Help! Installing Front Balance Shaft Bearings...

[dsm_illicious]

I'm working on removing the balance shafts. I've already knocked out both of the front balance shaft bearings but now I need to install the new bearings. I'm working with the engine in the car so space is limited. I have no special tool to install the inner front bearing. I tried reversing the front balance shaft to use the larger end to hold the new bearing in place but I can't get it into the inner slot. I've been messing with it for a while and it's pretty tough...any suggestions? I was thinking of just leaving out the inner front balance shaft bearing...is that a bad idea? I know I'll lose some oil pressure but how much?

 

[Julia]

I was thinking of just leaving out the inner front balance shaft bearing...is that a bad idea? I know I'll loose some oil pressure but how much?

Our cars already have low oil pressure. It is not at all a good idea to leave it out. The trick is to make sure it is flush with the hole it goes into and, as you said, use the reversed balance shaft and tap it in. Dont force it,if it is sitting just a little ####-eyed it will bend the bearing.
Julia

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

What she said^^

And this may help.
http://www.vfaq.com/mods/balance-shafts.html

 

[Julia]

What she said^^

And this may help.
http://www.vfaq.com/mods/balance-shafts.html

and you are actually halfway to an eliminator kit. The internal bearings juat need to be turned 180 degrees to block the oil holes, and Whala! internal eliminator is done.
Julia

 

[dsm_illicious]

Forget it, I'm leaving the stupid @%% bearing out...

 

[dsm_illicious]

Our cars already have low oil pressure. It is not at all a good idea to leave it out. The trick is to make sure it is flush with the hole it goes into and, as you said, use the reversed balance shaft and tap it in. Dont force it,if it is sitting just a little ####-eyed it will bend the bearing.
Julia

Easier said than done...I knew this but there's little to no room for this when the engine is in the car...

 

[Julia]

Forget it, I'm leaving the stupid @%% bearing out...

I would advise against it but it is your car. If you put the balance shaft back in without it you will have excessive play in the shaft causing vibration and possibly reaming the hole larger than it is now. but again just my opinion.good luck
Julia

 

[dsm_illicious]

I don't have a shaft...I am installing a balance shaft elimination kit...I purchased the stubby shaft, block-off bearings, & front cap....If I was going to leave the balance shaft in place, then I wouldn't have removed the bearings to begin with...

 

[dsm_illicious]

...basically, I have the stubby shaft installed, front cap (plug), and obviously the outer front balance shaft bearing is easy to pound in...I'm stuck at pounding in the inner front balance shaft block-off bearing...

 

[blackGSX2g]

I've seen a few people actually JB Weld up the holes, but I personally wouldn't trust that.

Go get a good bearing driver and pound it in right.

 

[Julia]

I've seen a few people actually JB Weld up the holes, but I personally wouldn't trust that.

Go get a good bearing driver and pound it in right.

What he said. It is just not wise to leave the bearing out unless you are wanting to do a motor swap eventually as well.but again it is your car.
Julia

 

[dsm_illicious]

Finding a good bearing driver is much easier said than done...I've contacted a bunch of places in my quite over-populated area and nothing is available...On top of that, the angle I have to work with is horrible...I'm going to leave an oiling hole open...I've supposedly dropped some drag off the oil pump so hopefully it'll accomodate the single missing inner front balance shaft bearing.

 

[Julia]

I don't have a shaft...I am installing a balance shaft elimination kit...I purchased the stubby shaft, block-off bearings, & front cap....If I was going to leave the balance shaft in place, then I wouldn't have removed the bearings to begin with...

well geeeeeeee..... sorry....but either way it sounds like you need to take a break and look at it when you are not letting it frustrate you. It is a very easy task, but once someone gets this frustrated it is better to step back and take a breath. I did mine so you should be able to do it.And the engine was in the car.
Julia

 

[project_tsi]

Heres a new idea about the front balance shaft bearing, that has been a few times now and works flawlessly. Do to the fact that some BS bearings have spun in the block, the hole is too big and instead of getting a larger bearing to try to drive in, I came up w/ this idea.

On the front of the block there is a few machine screws that protrude into the block. On first look, one would think that these serve no purpose, but its actually where the factory drilled hole in the block to drill into the oiling chamber so it can oil the Bal. shaft. I forgot the thread pitch, but the screw can be backed out. If you get a small tap, and run it deep into the oiling hole then it makes threads in the block, this is the hole in whitch your trying to stop oil from comming from. You match up the thread, and run a new, longer bolt in the block, into the hole, thus stopping the flow of oil, w/ no need for a new bearing. Put some pipe dope on the block side of the screw and use some gasket sealer too. Wam, no need for a block off bearing and NO loss of oil pres.

