Crankwalk..when does it kick in?

JustinRS · Apr 24, 2001

Does crankwalk affect all years 95-99? I was informed that it affects only 96-99..Please let me know...as im in the market for a GSX

I Killed Tupac · Apr 24, 2001

JustinRS said:
Does crankwalk affect all years 95-99? I was informed that it affects only 96-99..Please let me know...as im in the market for a GSX

Crankwalk got my 95, and go read my DSM Graveyard Thread in the lounge. I saw three more at the dealership while was there, 2 more 95 GSXs and a 96 GST all with blown crankshafts. It gets all years 95-99. Whoever informed you was dead wrong. Go to http://www.roadraceengineering.com and read about it. Do yourself a favor and don't buy one.

JustinRS · Apr 24, 2001

Does crankwalk occur on Automatic Transmissions?

I Killed Tupac · Apr 24, 2001

Yes. It has to do with the motor, not transmission. Mits used 2 oil squirters instead of 4 in the 95+, which doesnt provide enough oil to the thrust bearing. The thrust bearing is harder metal than the crankshaft, so it wears a groove in the crankshaft that causes is to walk side to side inside your motor and break all sorts of shit. All 4g63's (95-99 Eclipse and Talon turbo motors) are prone to it. There is no cure, only very costly repairs (crank=$650, bearing $250, labor $500) that will only last less than 10,000 miles. No recall, but Mits nows about it. DO NOT BUY A SECOND GENERATION TURBO DSM.

jayntguru · Apr 24, 2001

Crankwalk is not just a DSM thing, any engine with a crank can get crank walk. Crankwalk seems to occur in a high number in 95-99 4G63T's, but is also slightly common in the 93-94 small rod motors, and still has occurances, although rare, in the 90-92 big rod motors.

Is usually occurs as soon as the warranty is out.

ShapeGSX · Apr 24, 2001

The thrust bearing is not harder metal than the crankshaft. The outer ~0.03" of metal on the bearing is very soft. You can scratch it with your fingernail. Once you wear through that metal, the backing is steel. And that will start to wear on the crank.

So catching crankwalk in its infant stages is KEY! Check your thrust play at every oil change, and you might save yourself a lot of money.

TurboGST · Apr 24, 2001

can adding more oil squirters help and can it be done?

Anthony
97 GST 5-speed

Le Talon · Apr 24, 2001

I'm on my third thrust bearing. It always wears pretty fast, but I change it before it can do much damage to the crank. The thrust bearing can be changed in place, so it's not that bad. Still, it's kinda stupid, but I prefer to replace the thrust bearing once a year that buying a new shortblock...

Silent2g · Apr 25, 2001

dumb question
how do you check the thrust in the crank
what is the tolerance for it?

jayntguru · Apr 25, 2001

Go to my website, go to the crankwalk link, and there is a link there on how to test for it. Or you can search the DSMtalk previous messages, it's there somewhere, too.

LaFemmeDSM · Apr 25, 2001

Automatics can get it, but there are only 1 or 2 documented cases vs. tons of 5 speed ones. The torque conveter puts less stress on it than a clutch, and most people upgrade to ACT 2100 or 2600 clutches which make it worse yet.

airbrat · Apr 25, 2001

I'm curious, is there a partuclar year w/ the 2G's that get crankwalk more than the others? I heard the 95's are less likely to get crankwalk.

jayntguru · Apr 25, 2001

Did you read the thread above? The answer is within.

AWD Terror · Apr 26, 2001

More info

More crankwalk info with the oil squirter theory here:
http://www.magnusmotorsports.com/crankwalktheory.htm

95ESi · May 1, 2001

changing thrust bearings

Le Talon said:
I'm on my third thrust bearing. It always wears pretty fast, but I change it before it can do much damage to the crank. The thrust bearing can be changed in place, so it's not that bad. Still, it's kinda stupid, but I prefer to replace the thrust bearing once a year that buying a new shortblock...

How do you changet the thrust bearing in place? Drop the oil pan and change it from under the car?

This is a viable preventive maintenance solution until a better solution is discovered...

MikeVgsx · May 1, 2001

BTW this is 4g63s (GST,GSX,TSI), 420a (RS,GS,ESi) don't get it.

420a just got to watch out blowing headgasket all the time,
my friend has a 98 neon it went through 3 headgaskets in 30,000 miles. Talked to a Mitsu tech he said they do that often.Same motor just engine is reversed in a neon.

95ESi · May 1, 2001

MikeVgsx said:
BTW this is 4g63s (GST,GSX,TSI), 420a (RS,GS,ESi) don't get it.

420a just got to watch out blowing headgasket all the time,
my friend has a 98 neon it went through 3 headgaskets in 30,000 miles. Talked to a Mitsu tech he said they do that often.Same motor just engine is reversed in a neon.

For the 420a, you gotta make sure you are using the MLS headgasket.

Anyhow, I wasn't asking about it for the 420a...I'm planning on getting a GSX/TSIAWD, so that's why I asked...

91-GSX · May 1, 2001

Can you buy JUST the main/thrust bearing separate or do you have to buy a main bearing kit?

Also do you usually have clutch release symptoms when you hit crankwalk? (i.e. the clutch doesn't release fully and it's hard to get into 1st, etc.

ShapeGSX · May 1, 2001

For 2Gs, you can buy each bearing seperately. In fact, you have to.

For 1Gs, you can only buy a complete set. Sucks. I have 8 unused main bearings sitting in my garage.

95ESi · May 1, 2001

replace individual bearings

How much is one 2G bearing?

And replacing is just as simple/hard as dropping oil pan and doing it from there? Or does the engine need to be yanked out...

91-GSX · May 1, 2001

So did they change the crank or bearing between the 1G and 2G - I know they changed journal size, but did they change the main/thrust bearing size.

Also where is the cheapest bearing place for 1G bearings - I'm thinking of pulling the pan and doing bearings as a little P.M. and just to check things out before cranking up the boost.

Crankwalk..when does it kick in?

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