So i'm talking to my dad tonight (this morning) and he says that if i change my cam, i should DEFINITELY change the cam bearings. Now i've talked to ALOT of people on the board and in person about their cams and NOONE has changed the bearings. Just pop the cam out, put the new cam in. Anyone else have any input? (i know you do)

Car is an LS6 with 56K miles.

 

Unless you have SIGNIFICANT wear, why? No visible damage, no need to change the cam bearings. However, a nice Torrington bearing between the cam and the lock plate will do wonders when you get it together.

 

Whats a Torrington bearing? Is that a brand?

 

You're right, the normal procedure is just swap the cam. I think your dad is coming from more of a historical perspective - that whenver you replace a part that rides on "soft" bearings, you need to change the bearings too. The tolerances and machining on the newer engines and cams though make it possible to only need to change the cam bearings if they are bad.

 

That sounds about right and was pretty much what i was thinking. Thanks guys.

 

no need for new bearings.

 

What the hell is a cam bearing?

 

I am divided on the issue. You are sliding something more than 2 and a half feet long through a series of holes (still talking about motors here...) that have a clearance in the thousands of inches. Wouldnt it be VERY! likely that a lobe would nick one? That could lead to disaster imho. Or am I just uninformed?

 

if you switch your cam bearings you should switch all your bearings because it could potentialy starve your new cam bearings if the other bearings had more wear.

the actual answer is no, dont change them, LS1 bearings if well taken care of can go 130,000 with no signs of wear at all (i know this becuase i took appart a 130,000 mile motor and when i was removing the cam i knicked the bearings in a couple of places, so i just replaced all bearings to be on the safe side)

 

Paul, where are you getting the torrington bearing from and how is it installed? Please elaborate.

 

A torrington bearing is the bearing that is on the timing sprocket that bolts to the camshaft. Stock timing sets do not have this bearing. Is helps keep the camshaft from sliding back and forth and reduces the friction between the sprocket and the cam retaining plate.

 

Gotcha!

 

The black ring in the middle of the large sprocket is the torrington bearing that rotates on lots of little needle bearings.

 

ok ok... i've seen those, just didn't know thats what they're called.

 

where do you get them at?

 

You have to buy an aftermarket timing set that comes with one. Rollmaster does, obviously.

 

that looks like the stock LS1 cam sprocket (except that one is double roller) with just that extra bearing, i was wondering if they sold just that bearing