1998 Stratus 2.4L timing belt

[williamblunt512]

I'm changing my '98 2.4L Strat's timing belt. I'm down to removing the "crankshaft vibration damper" (or main drive pulley). I have the drive belts off and have the bolt out that secures the thing to the crankshaft, but I'm having trouble getting it off. My 3-prong puller has worked as hoped, but I've run out of room and the thing is still not off the crankshaft because the puller's moved it far enough for the thing to be up against the frame now, but still without it having separated from the crank yet. A Dodge tech told me that's how it comes off, but what's the deal?? Anybody done this before on a '98 2.4L??

[hundahunta]

you need to lower the engine more

[williamblunt512]

Originally Posted by hundahunta

you need to lower the engine more

Thanks. If you've removed an engine vibration damper from this model Stratus before yourself then I hope you're telling me that by removing the right side engine mount (as required anyway) AND by possibly loosening one or more of the remaining mounts a bit that I can actually LOWER the engine enough to clear the frame enough to get the damper off WITHOUT taking much of anything else off more or less, right? no?

[rhandwor]

http://www.autopart.com/tools/toolsmain/tool/T_A810.htm Is this the type of puller your using. Maybe you aren't using the correct pin.

[williamblunt512]

No, I'm using a standard 3-prong puller pushing against the damper mount bolt loosely screwed back in but not all the way. A Dodge technician at my local Dodge dealer service department said they used a special 3-prong puller that screws into the mount bolt hole, but he said I could use the mount bolt method I just described as an alternative. In my case, my puller is moving the damper satisfactorily enough but the damper is contacting the car's frame without clearing the crankshaft, so I can't get it off the silly thing. I guess I'll have to try to lower the engine enough to get it off once I remove that right side engine mount. Thanks.

[rhandwor]

I've used shorter bolts so the puller is close to the pulley. I've had to drop a Chevy before. If you have a jack under the engine and the mount off just be careful and don't damage anything. Use a 2x4 so the pan isn't damaged.

[williamblunt512]

Hey thanks for the help guys. Hallelujah, I got my vibe damper off the crankshaft this afternoon, so onward and upward. hundahunta was dead on right about lowering the engine. I Removed that right engine mount, then pulled the horizontal "hinge" bolt from the front mount, lowered the engine about 1 1/2", and voila', the top of the damper cleared the frame by a hair - just barely enough for my puller to slide the thing off the crankshaft. So that's how you get the engine vibration damper off a '98
Stratus 2.4L. Now I know.