Removing Balance Shafts from 6-bolt 4G63

[ENGINR]

Given the Coupe is no longer a road car and a smooth and comfortable ride is no longer a priority I am contemplating taking the balance shafts out (one less thing which could go wrong to think about...).

How easy/difficult is it to remove them whilst the engine is still in the car? I'll have access to a hoist and workshop equipment.

 

[DOUGMO]

pretty much need to strip the whole front off the engine.
i would say you may need to lower the lh(front side down to slide the shafts out also.

problem is though is that you wont be able to block the oil feed holes with the engine in the car
I dont reckon.

 

[Jonson]

It's doable, but a BITCH. Seriously, it will take you less time to remove the engine, do the job and thenput it back. Less swearing too.

 

[BMGTZ]

I agree with George.....they can be removed but getting the bearings out and stainless rings back in will be the hard part.

 

[DIESTI]

check vfaq im sure it says how to do it on there with the engine still in..

 

[bazeng]

while your at it, baffle the sump! Change the bearings and rings. Upgrade the rods. Lol.

If never ends hey?

 

[GVR40]

who says it can't be done in the car? i have changed the bearings in the car with no issues, my uncle and I turned up a piece of aluminium on a lathe. the centre part fits perfectly inside the bearing then it has a lip that is the width of the bearing. it has a hole in the middle so that a threaded rod will go throught the middle, then its just a case of putting a washer and bolt on the threaded rod and knocking it out with hammer, takes less than 5 minutes to do each one.

you don't need to replace the bearings, just clock them 180 degrees so the oil gallery is blocked off.

 

[ENGINR]

while your at it, baffle the sump! Change the bearings and rings. Upgrade the rods. Lol.

If never ends hey?

No it never ends mate! I already have ACL bearings and eagle H-beams in it so those won't be getting touched (a baffled sump will be on the cards but not for a while!).

I'll talk to my mechanic mate and see what he reckons.

 

[EVO-00X]

Shayne it can be done but it's going to be a bitch as you will need to lower the engine on an angle to pull the shafts out.
As mentioned, the hassle in doing it whilst the engine is still in the car within minimal room to move is a real shitter.
You're going to swear your mofo head off if you spend a whole lot of time on it and realise you should have just taken the engine out anyway.
If you dont have any issues now, why not just leave the balalnce shafts in and remove them next engine pulldown?
It's not something you'd do for the sake of it when the engine is in the car, its usually something you do when you have the block out whilst performing other maintenance activities associated with an engine rebuild.

Never re-use balance shaft bearings that have been removed from the block. when you remove them you actually knock them out of round and when you fit them back in they arent guaranteed to stay in or fully seal the oil hole properly. Its always best to remove the grub screws from the side of the block, place in a bolt or something with a flat base into the hole, hit it with a hammer so the bearing collapses inside, then push the bearing out. Then have new balance shaft bearings handy to knock in place to close off the oil galleries. It always helps to chamfer the leading edge of the bearings a little bit more prior to installation so they slide in better when you knock them in. If you're going to be doing this work whilst the block is still in the car, the removal and reinstallation of these bearings is going to be your most frustrating part of the work lol :lol:

 

[ENGINR]

Thanks Rob - you're right in that this hasn't caused me any grief sofar (and hopefully won't ever) so in the big picture I have other things to focus my time and $$$ on.

 

[Hypo]

What benefit is this going to add?

Will it improve the longevity of the engine?