greg454

The bearing in my idler pulley is screaming. Thought it was the waterpump but when I got the idler off it became obvious the bearings in the idler are bad. Can these be replaced? anyone done it?

Greg

greg454

wow.. Have I stumped the forum? I'm going to try and press it apart tomorrow..let you know how it goes.....

LS4 PILOT

I have heard of them being replaced

I have never done the job. , couldn't be very hard.

Removing the unit itself might be the biggest or time consuming part.

Mine is buried under lots of brackets and belts.

LS4 PILOT

Yes, I think you are correct, been a while , but seems to me , I studied it thinking I might have to replace the bearing sometime, and I decided it was pressed in and out deal. Check for ring clips.

greg454

I already have it out... does take a little time, but easier than getting the water pump out

LS4 PILOT

Yeah....that's true.....been there and done that

greg454

Well I pressed the bearing out of the bracket with no problem. Then I tried to press the bearing off of the shaft and POW it exploded into a million pieces. Turns out the shaft is part of the bearing and the wheel is pressed onto the shaft.

original assembly


Well I went to the local bearing shop and gave them the number off of the bearing 885198 and it turns out its a water pump bearing. The original manufacture is out of business and they dont have an exact replacement so they sell me a 885586. The bearing surfaces and shaft O.D. are identical but the shaft sticks farther out of the bearing on both ends.

new bearing


To shorten the shafts I had to grind them off to the proper length as they were too hard for the local machine shop to cut.

Got it all pressed back together and it works great. Nice and quiet once again.

New assembly

I left the back of the shaft a little long (stupid measuring error) but it just tucks up under the water pump and cant be seen anyway.

Sooo.... if anyone else attempts this PRESS THE WHEEL OFF THE SHAFT..YOU CANT PRESS THE BEARING OFF THE SHAFT!!

I need a beer.

greg454

Oh yes 1 more thing. If you google the correct bearing 885198 you can still find them from various places. I just wanted to be done today.

Greg

LS4 PILOT

Wow.....cool

Glade you were successful. ...

Will try and keep,this in mind for future repairs myself.

I think a whole repro assembly is being produced now.....so,it would figure that the bearing/shaft piece would still,be available somewhere.

Don't blame you one bit for doing what is necessary and getting it all,over with . I just enjoy driving so much , I would have done the same.

Door pin project is next up for me..... another corvette favorite

grumman41

Thanks for the write up...I soaked mine in vineager to remove the rust and it pitted the bearing.