5sfe balance shaft removal updates?

[uibalnme]

Very old topic, I know.

Do any TN'ers who have done this, and are still on the forums, have any updates on how their engines are doing? I may be doing this mod in next few months, and want to know if I even should since my engine has 149,xxx miles on it. It has no real issues other than worn valve seals(puffs smoke out of the tail pipe after letting it sit for an hour or so).

[Red_T_SwiftCam]

Originally Posted by uibalnme

Very old topic, I know.

Do any TN'ers who have done this, and are still on the forums, have any updates on how their engines are doing? I may be doing this mod in next few months, and want to know if I even should since my engine has 149,xxx miles on it. It has no real issues other than worn valve seals(puffs smoke out of the tail pipe after letting it sit for an hour or so).

There is some really good info on this mod if you search for it, but i have done this on my build.
My machinist took it off when boring my block out and said its not needed and it lightens the rotating assembly for fast revving you also get a better feel of the car. Without the balance shaft assembly you might feel more vibrations as the shaft helps with making the car more of a comfortable ride.

[uibalnme]

How many miles have you put on the engine since you did that?

[Red_T_SwiftCam]

Originally Posted by uibalnme

How many miles have you put on the engine since you did that?

I have yet to put any miles on it, its a fresh 0 mile turbo build. Im not sure if the older guys are around to give you input on there results after driving it for a while. I can tell you that Mr2's and possible Celica's do not run balance shafts, and that removing it will not bring serious ware on the engine.

[bill buttermore]

I rebuilt a '99 5SFE last year with 172K on the clock. I removed the balance shafts because the main and rod bearings were worn. I split the case, removed the shafts, tapped the oil passage in the block, cut off a bolt and cut a slot in it so I could turn it into the oil feed below flush with a screwdriver. Set the bolt in with thread sealer to plug the oil feed passage, then re-assembled and attached the empty case. That way, I did not need to build a strainer mount. I could not tell any difference in the idle or run up with the shafts out. I drove that car about 500 miles.

I rebuilt an '01 5SFE this year with 102K, main and rod bearings were perfect. I reinstalled the balance shaft case with the shafts because it was easier to do so. Again, I could not tell that the shafts were in from the idle or acceleration. Drove it about 350 miles.

Maybe if the cars were side by side and you could drive one then immediately drive the other, you could tell a difference, but with several months in between, I could tell no difference.

Can't comment on the long term effects as I sold both cars. But if it were my personal driver, I might rather they were out. One less place to lose oil pressure.

[RichieRichJP]

it's unnecessary to remove them btw.

[bill buttermore]

Originally Posted by RichieRichJP

it's unnecessary to remove them btw.

Many rebuilders prefer to remove them from engines with worn bearings and especially from an engine that has spun a rod bearing. When a bearing spins, metal particles can bypass the filter and do significant damage to the all the bearings in the engine including those in the balance shaft pack. As far as I know, the insert bearings for the balance shafts are not available, either aftermarket or from Toyota. That leaves you looking at the purchase of a new balance shaft pack - about $400? - or plugging the oil feed and leaving the balance shafts out. If you replace the rod and main bearings in the engine but re-install the old balance shaft pack with worn bearings the pressure will be lower in the oil gallery. That lower pressure will spell early bearing failure for the rest of the bearings in the engine.