when i was taking off my fan shroud to find my gigantic oil leak, (more like a geyser) i had noticed a large bolt which appered to be my e-shaft bolt laying between my raditor and radiator shroud. i thought to my self "no way" and "its not possible", yet when i got everything off there it was, or rather wasn't. after standing there for an hour thinking to myself how the hell this could happen i got to thinking that there could be possibly more wrong, such as my needle bearing falling out of place and the fact that i was missing my thermal pellet deal and the spring.


so, i need to know if it is possible for the torrington bearing to fall out of place and how to fix it, also i need to but a new pellet thing and spring.

there was a website that had a walktrough on how to fix the torrington bearing and i cant remember the name if anyone knows that would help too.

 

Wow, I wouldn't think that would be possible. I hope you haven't started a trend. Geyser would be an understatement- did you run her out of oil?

You're gonna have to pull the front cover off, and remove a couple of things to get to those bearings. Mazdatrix has a good writeup on this.

If the bearings and thrust plates are still good, and the bolt looks none the worse for wear, you actually might be able to fix her up without much cost...

 

oh its possible allright, didnt run it dry. i thought that if you didnt tighten the e-shaft bolt back down it wouldnt damage the plates or other stuff. im pretty sure the bearings are out of place because there is zero play in the shaft.

 

There should not be noticable play felt by hand in the shaft. Play should be noticable if a dial indicator is used...I think 4 thou is the limit, but don't quote me on that.

Yes, you wil want to remove the front cover and verify the condition of the torrington bearings. This might also be a good time to check the condition of the spacer and adjust your endplay if not within spec. Also install a thermal pellet to replace the stock e-shaft thermostat.

When you reinstall the bolt, use RED Loctite on the threads. Clean both the threads in the e-saft and on the bolt very thoroughly, and then tighten to 90 ft lbs.

 

Here is the how to link

http://mazdatrix.com/faq/pulley.htm

 

ok, next question: what will i need for taking off the front cover as far as new gaskets go, and how much will they be all together? is taking off the front cover a long project in that would i have to take things off like the waterpump ac pump or other things around that area, or will it just unbolt and pull off?

 

^

 

Hmm, yeh, you're gonna have to remove all the components (water pump, etc...) out of your way to get the front cover off. You also need to read the Mazdatrix writeup on the front cover o-ring problems...Most guys now just RTV the front cover on, since using the gasket can prevent a good o-ring "seal". A good idea would be to read the procedures in the Haynes or FSM, if I tried to explain the whole procedure to you I'd write a novel, and still forget something...Gnome11 (or something like that) is also having front cover/ front bolt problems, you may want to read his thread also, it's on page 1 or 2...

 

yeah i just read gnome311's little problem and i cant figure out why the hell he cant get his bolt to even try to move and mine just falls out? it does not seem possible to me. i dont know, guess its off with the front cover, wish me luck.

 

OK, Good luck...

If you have the book in front of you, you shouldn't have a problem, just keep all the thrust washers & stuff in order so you won't be confused going back together with everything. After you torque the front bolt back on (with some loctite on the threads), check it out with a ratchet or something to make sure that sucker ain't coming back out...