Can I change cam gears without changing the cam shafts?

[GstAllDay]

One of my cam gears is messed up and makes like a screeching noise when i step on the gas and when I'm driving down the street.

I was wondering if i could change the gear itself and not the shaft too.

Is this going to be a hard job for a DYI?

What are some good cam gears to buy thats kinda in a good price range?
I don't want anything too fancy but something that won't crap out on me

Any advice or help will be most appreciated.

Thanks,
Kevin D.

 

[95twinturboawd]

yes sir, take off vc and theres a spot for a wrench to hold the shift and take the bolt out of the gear, but you will have to the whole timing belt change thing

 

[knochgoon24]

Cam gears usually don't screech. Sure it's not your crank pulley (harmonic balancer)? They have a rubber layer in them that will separate, then they squeal.

 

[Gasolinebaptism]

^+1
I don't see how the cam gear would be able to squeal. unless the timing belt is ungodly tight. at which point it's the belt itself whining at you.
But 99% of the time it's the harmonic balancer. If you look at the bottom of the timing cover there is a crakshaft pulley held on by four bolts. It directly drives the alternator, water pump and A/C. And off of the water pump, it indirectly drives the P/S pump.
That pulley will begin to squeal when it separates. Simply loosed the belt at the alternator, unscrew those four bolts, and put on a new harmonic balancer.
If after you have unbolted the balancer it doesn't want to come off, try putting a 2x4 on it and hitting it for different angles with a hammer. If it's still stuck you should be able to gingerly pry it off.

This does not require the removal of the timing cover, only loosening the belt and taking out the four bolts on the balancer.

 

[dracon8780]

If it were me, I would just buy some stock gears unless you have aftermarket camshafts

 

[GstAllDay]

But one of my cam gears is wobbling too

 

[Sleeper1gfwd]

How's it wobbling? It's bolted to the cam, check harmonic balancer and make sure cam gears are bolted fast, use loctite

 

[romeen]

The wobble can be caused by the cam gear not sitting completely flush with the end of the cam if the surface where they contact each other had dirt, debris, etc when the gears were installed. A bent dowel pin can also cause the wobble. Dowel pins can bend when breaking the cam gear bolts loose.