OEM 2004 Jeep Liberty Crankshaft

2004 Jeep Liberty Crankshaft Parts and Q&A

• Q: How to Remove and Replace a Crankshaft on 2004 Jeep Liberty?

  A: Equipment removal must happen before you can get to the crankshaft-you must first remove the engine gas from the car, then the flex plate and lastly the crankshaft rear seal. After that, place the engine on a repair stand and remove both the oil and the filter. After that, remove the oil pan, timing belt covers, timing belt, oil pump and balance shafts with housing assembly. Removal of all bedplate bolts from the engine block should be followed by gently hitting the bedplate free from the dowel pins with a mallet, to avoid causing any damage. The crankshaft may now be lifted from the cylinder block without harming any main bearings or journals. Both sides of the crankshaft journals should be checked for excessive wear, taper and scoring and grinding on the journals must not exceed 0.305 mm (0.012 in.) under the specified diameter, with the thrust faces of the No. 3 main bearing not being ground. Once grinding is done, very close attention should be given to edges near the oil holes. Finally, polish on the cast iron crankshaft should occur in the same direction as normal rotation. Lubrication grooves in the cylinder block must be facing upward while installing main bearing shells so that the oil holes line up and the bearing tabs are well seated. It is necessary to avoid any oil on the bedplate mating area. Be sure to oil the bearings and journals and put anaerobic sealer only on the bedplate before fitting the crankshaft. The lower main bearings should be placed into the main bearing cap/bedplate after applying a bead of Mopar Bed Plate Sealant to the cylinder block. Before you start, oil the threads of the bolts and tighten the main bearing bedplate bolts in order down to where they meet with the cylinder block. First, have the crankshaft rotated until the number 4 piston reaches the top dead center, then gently pull it back and forward to the limits and wedge it in before you tighten the bolts in the correct sequence using 41 Nm (30 ft. lbs.). When the wedge tool is removed, tighten the bolts another 1/4 turn past your original torque. All main bearing bedplate to engine block bolts should be torqued to 28 Nm (20 ft. lbs.), applying the torque sequence explained earlier. When installing the main bearing bedplate, direct your attention to the turning torque for the crankshaft, until it is no more than 5.6 Nm (50 in. lbs.). Be sure to apply Mopar Lock & Seal Adhesive to both the flex plate's bolts and the engine after it is balanced.