Crank Movement.

[Silent Knight]

Well I got the Soarer back from the Mechanics a couple of minutes ago and aparently he says that my Crank has a tiny bit of movement in it.

At the moment it's not that bad to be immediately concerned about it but it could develop into a bigger problem and luckily because the car is auto there isn't as much strain on it as a manual would put on it.

Now what I would like to know is what exactly causes this to happen?
Can it be fixed by getting to it from the sump etc or would I have to take it out?
How much movement can be allowed before it becomes a bigger problem?

Cheers as always.

Hanré

[CAMB01]

I think what your mechanic is talking about is the back and forth movement of the crank. Sounds like your thrust bearings are a bit worn.
Pull the sump off remove the main bearing cap that has the thrust bearings (usually the centre cap) and replace them.

[vvega]

what he said :d

spot on

v

[Silent Knight]

Cheers guys,

I'll find out from my mechanic tomorrow how costly this little excercise of changing the bearings will be and hopefully get that sorted before it's too late and it all turns out into a very costly afair.

[Silent Knight]

Well I went to my mechanic today as I took off from work early and we checked it out on the hoist.

The engine has gotta be pulled to replace them.
YAY for me....now I have to pull the motor.

[RomanV]

Are you sure?

I would have thought that you'd be able to do it from under the car, there's only one of the bearing caps that you have to remove.
(and obviously the sump etc)

Unless there's a cross member or something directly under it.

[2LTR Rona]

Having just pulled the 4AGE out of the KE due to bearing issues it is deffinately easier with the engine out, working around the cross member would be a PITA.

On the positive side it gives you a chance to look at other bits n pieces while its out too.

[evil_si]

all cranks shud have some endfloat, there is a spec somewere.

i shall measure it for you whilst its here.

[CAMB01]

2 thou should be bout the required end float for a crankshaft.
Have seen some with about 5-7.

[Silent Knight]

all cranks shud have some endfloat, there is a spec somewere.

i shall measure it for you whilst its here.

Excellent thanks Simon.

Roman...the crossmember goes directly under the sump which is what is going to make it a PITA. You can't drop the sump directly down and out.

[JRS]

you'll have to remove all the main caps ur u wont be able the get the top half the the bearing out. also remove the spark plugs or u will have a hard time pushing the pistons back in.

[Silent Knight]

Well we dropped the lot out yesterday to have a look and well well I need a new crank. Too much float so the crank started grinding away on itself.

This week the new crank will be going in to the shop to get polished etc and then she'll be slapped in along with all the other bottom end bearings replaced while the engine is out.

If we knew this from the start we would have just pulled the lot out instead of going in from underneath. What a bloody hassle just to find that out and having to put everything back together again.

Luckily now that the lot is out I can put in the new TC and not worry about any bearings or gaskets anymore as I would have replaced basically everyone of them by now.

Hopefully she'll be going again by this coming weekend so I can start running the bearings in.

I'd like to give a BIG thanks to John for his help so far in letting me use his garage to store the Soarer and to do the work in. And for also supplying the new crank and all the bearings in such short notice. <--- Good man doing Good things.