Bearing Clearance Measuring Procedure

CAUTION:
- The crankshaft bearing and the connecting rod journals are machined with deep, rolled fillets for strength. Grinding the crankshaft may disturb the fillets and weaken the crankshaft. Replace the crankshaft if it is damaged.
- Perform TDC Offset Recovery procedure in Powertrain Management if the timing chain, timing gears, engine front cover, crankshaft position sensor, crankshaft or other components affecting the timing are replaced.





1. Measure clearances using either the micrometer method or the plastic gauging method.
2. In order to measure clearances with the micrometer method, use the following procedure:
3. Install the crankshaft bearings into the crankshaft caps and engine block.
4. Install the crankshaft caps and bolts. Refer to specifications.
5. Measure the bearing inside diameter (I.D.) using an inside micrometer.
6. Measure the inside diameter with and inside micrometer. Place the micrometer at 90° to the split line of the crankshaft bearing.
7. Subtract the journal diameter from the bearing inside diameter in order to obtain the bearing clearance.
8. Clearances for crankshaft bearing numbers one, two, three, and four are 0.045-0.083 mm (0.0018-0.0033 inch).
9. Clearances for crankshaft bearing number five are 0.055-0.093 mm (0.0022-0.0037 inch).
10. If bearing clearances exceeds specifications, Install new crankshaft bearings.
11. In order to measure clearances with the plastic gauging method, use the following procedure:
12. Install all lower crankshaft bearings and the crankshaft into the block.
13. Place the gauging plastic across each crankshaft journal.
14. Install all upper crankshaft bearings and bearing caps into the block. Torque all bolts. Refer to specifications. The gauging plastic may adhere to either the crankshaft bearing or the crankshaft journal.





15. Carefully remove all bearing caps and the upper crankshaft bearings.





16. Without removing the gauging plastic, measure the gauging plastic compressed width at the widest point. Use the graduated scale on the edge of the gauging plastic envelope.
17. Clearances for crankshaft bearing numbers one, two, three, and four are 0.045-0.083 mm (0.0018-0.0033 inch).
18. Clearances for crankshaft bearing number five are 0.055-0.093 mm (0.0022-0.0037 inch).
19. If the flattened gauging plastic tapers toward the middle or ends, there is a difference in clearance indicating taper, out-of-round, low spot, or other irregularity of the bearing or journal. Replace the crankshaft if the journal taper or out-of-round exceeds 0.025 mm (0.001 inch).
20. If the bearing clearance is not within specifications, replace the bearing. Always replace both upper and lower bearing inserts as a set.
21. If a bearing is being fitted to an out-of-round journal, be sure to fit to the maximum diameter of the journal. If the bearing is fitted to the minimum diameter, interference between the bearing and the journal will result in rapid bearing failure.
22. A standard or undersize bearing combination may result in the proper clearance. If the proper bearing clearance cannot be achieved using standard or undersize bearings, replace the crankshaft.
23. Remove the flattened gauging plastic.