It works.

 

[Julia]

Heres a new idea about the front balance shaft bearing, that has been a few times now and works flawlessly. Do to the fact that some BS bearings have spun in the block, the hole is too big and instead of getting a larger bearing to try to drive in, I came up w/ this idea.

On the front of the block there is a few machine screws that protrude into the block. On first look, one would think that these serve no purpose, but its actually where the factory drilled hole in the block to drill into the oiling chamber so it can oil the Bal. shaft. I forgot the thread pitch, but the screw can be backed out. If you get a small tap, and run it deep into the oiling hole then it makes threads in the block, this is the hole in whitch your trying to stop oil from comming from. You match up the thread, and run a new, longer bolt in the block, into the hole, thus stopping the flow of oil, w/ no need for a new bearing. Put some pipe dope on the block side of the screw and use some gasket sealer too. Wam, no need for a block off bearing and NO loss of oil pres.

It works.

Hell of a thought. I will have to remember that one for future reference.

 

[dsm_illicious]

I was thinking of doing that but I finally got in the inner bearing. Unfortunately, I had to re-use the factory bearing since the aftermarket bearings got all jacked up. It took two of us, I had to lay underneath the car to hold the bearing with some pliers (spanning in the little oiling hole) and hold the 1 1/4 socket for a mechanic friend of mine in place while he tapped it in. It was a pain in the arse. Even the outer aftermarket bearing didn't fit right so I just tapped in the factory bearing again...of course at 180 deg. off.

 

[wolf20043]

I was thinking of doing that but I finally got in the inner bearing. Unfortunately, I had to re-use the factory bearing since the aftermarket bearings got all jacked up. It took two of us, I had to lay underneath the car to hold the bearing with some pliers (spanning in the little oiling hole) and hold the 1 1/4 socket for a mechanic friend of mine in place while he tapped it in. It was a pain in the arse. Even the outer aftermarket bearing didn't fit right so I just tapped in the factory bearing again...of course at 180 deg. off.

Glad to Hear you finally got it done and done right . Good Job and congrats .
Mike

 

[RiceKiller_TSi]

I hope your knuckles are alright! jk

 

[dsm_illicious]

My hands are lookin' pretty ugly right now.

 

[seth98es]

I was thinking of doing that but I finally got in the inner bearing. Unfortunately, I had to re-use the factory bearing since the aftermarket bearings got all jacked up. It took two of us, I had to lay underneath the car to hold the bearing with some pliers (spanning in the little oiling hole) and hold the 1 1/4 socket for a mechanic friend of mine in place while he tapped it in. It was a pain in the arse. Even the outer aftermarket bearing didn't fit right so I just tapped in the factory bearing again...of course at 180 deg. off.

A bit late, but I am in the same boat as you were in. How did you get a 1-1/4" socket in the block? I have one but cant get it in there for the life of me.

 

[Mist3r Spool]

A bit late, but I am in the same boat as you were in. How did you get a 1-1/4" socket in the block? I have one but cant get it in there for the life of me.

I used a socket similar to that, it's an axle socket. You should just bring your bearings into a auto parts store and match up an axle socket that sits right inside of both the larger and smaller bearing. I believe a 32mm axle socket will fit as well.

 

[seth98es]

Haha yah. I already had a 1-1/4", 3/4" drive socket for my axles. I didnt take out the front first bearing and was trying to fit the socket through haha! I took the bearing out and slid the 1-1/4" socket in just fine. Got both bearings in, now just need to re-assemble everything

 

[EXTREMEPT]

i am in the same boat as well now, can t get the old bearings out, and the new bearings in due to the space problem...i m going to try all of these ideas and ways above ...wish me luck i ll need it.....

 

[EXTREMEPT]

ok i am trying to find the correct size socket for the bearings, it seems that the bearings i recieved are 2 different sizes, as i can use a 32mm or 1 1/4 socket for one of the bearings, but on the other the same size sockets are too large and will not fit inside the bearing.has anyone else ran into this problem ?

 

[Mist3r Spool]

I used a 1 & 1/4" socket and it worked perfectly. I ended up re-using the factory bearings since the Clevite bearings didn't want to go in at the angle I had my engine at while in the car. Just bring the bearings to a hardware store and line them up w/proper axle socket. 1 1/4 should do it.