Hey...new member here...looks like i found the best forum on the net judging by the number of posts at least....anyway...I am looking for a link or instructions on teh best way to get the damn crank bolt out?? 5 speed...tried hand tools...even a breaker bar...can't keep pulley from turning ...tried in gear, brake on, rag stuffed in belt to impede spinning...i don't have air tools...and even if i did i hear the rad has to come out to get at it with a impact gun...and seems liek a air ratchet would not have the control/leverage...help me out...already sold a set of steedas cuz i was pissed off at this bolt!!! considering getting another set if i can get a tip or two on this bolt removal....Thanks

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Shove a thick 3/4" drive extension in the power steering pulley, so when you turn the bolt, the pulley will force the extension against the block, thus preventing any further turning. Easy peasy, though will still require quite a bit of force. Do the same in reverse to re-tighten after install. Make sure to get it just as tight though or it will tend to back out.

And of course, putting the vehicle in gear and applying the parking brake will help too.

 

I used a large strap wrench around the lower pulley to hold it while I broke the crank bolt loose. A strap wrench or chain wrench works great for this.

 

Well the right way to do it is with a flywheel lock. You take out the starter and install it and it locks the crank in place. I dont know if they make one for a mustang, I have one for Porsches, but that is another story.

 

Also, a 3/8" (not 1/2" )impact gun is small enough to fit without taking any thing off.

 

I have done 3 of them with no problems and no impact tool. Just put the car in 5th gear, tighten the emergeny brake and then use a long handled breaker bar - 18" or so. I did all of them from the top by just removing the air intake tube. Once you get the slack out of the driveline, the bolt pops free easily. You will need to do the same thing in reverse to get the bolt torqued down to the 116-121 ft/lbs needed

 

i removed the fan shroud and a 1/2 impace gun fit fine. Here are some links to instructions.


http://www.cherod.com/mustang/HowTo/Pulleys.htm

 

I did the same thing....

even in gear it still turn slightly and the more you turn it the more it locks down...after about 10 minutes of fighting with and cursing at the balancer...the bolt finally broke free....

getting the pulley off was another issues...
the damned stock balancer does NOT have the threaded holes like normal balancers where the balancer pulley screws into....talk about a kick in the nuts...
so you have to use a 3 jaw puller (which COULD in some cases damage the pulley or crankshaft snout)...but the 3jaw puller I had was too small...couldn't get all the way around the balancer...so had to go by a 6" puller...and that one was too long...so had to take the fan shroud out and move the coolant bottle to get access...what a pain in the ***!!..ended up taking like 3 hours with 2 or 3 trips back and forth to the autopart store...grrrr.

 

Hi ren274u; I feel flattered, those were my instructions. I'm glad they helped.

I tried everything too. An impact ratchet does not have enough torque. You need an impact wrench. I could not use mine, it was too big and I did not have enough clearance. I did not want to go crazy removing the fan shrowd and everything else. The solution was a 4" impact wrench from Sears. My local Sears lets you rent the tools buy paying the purchase price and then returning it in like new condition.

The only trick to using the 4" gun was that the direction buttons are too easy to hit by mistake. I spent several minutes tightening the bolt when I thought I was removing it. Also, make sure your compressor has power. Mine blew a CB and I did not realize it. The compressor tank did not have enough presure to provide maximum torque.

Make sure you get the right type of puller. You will need the three claw type. The autozoone by me will lend them out with a refundable deposit. You need the one for Chrysler believe it or not. Read the instruction, they will describe the various type available and the right ones to get. To make the job easier, I wound up wraping a rubber band around the jaws of the pulley to keep them closed tight around the crank shaft. This was the trick I needed to get the balancer off.

You can also get a harmonic balancer alighnment tool that will allow you to press the balancer onto the crankshaft evenly. If you don't install it right, it may wobble and cause a cel error on the computer.

Finally, when you are completely done, make sure you check the alternator bolt. IT WILL rub against the belt and shred it to pieces. You will need to trim the bolt with a dremmel cut off tool or a grinder.

All in all the job was not that hard if you know all the tricks. I could probably do a set of pulleys in about 30 minutes now. If you read the instructions you will learn from all of my mistakes.

Good luck, feel free to PM or email me with questions if you run into problems.