When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I recently had a machine shop do some work on a LQ4 stroker build I’m working on and when I went to install the cam the number 4 cam bearing was really tight. In the interest of time, I ordered two more sets in case I ran into anymore issues. Both sets I received looked really bad (picture attached). Has Durabond quality gone down and should I explore another brand? I also understand the initial problem could have been install but after getting the next two sets it has me questioning if it was a bad bearing.
Who are you ordering the bearings from?
Id bet the #4 bearing was tweaked in the journal. Push the cam in from the rear, til you are at the number 4 journal fully….you still have 3 journals sticking out of the block. Using pressure with both hands, manipulate the cam in all 4 directions. You might have to “tap” with a closed fist on the top or sides of the cam here. This should seat the bearing correctly. I’ve done this numerous times. Use a little oil on the two cam journals when inserting here. Give it a try please.
The bearings are all from Summit Racing. I already removed the bearing. I have a cam tool but since the engine was at a shop for other work I had them do it. I didn’t like the feel so I already removed it.
I sent a email to Summit and asked them to check the next set before sending. Just wanted a sanity check that Durabonds are still everyone’s go to.
It’s worth saying here that GM…and most other auto Manufacturers…utilize the FIP practice on cam bearings…Finished In Place. Bearings are installed in the block and at final hone and machining, the cam bearings are honed also. Because the cam journals are 3 different size ID, there’s no way to run a hone through the tunnel, until the bearings are in place. It’s for the reasons talked about in this thread, that I only change cam bearings IF the original bearings are absolutely roached…it’s difficult to get precise cam journal to bearing fitment without honing the cam bearing tunnel, with bearings in place.
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine
Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built
Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.
Durabond Cam Bearing Quality Issues? 
