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Can I wet sand a cam bearing?

  • Thread starter Thread starter gnx547
  • Start date Start date Jan 12, 2013

gnx547

Member
Sep 26, 2006
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Jan 12, 2013
#1
  • Jan 12, 2013
  • #1
Can I wet sand a cam beaing? The end cam bearing has a small knick and I can feel it with my finger. I was wondering if I can wet sand the knick on the cam bearing smooth?
 

billison

I like tinted tail
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#2
  • Jan 12, 2013
  • #2
I wonder if using a polishing wheel on a drimel would be better... not sure though.
 

mikestang63

SN Certified Technician
Aug 27, 2012
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Jan 12, 2013
#3
  • Jan 12, 2013
  • #3
How bad is the nick. A small scratch won't hurt the motor and the camshaft should smooth it out. IMO if you can feel the ridge of the nick is above the bearing surface, I would replace the bearing. Others may disagree, I wouldn't sand the bearing regardless. You could embed foreign material in the bearing or change clearances and make it worse.

Is the engine in the car?
 
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gnx547

Member
Sep 26, 2006
283
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Jan 12, 2013
#4
  • Jan 12, 2013
  • #4
The engine is out of the car. The knick is small, size of a pin hole.
 

mikestang63

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#5
  • Jan 12, 2013
  • #5
Up to you. I think you should be fine but since the engine is out of the car, if you want piece of mind, replace the bearing.
 
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Noobz347

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#6
  • Jan 13, 2013
  • #6
mikestang63 said:
How bad is the nick. A small scratch won't hurt the motor and the camshaft should smooth it out. IMO if you can feel the ridge of the nick is above the bearing surface, I would replace the bearing. Others may disagree, I wouldn't sand the bearing regardless. You could embed foreign material in the bearing or change clearances and make it worse.

Is the engine in the car?
Click to expand...

This ^
 

NIKwoaC

中國製造
15 Year Member
Oct 31, 2006
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Jan 13, 2013
#7
  • Jan 13, 2013
  • #7
When I built my current motor, I accidentally dropped the cam during install and it left an impression of the gear teeth on the #1 bearing. My machinist told me that it's not the impression that's the problem, it's the ridges around it that would drag against the cam. He had me lightly sand it out just until the ridges were gone, but not the whole "dent". Car has been running great for 2 years now.
 

Rick 91GT

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Nov 29, 1999
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Jan 14, 2013
#8
  • Jan 14, 2013
  • #8
NIKwoaC said:
When I built my current motor, I accidentally dropped the cam during install and it left an impression of the gear teeth on the #1 bearing. My machinist told me that it's not the impression that's the problem, it's the ridges around it that would drag against the cam. He had me lightly sand it out just until the ridges were gone, but not the whole "dent". Car has been running great for 2 years now.
Click to expand...

Correct, using scotchbrite or some high grit sand paper will not hurt a thing, you end up doing this to the thrust bearing at time to get the proper clearance
 

NIKwoaC

中國製造
15 Year Member
Oct 31, 2006
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Jan 14, 2013
#9
  • Jan 14, 2013
  • #9
Rick 91GT said:
Correct, using scotchbrite or some high grit sand paper will not hurt a thing, you end up doing this to the thrust bearing at time to get the proper clearance
Click to expand...

Yep, IIRC I used Scotch-Brite.
 

srtthis

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#10
  • Jan 14, 2013
  • #10
i had an issue with my volvo cams when i put it back together and i used some 1000-1500-2000 then a white scotch brite pad and it looked like i never had an issue
 
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