Safety Warning
DIY auto repair can cause serious injury, fire, or vehicle damage. These guides are for informational purposes only. Always follow OEM torque specs, wear PPE, and consult a certified mechanic if you are unsure. You are solely responsible for your safety.
Balancer Shafts: Inspection
1997 Isuzu Oasis SSECTION Inspection
- Measure balancer shaft end play before removing balancer shaft retainer and balancer gear case. Push balancer shafts firmly toward timing belt. Attach dial indicator and zero it against flywheel/drive plate end. Move balancer shaft back and forth, and measure end play. See BALANCER SHAFTS under ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS.
- If front balancer shaft end play exceeds specification, inspect retainer and thrust surfaces on shaft. If rear balancer shaft end play exceeds specification, inspect thrust washer and thrust surfaces on drive gear and oil pump housing. Thickness of front retainer and rear thrust washer are set and must not be changed by grinding or shimming.
- Remove and clean balancer shafts. Inspect surface of balancer shaft journal and balancer shaft bearing. Replace bearing or balancer shaft if worn, damaged, or discolored. A mirror-like surface is normal. When replacing rear balancer shaft front bearing, replace oil pump housing.
- Measure diameter of front and rear edges of balancer shaft journals to determine journal taper. Journal taper should not exceed specification. Support balancer shaft using "V" blocks, at front and rear journals. Measure runout at No. 2 journal of each balancer shaft for at least 2 revolutions. Measure balancer shaft journal diameter at all 3 journals. See BALANCER SHAFTS under ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS.
- Remove crankshaft, pistons and other components from engine block. Clean balancer shaft journal bearings in block and oil pump housing. Replace balancer shaft journal bearings in block or replace oil pump housing if any bearing is worn, damaged, or discolored.
- Measure inner diameters of front balancer shaft journal bearings No. 1, 2 and 3, and rear balancer shaft journal bearings No. 2 and 3 in block and rear shaft bearing No. 1 in oil pump housing. Calculate shaft-to-bearing oil clearance. See BALANCER SHAFTS under ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS. Replace bearings or oil pump housing, or balancer shafts as necessary.
RENDER: 1.0x
NO RELATED
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When to See a Mechanic
Stop DIY work and contact a certified mechanic immediately if any of the following apply:
- • You smell fuel, burning insulation, or see smoke.
- • Brakes feel soft, pull hard to one side, or make grinding noises.
- • The engine overheats, stalls repeatedly, or misfires under load.
- • You are missing required tools, torque specs, or safe lifting equipment.
- • You are not confident in the next step or safety outcome.