Big end bearing shells

[Jonny_L 0]

Hi guys, I just got the vr back from my local garage, now with an mot :D

But, (always a but!) they've told me that the tapping noise that i thought was the tappets, is most likely to be the big end bearing shells, and i've been advised to drive very carefully, especially when the engines cold!

 

Now, I'm not shy when it comes to getting the my hands dirty, but is this a job that could be done by a competent :wink: diy mechanic?

I've got my trusty vr6 pocket mechanic book and bentley manual, and i'm quite keen on going for it.

Otherwise, what sort of cost should i be expecting from a garage to replace them?

Also, is there anything else down there that's worth checking or replacing at the same time?

Thanks in advance, Jonny

[Seb 0]

Big ends sound quite different from tappets.. Most vr6 noises i hear that sound like tappets are infact injectors ticking, which is perfectly normal.

 

I wouldnt have a clue what i'd expect a garage to charge for doing ends, but i wouldnt trust most garages to work on a vr6. I'd diy, or take it somewhere like AW tracksport, who will know what they're doing, and do it well - not just bolt in new shells and call it a day.

[Jonny_L 0]

Apparently so, I've not heard tappets before, just went on what my dad said once while in the car. it stops almost completely after the car's warmed up.

 

My local mechanic is well into his VWs and has been doing all our cars for yonks, so I'd have no quarms on getting him to do it.

He said he'd have to look into the cost and get back to me next week. i'm just a bit worried that i'm gonna have a corrado shaped hole in my pocket again!

[Scruffythefirst 0]

Pretty easy to do but its a bit of a fiddly job. Drop the oil and sump, rotate the crank so the rod you want to work on is at the bottom, undo the big end bolts, remove the shells, inspect the crank for wear. You may need to push the rod up the bore slightly to get the shells out, but dont push it too far or you might hit a valve. Wipe rod and crank dry, fit new bearings and plastiguage, torque bolts back up. Undo bolts and compare plastiguage to scale, and compare clearance with the spec for the engine. If ok, lube crank with assembly lube, re-assemble with new rod bolts and torque up. Repeat for the other 5.

 

If the crank is scored or worn you will need to take the crank out and have it re-ground and fit oversize shells. Can all be done in situ, but much easier to do on an engine stand.

[Stan 24v 0]

Im defo not the bringer of good news, and I hope its not the same!!! But, look at the link in my signature!

 

I bought my car about a year ago, and there was a dodgy "tappety" sound going on. I really couldnt work it out, and the VW "specialist" up here couldnt either (not really a specialist, just claims it, w*nker!!), but when I took it to PSI Tuning, Andy Walker said straight away that it was bottom end knocking!

 

I left him to take the sump off and have a look.

 

The engine was rebuilt "off the books" by the previous owner, and the cowboys who did it, knew f*ck all about a VR engine!

 

They changed 5 of 6 shells, and left the one that "looked ok"! I have pics on my pc, and will get them tomorrow for you.

 

It all sounds very similar mate, sorry. I really hope its not.

 

I got a quote for recon the engine of just over £2k - real job this time, or £2500 (give or take) to get a 24v 4motion engine, and then sell the old 12v for spares. I think you may be able to tell what I did ;)

 

I really hope for your wallets sake its not the same but, if it is, give me a shout and I'll give you as much info/advice that i have learned.

 

Good luck ;)

[Stan 24v 0]

PS I'm glad in a way, cos its f*cking superb now :lol:

[Jonny_L 0]

Thanks guys.

Stan 24v, hope it's not the same problem as yours. Your car looks sweet now though!

I must admit I did notice an R32 engine on ebay the other day that i was tempted by. Let's just hope for the sake of my wallet and my insurance premiums that it's an easy fix this time!

Mind you, i'd feel a bit of a tit if i had a big engine in an automatic.

[Stan 24v 0]

Heres those pics mate. You heard any more?

[Jonny_L 0]

Blimey, i see what you mean now. Cheers for that.

I figure that if i do the job myself, i'd want to get a decent torque wrench first, my current one was from aldi, dirt cheap, but i wouldn't trust it on an engine!

So on that basis, i'm gonna ask the garage first, just in case it doesn't cost the earth.

I'll get on the blower to vw too, get some bits ordered in. I assume that i just need the bearings, shells and a sump gasket. not to mention oil and plastguage. unless i've got a bigger problem, in which case i'll take it as it comes!

[Kevin Bacon 5]

I'll get on the blower to vw too,

 

Good man, you know it makes sense :-)

 

Worthy of note on this is the fact a lot of VR6s suffer with piston slap in the mornings. A kind of clack-clack-clacking that should last no longer than 30 seconds, which is normal. Just want you to be sure it's that before splashing out on expensive big ends. Some people have different ways of diagnosing Big end faults but if the noise is continuous or takes ages and ages to go, then it's probably worth dropping the sump to take a butchers.

[GazzaG60 0]

if my crank looked like that i would not be happy.

[Stan 24v 0]

I wasnt!!!

[Dixxy 0]

Mine does the same taps a little from cold for a while then its as sweet as a nut.... scared now... let me know what you find jonny... how many miles has your C done?

[Jonny_L 0]

Mine does it from cold and lasts probably a few minutes, basicly til the engine is warm. I'd heard about Vr's tapping from cold, and i always assumed that was all, and thought nothing of it.

kevHaywire, I think you're right mate, there's only one way to know for sure, I'll try and get a look in there soon.

If it's piston slap, would putting good super unleaded, like optimax, stop/help that? Can't remember where i've heard that before, but it might be my first port of call if it's true.

 

The milage is the weird thing, it's only on about 79,000 miles!

[Kevin Bacon 5]

You can't stop piston slap unfortunately, it's just the time it takes for the piston to expand in the bores. Even my missus's brand new Rover 25 does it, for about the same duration. Quite a few engines do it actually, not just VWs. Pretty sure your mechanic would know the difference between that and big end noise.

 

79,000 is quite low for big end failure unless the engine suffered from oil starvation at some point in it's life. I got mine with 73K on it and it's made the piston slap noise ever since. It's on 132K now and no worse. Everytime I fear it's making weird noises, my mechanic tells me to shut up and stop worrying, so I take that as a positive sign, LOL!

[Jonny_L 0]

Right, I've only just got round to getting this sorted. I went to the stealers and they can get the bearings and the sump gasket, but he said i'd want thrust washers, which have now been discontinued.

Anyone know where i can get some from these days? VAG sent me to one of those "engine centres" that rebuild or replace engines, who ummed and ahhed a bit and said they'd look into it, but didn't sound too hopeful.

 

Cheers, Jonny

[lottysvdub 0]

its not a massive job if you know some one compitant enough to do it , if you think you can do it yourself then go for it , they can be a little fiddley to fit but certanly not a hard job :)