6 bolt walked at 127,000 But, I have two friends both with 7 bolts. They both have more that 120,000 on their motors, they both beat the piss out of their cars and neither walked. It just depends on if you are unlucky enough to have a motor in that handfull that walk.

 

[MyÜberFastGSX]

Crankwalk is either gonna happen on an engine or not. You have a 50-50 chance. If you plan on building the engine, then get a 6 bolt block and build that.

 

[Hot Cheese]

One oher thing to point out.....is how many REALLY have crankwalk . People seem to think they motor suffers from it... further inspection usually will tell otherwise.

 

[MyÜberFastGSX]

Crankwalk is either gonna happen on an engine or not. You have a 50-50 chance. If you plan on building the engine, then get a 6 bolt block and build that.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

I can happen modded or stock. Usually when the car has higher miles and if it hasn't happened it probably won't. Crankwalk isn't common as you think. I have a 97 gst with 101k miles on it. The motor went three months ago on the dyno. It spunt a rod bearing so I just replaced it with a built 7 bolt with the oil squirters removed, modified thrust bearing and the crank was hardened far beyond factory specks. It has 350 miles on it with no problems so far.

Why take out the squirters?
Wouldn't more cooling and lubrication be better?

 

[Hot Cheese]

50 50? Seriously the odds are better than that. Between my boyfriend and me we know 15 2nd gen owners... and many before that... NONE suffered from crankwalk. Although about 4 thought they had the problem, again... was failure on another level. Go back and look on other threads... most threads are just like this one. Mostly something other than crankwalk.


I would like to see a vote on how many people suffered from the problem... not someone they, know but instead actual first hand account. I do not think the numbers will be as high as you think.

Jessica

 

[MyÜberFastGSX]

Crankwalk is either gonna happen on an engine or not. You have a 50-50 chance. If you plan on building the engine, then get a 6 bolt block and build that.

 

[1gcrazy]

Why take out the squirters?
Wouldn't more cooling and lubrication be better?

Just a theory...
http://dsm.aenewton.com/crankwalktheory.htm

 

[Defiant]

Thanks, but we're all full-up on crankwalk threads here.