How to Remove a Corolla Crankshaft

Removing the crankshaft from a Toyota Corolla vehicle is an extremely involved operation that should done under supervision of a professional if at all possible. The crankshaft works directly with the engine pistons and converts the piston motion into rotation. If you are going to remove the crankshaft from the engine, you must first remove the engine from the car--which requires special equipment, procedures and expertise. Consult with your mechanic before proceeding with this operation.

Instructions

1

Remove the following parts from the engine: The flywheel or driveplate, the crankshaft pulley, the timing chain, the oil pan, the oil pump body, the oil filter and the piston/connecting rod assemblies.

2

Mount a dial indicator on the crankshaft, placing the indicator in line with the crankshaft and touching the end of it. This is needed to measure the endplay.

3

Pry the crankshaft all the way to the rear and turn the dial indicator to zero, then pry the crankshaft as far as you can to the front and measure the distance traveled to get the endplay. The endplay needs to be between .003 and .01 inch.

4

Loosen the main bearing cap bolts with a wrench, turning them each a quarter turn at a time. Loosen them until you can remove them by hand.

5

Tap the main bearing cap assembly gently with a soft-face hammer and pull the cap up and off the cylinder block. If the bearing inserts come out with the assembly, try not to drop them.

6

Lift the crankshaft out of the engine. This often takes two people because the crankshaft is heavy and difficult to handle.