That's a lot of end play.

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

Spec .003" to .011" … so, you know, 4x.

I hate to say this, but I think it's time to throw the Jeep away. It's not the most money I've ever spent on a car, but it's by far and away the most money I've lost. Really should have checked this before spending a grand on the head, but... there is no but. That was just dumb. Bah.

Edit: Had a hail-mary thought: Is thrust control a function of the rear carrier? My fingers are cross that it is, because that is still off the engine. The FSM doesn't seem to indicate where that is handled. It would real nice if that's the explanation here.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:06 pm

Yes. Thrust is controlled by the rear carrier.

You gotta get this thing back together.
You’re not allowed to give up

(mine’s almost ready to get back on the road)

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:23 pm

Yes, it appears it is controlled by shims in the rear main bearing carrier.
Very similar to thousands of VW's I have done! Always tried to set them to 0.004 - 0.006 in. with new bearings,
From one of my other files:
If the end play (axial clearance) is incorrect, calculate the necessary thickness of the thrust washers needed.
Install different thickness thrust washers in rear main carrier and recheck the end play (axial clearance).
Refer to Rear Main Bearing Carrier to determine thickness thrust washers.
Repeat the steps until the proper end play (axial clearance) is obtained

Mountainman · **Posted:** Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:34 pm

Yeah, I had the same heart attack on one of these motors. Worst case you can get a new thrust washer from ID parts if yours in worn.

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

Okay, finally got a few hours on this over the weekend. I reinstalled the rear bearing carrier, thrust washer, and flex plate adapter to hold it all together and re-measured end play:

Much better. I *truly* was not grasping the bearing carrier concept. Now, finally, it's sunk in.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Mon Jan 20, 2020 2:04 pm

That looks real Good! End play a shade over 0.0006 in
Book calls for: 0.003-0.011 in. so that's a very good number.

thesameguy · **Joined:** Sat Oct 01, 2016 8:24 pm **Posts:** 652

The actual end play is actually .003 (.0005 x 6), but obviously well within spec!

It definitely fits in with the rest of the look & feel of this motor - super clean cylinder head, clean bores, excellent leakdown results, and no broken pieces as it's been taken apart. I think just a lot of highway miles from the original owners driving between Oregon and SoCal. I couldn't rationalize those giant numbers... once I understood the bearing carrier had to be there, it all clicked into place.

That's a lot of end play.

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