Vitara big end bearing

[wasy]

Hey,

On my 1.6 carby vitara, i have had my big end bearing let go, after a few too many revs through a bog hole.

The question i have is what is the easiest way to get to it to fix it.

The 2 ideas i have had so far are to:
1. Pull the front diff out and leave the engine in the car, and remove the sump from there, or 2. take the engine completely out.

Has anyone done this before, or have any suggestions as to the best way to get to it.

Cheers,
Wasy.

[big vitara]

sorry man i got nothin

[Red_Zook]

you will prob need to get your crank ground sicne the bearings are totaly done..
it is only carbi pull it out
much easyer CLEANER on the work bentch inside the shed

[Ric]

yep take the whole engine out. I stripped the keyway on mine (G16B) and had to replace the whole crank shaft. It will need to be ground, cost me around $150 from memory and a day. get the crank ground first and then buy the bearings accordingly. you might want to do the top end at the same time, money permitting. It also gives you a chance to check engine mounts, one of mine was broken.

Ric

[Ric]

sorry, one other thing - it may be too hard to access some bolts unless you have a body lift. i got a few inches body lift in mine and it was still tight to access some bolts. mainly the ones around the transmission.


hope this helps

[wasy]

Thanks for the help guys.

I know about the crank having to be ground, but am hoping that it hasn't got that bad that it needs to be done, as the noise was only low.

I was hoping to go for the removing diff method though, as i have to replace one of the front CV's, so i could do that and fix the engine at the same time.

Has anyone tried this, or will something probably get in the way?

Cheers,
Wasy

[x rated]

i don't see the need to take the diff out. its no hassle to remove the engine and the cv is fairly straight forward.

Soory man.... can't agree with removing the diff for that.

Have fun

[wasy]

i don't see the need to take the diff out. its no hassle to remove the engine and the cv is fairly straight forward.

Soory man.... can't agree with removing the diff for that.

Have fun

Fair enough.

The thought was that it might of been easier to do it this way, but from the reccomendations, it isn't.

Cheers for the advice,
Wasy.

[Ric]

i don't see the need to take the diff out. its no hassle to remove the engine and the cv is fairly straight forward.

Soory man.... can't agree with removing the diff for that.

Have fun

Fair enough.

The thought was that it might of been easier to do it this way, but from the reccomendations, it isn't.

Cheers for the advice,
Wasy.

don't decide not to remove the engine so you can change the CV along with taking the diff out.
A CV is a minor job requiring max 20 mins for the drivers side, whereas removing the engine can be lengthy, (a couple of hours) and at least while the engine is out you can give it a full degrease and clean down, check alternator etc. If you decided to pay someone professionally to remove the engine and put it back in for you, you would be looking at a couple hundred.

- take some photos of wiring setups too incase you forget how it all goes..

Ric

[wasy]

don't decide not to remove the engine so you can change the CV along with taking the diff out.
A CV is a minor job requiring max 20 mins for the drivers side, whereas removing the engine can be lengthy, (a couple of hours) and at least while the engine is out you can give it a full degrease and clean down, check alternator etc. If you decided to pay someone professionally to remove the engine and put it back in for you, you would be looking at a couple hundred.

- take some photos of wiring setups too incase you forget how it all goes..

Ric

The removing of the engine part shouldn't be too bad, as the old man is a mechanic, but having removed many an engine, was looking for an easier way.

The wiring shouldn't be too bad, it's only a carby.

Wasy.

[Impulsive]

I did it in the car once. It's a REAL pain in the ass because:

a) You need to be Inspector go go Gadget to get to everything past the diff, etc in the first place

b) You will spread the silicon that you're sealing your sump back on with onto everything BUT the sump faces on the way back in because you have to wrangle it past the gearbox bellhousing and diff on the way back in. Believe me, it's a MAJOR pain in the ass!

If I had my time again, I would at least release the engine mounts and tilt the whole thing up, but removing the engine should be seriously considered, as, by comparison, it's relatively easy.

You'll definitely learn new words you didn't know existed if you attempt it in the car.

Regards,

Adam

[wasy]

Well yesterday i pulled out the engine.
Geez this task is easy, i am usually helping my mate with a disco, and it takes days, not hours.

Got the engine out, removed the sump and checked the big end bearings. they were a little worn, but otherwise ok. spent another half an hour checking over the engine to find the problem with no luck.
After noticing that the spigot bearing was a little dry, we took the clutch off to find that every bolt holding the flywheel on was loose, and a couple of the bolts were hanging half way out and almost hitting the clutch.

The mechanic who has worked on this car before me is hopeless..... The bolt holding the starter motor on was almost undone, and many more bolts were loose....

luckily there is not much damage...
thanks for the advice and suggesting to take out the engine, removing the sump would not of told us anything.
Wasy.