Best method for replacing main/journal bearings?

[Bobby12many]

Is it possible on a lift with the pans dropped? Or is it something that should be done with the engine out?

[Al_S14]

main question is under what conditions you are doing this

[TheWolf]

you can replace them if you can drop the pan. what you have to do is an old overhaul trick called rolling the mains. Since the crank is held in by the flywheel and tranny you can remove the main caps and replace the bottom ones but the top ones are kinda held in so tap on the opposite side of the tang with a small screw driver. TAP not HIT. the top main will roll out and then you can remove it and replace. Some thrust washers are unable to follow this method. I forget if KA's have TW's.. or a thrust bearing. You will not be able to check your oil clearances using this method or meausre the crankshaft to see what size bearings you need. Basically if STD's came out STD's go back in kinda thing. Not for a performance rebuild at all but more for like high mileage engines with low oil pressure. Deffinitly not a "Like new" fix.

[Al_S14]

i dont see how thats possible given that you have to remove the crank and to get crank out you need to remove the tranny and timing chain. so youre better off just pulling the engine out .




if you are replacng rod bearings also beacuse they spun you cant do it by dropping the pan and crossmember... it will never last. its almost mandatory to mike the crank and polish it if such damage accured. but if you jsut want to replace bearings you will be ok just make sure you dont use any oversize bearings... all standard. and yes do it form bottom of the oil pan

[codyace]

You dont need to remove the crank to roll bearings in like stated above. I've done this before, and I'll also be the first to admit it may not be the 'correct' way to do things, but it works about 95 percent of the time.

I prefer to use popsicle sticks or the like to help push them up and around. This ensure that you won't scratch anything in the process.

[yellow_jacket]

Like others have said. This works fairly well as long as the bearings have not spun.

I've only done it a few times with mixed results: It just depended on how gone things were.

I would also use something soft, like popsicle sticks. I keep them around for stirring things anyways.

[Bobby12many]

Thanks for all the good advice guys.

I think since I am painting the car within weeks, Im going to go ahead and pull the motor anyway and probably put some new pistons / rods in at the same time polishing the crank and getting new seals and bearings installed.

It will be worth it in the end I think.

Now... what pistons... GTi-R to go with my new GTi-R turbo ? :wackit: