Audi 5000 Camshaft removal/install

Hi,

I'm replacing the lifters on my 86 5000 and am having lots of trouble with the camshaft bearing caps. If I follow the manual, there is no way that I can put the caps back on. The procedure as I understand it is as follows:

a) place engine at TDC; marks on camshaft pulley and crankshaft b) loosen caps 2 & 4 diagonally c) remove caps 2 & 4 d) loosen caps 1 & 3 diagonally e) remove caps 1 & 3

The manual calls for reinstalling in the same order. The problem is that there is no way to install cap 4 with the lobes pushing on the lifters.

What am I doing wrong? Should I install in the reverse order? That would make sense to me.

Thanks in advance!

Kirk S.

Reply to
Kirk S.
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Sounds like you didn't get it to TDC.

The mark that you need to align is on the BACK of the cam pulley. It lines up with the top edge of the valve cover gasket. Of course the cam pulley is removed now so not sure how you can check it. At TDC all the lobes should be off the lifters.

Or your timing belt was off a few teeth before you started.

T> Hi,

Reply to
Tony

Tony,

Thanks for the advice. With each cylinder firing 144 degrees from each other, I can't see how all lobes of the camshaft can all be on low spots at the same time. At that position, none of the lobes are openning the valves very far. I did line up the 0 mark on the crankshaft and the mark on the back of the cam pulley with the top of the valve cover gasket before I started. I reversed the removal procedure and installed 1&3 first and 2&4 second. Lubed everything up with assembly lube and tightened slowly and evenly with a 1/4" ratchet. Once I got everything tightened down evenly, I torqued to 180in/lbs in three steps.

The way the manual described the procedure made no sense to me logically. If I remove 2&4 first and 1&3 second, it makes logical sense to put them back in reverse order.

Reply to
Kirk S.

No matter where you set the camshaft, there is no way of avoiding pressing down on some of the valves as you tighten down the camshaft. The idea of removing/tightening alternate caps is to minimise the bending stress in the camshaft itself. If you tighten down the outers (1&4) first, you risk permanently bowing the camshaft upwards in the middle. Similarly, if you tighten down the inners (2&3) first, you risk bowing it the other way. It is less important which pair (1&3 and 2&4) you loosen/tighten first, as long as you avoid making the camshaft span too far as a beam between supports. A bent camshaft will obviously bind in the bearings, leading to premature bearing wear and failure of the toothed belt. Hope that makes sense!

Rachael

Reply to
Rachael

Yes, it makes perfect sense. I tightened down 3 first, 1 second, 4 third and 2 last. Once I got the camshaft started, I just tightened everything up slowly and evenly. Never turning any one cap more than 1/4 turn at a time and keeping the cam at the same height on each cap.

Thanks! Will see how it runs with the new lifters. The old ones were making quite a racket. Probably will replace the injectors as well.

Kirk

Reply to
Kirk S.

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