BS Bearing PITA!!

[RossY]

Im currently in the process of eliminating my balance shafts. I've tried all i could to get the bearing out of the block but its like they are welded in there. First i tried a flat head and a hammer to try and "tap" it out like the vfaq says but that didn't work. So then i tried using a socket that was the same size as the bearing and that didn't work either. Now I'm assuming that this has happened to others and im curious how you solved the problem. I've tried hitting pretty hard, to the point that the bearing has gotten a little chewed up.

I really dont want to destroy anything by hitting too hard but i don't know what else to do. Im tempted to just leave the bearings in and just take the shafts out of the car but i don't want to LOSE oil pressure.

 

[bigjdog84]

You have to hit the bearings pretty hard to press them out. Try flipping around the balance shaft and using that as a tool to knock out the bearing. Don't worry about tearing the bearing apart, it won't do any damage to the block as it is cast iron.

 

[PokinatchaPunk]

Well there is a method that I used and as long as you are careful you shouldnt have a problem. I used a cutting wheel on my dremmel. Its pretty hard to cut the entire thing in half so what I did I would cut it half then use some pliars to bend the bearing. It takes the pressure out of it being held in there. Just make sure to only cut the bearing even though you'll feel an obvious change in the cutting if it hits the iron.

 

[project_tsi]

Have you tried using an actual bearing driver tool? This tool will give you an even pressure area to hit on, maybe helping it out easier. Just be glad you weren't one of us that there BS bearing fell out due to it spinning in the block, like me! Also if you don't want to go the replace the bearing routine, use long machine screws to block the oiling hole from outside the block where the little screws are, you will have to remove the turbo to do this, as well as tap threads in the oiling hole, but personally I find this way to be more "safe" in the long run due to the chance, for me anyways, that the bearing wont fall out.

 

[RossY]

I havent tried a bearing tool for the simple fact that i don't have one. I did notice the screws and was wondering what they were there for. I'm going to be working on it again today and ill try one last time using a little more force. If that doesn't work ill try the cutting wheel and if all fails, then i might go for putting screws in.

thanks for the replies all

 

[92tealTSI]

Well there is a method that I used and as long as you are careful you shouldnt have a problem. I used a cutting wheel on my dremmel. Its pretty hard to cut the entire thing in half so what I did I would cut it half then use some pliars to bend the bearing. It takes the pressure out of it being held in there. Just make sure to only cut the bearing even though you'll feel an obvious change in the cutting if it hits the iron.

If the motor is out of the car thatd be fine, but if you cut the bearing surface you will have a hell of a time getting a new bearing back in there.

 

[RossY]

Alright, i ended up getting the old bearings out and replacing them with the block off ones. I do have a question though. If i did want to tap the screw holes with bigger screws to block the bearings, does anyone know what size screws/tap to use to do this?