Should I replace this cam bearing?
Should I replace this cam bearing? In the middle of a cam swap, Found this front cam bearing when I removed the old cam. It has a gouge directly in the center, I'm not looking to get the most life out of the engine as I'll be swapping it out in the near future, just trying to have some fun with just a cam for a little bit. But if I leave it alone what are the chances of something detonating? Cam journals were perfectly fine and the car had normal oil pressure when it was running.
Really don't want to replace this thing if I don't have to. Anyone with opinions please reply quick as the cars directly to my left.
Really don't want to replace this thing if I don't have to. Anyone with opinions please reply quick as the cars directly to my left.
its just a press fit, nothing special. they come right out with a couple swings of a hammer and a carefully placed bearing driver / socket that fits the OD of the bearing. reinstallation becomes trickier obviously because you don't want to damage the new one. be sure to tap it in a little bit at a time....you have to make sure you clock the bearing correctly to line up the oiling hole with the oil feed in the bearing bore....otherwise the bearing won't get oil.
its just a press fit, nothing special. they come right out with a couple swings of a hammer and a carefully placed bearing driver / socket that fits the OD of the bearing. reinstallation becomes trickier obviously because you don't want to damage the new one. be sure to tap it in a little bit at a time....you have to make sure you clock the bearing correctly to line up the oiling hole with the oil feed in the bearing bore....otherwise the bearing won't get oil.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the LS1 bearings were align honed at the factory so replacing them can be a double edge sword. Some have replaced them without issues, others had them spin shortly after replacement. Compared to others, there is very little copper showing which is typical for an LS1.
Photos make things look worse. Can you feel the scratch? Have you tried smoothing it out with some 2000 grit and oil?
Photos make things look worse. Can you feel the scratch? Have you tried smoothing it out with some 2000 grit and oil?
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Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the LS1 bearings were align honed at the factory so replacing them can be a double edge sword. Some have replaced them without issues, others had them spin shortly after replacement. Compared to others, there is very little copper showing which is typical for an LS1.
Photos make things look worse. Can you feel the scratch? Have you tried smoothing it out with some 2000 grit and oil?
Photos make things look worse. Can you feel the scratch? Have you tried smoothing it out with some 2000 grit and oil?
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It doesnt look that good. My thoughts are that if the front bearing is damaged, what do the others look like that you cant see? If you didnt have issues before and dont need it to last that long, you could take a chance on using it. If it were mine I would definitely replace them all. That said, its not a simple in car procedure. Out of the car its no big deal. I paid $68 for bearings and installation.
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I thought the LS1 bearings were align honed at the factory so replacing them can be a double edge sword. Some have replaced them without issues, others had them spin shortly after replacement. Compared to others, there is very little copper showing which is typical for an LS1.
Photos make things look worse. Can you feel the scratch? Have you tried smoothing it out with some 2000 grit and oil?
Photos make things look worse. Can you feel the scratch? Have you tried smoothing it out with some 2000 grit and oil?
You do need the proper tools and make sure you index the bearings correctly.
I have only had a problem once and it was due to a factory defect in some Durabond cam bearings. Durabond warrantied all 4 boxes of their defective bearings. Now if they would only pay me back my shop time we could call it all good.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,343
Likes: 8
From: Katy, TX
I would only replace the bearing if you have the proper tools to measure the bearing clearance. If so, then go for it.
If not, I would recommend to smooth it out with some 2000# sandpaper, clean it up good, then run it.
If not, I would recommend to smooth it out with some 2000# sandpaper, clean it up good, then run it.
On The Tree
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 145
Likes: 11
From: Brisbane, Australia
Hi All,
I know this is an old thread but didn't want to start a new one for the same thing.
I have a similar issue, I took the engine apart to clean for a rebuild and in the process of cleaning some of the caustic oven cleaner had washed off the block and sat on the cam bearing for a bit and looks to have dissolved some of the silver Babbitt material to expose the copper underneath. The cam bearings themselves have no score marks and are very smooth, same with the cam that came out, and it only seems to have shown copper on the front bearing.
Is it save to reuse these bearings as I don't have the tool and keep reading about the alignment from factory being more important than replacing if they look ok.
I know this is an old thread but didn't want to start a new one for the same thing.
I have a similar issue, I took the engine apart to clean for a rebuild and in the process of cleaning some of the caustic oven cleaner had washed off the block and sat on the cam bearing for a bit and looks to have dissolved some of the silver Babbitt material to expose the copper underneath. The cam bearings themselves have no score marks and are very smooth, same with the cam that came out, and it only seems to have shown copper on the front bearing.
Is it save to reuse these bearings as I don't have the tool and keep reading about the alignment from factory being more important than replacing if they look ok.
Hi All,
I know this is an old thread but didn't want to start a new one for the same thing.
I have a similar issue, I took the engine apart to clean for a rebuild and in the process of cleaning some of the caustic oven cleaner had washed off the block and sat on the cam bearing for a bit and looks to have dissolved some of the silver Babbitt material to expose the copper underneath. The cam bearings themselves have no score marks and are very smooth, same with the cam that came out, and it only seems to have shown copper on the front bearing.
Is it save to reuse these bearings as I don't have the tool and keep reading about the alignment from factory being more important than replacing if they look ok.
I know this is an old thread but didn't want to start a new one for the same thing.
I have a similar issue, I took the engine apart to clean for a rebuild and in the process of cleaning some of the caustic oven cleaner had washed off the block and sat on the cam bearing for a bit and looks to have dissolved some of the silver Babbitt material to expose the copper underneath. The cam bearings themselves have no score marks and are very smooth, same with the cam that came out, and it only seems to have shown copper on the front bearing.
Is it save to reuse these bearings as I don't have the tool and keep reading about the alignment from factory being more important than replacing if they look ok.
