So last night and this afternoon were an adventure!
- Last night I managed to get the AOS out, I figured I would stimulate the economy and put a new one in while everything was out of car. Not sure if others found this job easy but I didn't and I had total access. The easy off hoses didn't behave, I've found with them you have to catch them just right and they do come off easy...I guess practice helps. I have to hand it to anyone that did this from the top of the car and reaching up from the bottom.
I wonder what happens to these when they fail...anyone know what actually goes wrong. So anyway if anyone needs an AOS with 57k miles on it I'll sell it cheap...for all I know it could have plenty of miles left on it.
- Also last night I finally removed my leaky oil fill tube...this is the worst job I have ever done. I assume there is a tool that releases the hose clamps that makes it much easier. Now that I have done one though I'm sure it would not be very bad next time. This tube has been the source of the minor oil drip.
- Now for the interesting part, this after noon I got my LN Engineering bearing and pulling kit. I went slow making sure everything was done correctly and I still think I messed up. I had to rotate the crank 360 degrees again to get the exhaust cam rotated 180 degrees so the tool to hold it in place would seat properly. No big deal there. Got the cover off the IMS and started the removal process. So I'm pulling out my double row and having to torque so much it just didn't feel right...then pop! Not the good pop, the center bolt in the bearing at it's weak point had snapped off! At this point fear and concern set in. Took a break made some calls, did some reading and went back to see what can be done. The LN kit also contains an "Easy Out" nut that takes a little work to get setup but it is very clever. The quality of the LN kit is really good, I'm glad I got it. I started over and crossed my fingers, my pride was on the line this time. So I torque it up good and was taking a 30 second mental break when I heard a little 'click' sound. I think the wire-loc had given out at this point because things started moving! So long story long...the bearing is out and it is time for a drink! I talked to a guy at LN and he said he had never heard of the center bolt breaking like that.
I think what happen is the center bolt fell inside the shaft before i started and probably never seated back correctly I was probably pulling on it at an angle...live and learn.
Here is a pic of the bearing, the center bolt, and Easy Out. It amazes me these double rows ever fail, they seem really well made.
One other thing, there was over a pint of old crappy nasty smelly oil in the ims tube. I assume it comes in from the other end.
Cheers.
