Question

Can you replace a crankshaft without removing the engine?

Answer 1

You can replace the crankshaft in some engines without removing the engine from the vehicle.

But you have to take the transmission lose from the engine and slide the transmission back away from the engine to detach the crankshaft from the transmission.

It's usually much easier to just pull the entire motor out and then flip the engine over to access the crankshaft to repair it easier.

I've had to replace a crankshaft before on an old truck when I didn't have a way to remove the engine and it was a pain and I would not recommend doing it that way.

I find it much easier to use an engine hoist and lift the engine out and use an engine stand to work on the engine that way.

Working under a car is less fun than just standing up or sitting down on a chair and working on the engine from an engine stand.

The crankshaft can be pretty heavy to lift up to the engine so I would just pull the motor out and fix it that way.

But on some vehicles you certainly can replace a crankshaft with the engine in the vehicle but it's actually more work than just pulling the motor out and doing the job that way.

Answer 2

Replacing the crankshaft in the engine with the engine still in the car is certainly doable in some vehicles if you can get the transmission moved back away from the engine.

And if you have enough space to work the sockets and ratchet to remove the main bearings.

I've done it before in some trucks but I had a lift to put the vehicle on which made it easier to access the engine underneath and remove the crankshaft.

But on some vehicles it will be a lot easier to just remove the engine to get to the crankshaft.

You might as well replace the rod bearings as well as the main bearings if you're replacing the crankshaft as well.