how to install cam bearings

Removing & Installing Cam Bearings

Author: Josh Brown Date Posted:1 October 2017

The cam bearings in engines are removed and installed when doing a complete engine rebuild.

Begin by stripping down the engine. Once all parts are removed, the cam bearings can be taken out, this will help to remove any dust or dried grease that may be caught behind the bearings.

Next, ensure the motor is clean and prepared for assembly. (For a detailed guide on how to do this properly, see our piece on "ENGINE CLEANING")

When removing and installing the cam bearings, there are two different tools you can use; "fixed' or "expandable".

Fixed tools are designed specifically to fit ONE size of bearing. Expandable tools, as their name suggests, are multi-purpose, and can be used on a multiple of bearing sizes.

Cams and fixed tools, assorted sizes* With FIXED, you are guaranteed precise alignment.
WE RECOMMEND FIXED!

With FIXED, you are guaranteed precise alignment.*
A FIXED tool won't slip and damage the cam bearing.

An EXPANDABLE tool may be used if that's all you have, but just be aware that this leaves much more room for error, and potential damage to cam bearings.

Some cam bearings have to be aligned with oil gallery holes, which is critical for the supply of oil to the crankshaft. I find marking cam bearings (with a permanent marker) where the oil hole should be, makes it easier to align.

Aligning a hole PERFECTLY is possible...but hard to achieve. When you are preparing for this, ensure that at least 3/4 of the hole is showing.
It is NOT good practice to install a new cam bearing, misalign the hole, and have to remove and re-install it as this can cause a whole size or more to be accidentally shaved off the cam bearing.

Aligning cam gap with oil hole.

If the oil gallery holes are still slightly off, a drill bit can expand it.

NB/ If you do this, remember to DEBURR the cam bearing oil hole once you've drilled it.

The final test is to install the camshaft and ensure it rotates freely.

An old-school method used when camshafts appeared stuck, or wouldn't rotate freely, involved the builder taking a blunt chisel and hammer, and hitting down hard on the core shaft, even spaces apart.

While this spreads the distance between the high spots on the camshaft, and does allow it to turn more freely, it also adds the possibility of bending the camshaft, giving you more problems in the future.

ECS Exhaust are committed to ensuring that your privacy is protected. Should we ask you to provide certain information by which you can be identified when using this website, then you can be assured that it will only be used in accordance with this privacy statement.

We may change this policy from time to time by updating this page. You should check this page from time to time to ensure that you are happy with any changes.

What we collect

We may collect the following information:

name and job title
contact information including email address
demographic information such as postcode, preferences and interests
other information relevant to customer surveys and/or offers

What we do with the information we gather

We require this information to understand your needs and provide you with a better service, and in particular for the following reasons:

Internal record keeping.
We may use the information to improve our products and services.
We may periodically send promotional emails about new products, special offers or other information which we think you may find interesting using the email address which you have provided.
From time to time, we may also use your information to contact you for market research purposes. We may contact you by email, phone, fax or mail. We may use the information to customise the website according to your interests.

Security

We are committed to ensuring that your information is secure. In order to prevent unauthorised access or disclosure, we have put in place suitable physical, electronic and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information we collect online.

How we use cookies

A cookie is a small file which asks permission to be placed on your computer's hard drive. Once you agree, the file is added and the cookie helps analyse web traffic or lets you know when you visit a particular site. Cookies allow web applications to respond to you as an individual. The web application can tailor its operations to your needs, likes and dislikes by gathering and remembering information about your preferences.

We use traffic log cookies to identify which pages are being used. This helps us analyse data about webpage traffic and improve our website in order to tailor it to customer needs. We only use this information for statistical analysis purposes and then the data is removed from the system.
Overall, cookies help us provide you with a better website by enabling us to monitor which pages you find useful and which you do not. A cookie in no way gives us access to your computer or any information about you, other than the data you choose to share with us.
You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the website.

Links to other websites

Our website may contain links to other websites of interest. However, once you have used these links to leave our site, you should note that we do not have any control over that other website. Therefore, we cannot be responsible for the protection and privacy of any information which you provide whilst visiting such sites and such sites are not governed by this privacy statement. You should exercise caution and look at the privacy statement applicable to the website in question.

Controlling your personal information

You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways:

whenever you are asked to fill in a form on the website, look for the box that you can click to indicate that you do not want the information to be used by anybody for direct marketing purposes
if you have previously agreed to us using your personal information for direct marketing purposes, you may change your mind at any time by writing to or emailing us.

We will not sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties unless we have your permission or are required by law to do so. We may use your personal information to send you promotional information about third parties which we think you may find interesting if you tell us that you wish this to happen.

Email contact josh@ecsexhaust.com.au
If you believe that any information we are holding on you is incorrect or incomplete, please write to or email us as soon as possible at the above address. We will promptly correct any information found to be incorrect.