I just wanna check my washers on the shaft to check my end-play, is the front cover that much of a c**t to get off while still in the bay?

 

Don't take off the front cover! If you re-assemble the front cover, the rear thrust bearing will fall in front of the spacer. There's no way to hold it in place and re-assemble the front cover properly without pulling the engine(not to my knowledge anyways). If you do this and the thrust bearing falls and you reassemble...your motor will blow within the next 500 km....GUARANTEED.

Here's a link to the mazdatrix site with pictures.

CLICK HERE

Besides, why would you want to do this?

 

I did it. The front cover seal was leaking oil( common on remans I think). Just cleared everything in the front, dropped the oil pan and took it off. Resealed and put back the opposite order, while reading the manual. No problems 11K later. It was an auto though, so maybe that matters, I don't know.

 

Jspec what are you talking about??? with the cover off the bearing is easy to set up correctly. problems arise when you just pull the pully and it falls requiring the front cover r&r. i would bet he is leaking

 

Yeah I think your right mad 7tist, I sorta remember that.(it's been a while)

 

just take your time when you're doing this. You could check those bearings before putting in your oil pan.
just remember how it looked like before and after.

also be careful with those extremely brittle MOP lines