HOW TO : get rid of starter squeal.(without removing the starter)

Its311Pete · 11-26-2004, 09:39 PM

Alot of Classic owners have encountered starter squeal at one time or another.
This problem drove me nuts until I lubricated the starter.
Most people think you have to remove the starter in order to lube the starter gears that causes the noise.
I have a quick way of fixing this problem without removing the starter.
First off you are gonna need to get under your car so don't try this without jack stands. Jack up the front of your car and secure it with jackstands.
OK take a flashlight or shop light and get a visual on the starter.
Look to the right of the starter,(the side that is facing and pass. wheel) you should see 2 8mm bolts. The bolts run the length of the starter and pretty much holds it together.
1. Loosen and remove the 8mm bolts.
2. you will be able to open the starter into 2 halves. One half contains the starter motor and a gear in the center.
The other half has 3 small gears that run around the big gear from the other half of the starter.
3. lube the gear area very good with axle grease(or what ever suites you)
Take Note: the first time I lubbed my starter gears I applied very little lube and 6 monthes later starter squeal started coming back.
The second time I lubbed it(almost 2 years ago) I slapped as much axle grease in there that I could fit. This has completly done away with the common Starter Squeal problem my car had.
** I have heard that a intake bracket makes the starter harder to seperate on a low port motor. Removing this bracket may make life easier when seperating the starter.
4. Install all and, while you are there, check your tranny seals for leaks and call it a night.

Rockwood · 12-26-2004, 08:37 PM

of course, as long as you have 2 people, its really easy to just remove the whole shebang...

Toolapcfan · 01-05-2005, 06:08 PM

Good write up Pete! I did mine a couple years ago when I was doing my clutch. I lubed everything with synthetic grease and loaded those planetary gears up good. Hasn't made a noise since. It never occurred to me that a person could do it with the starter still in.

chineseflyrice · 02-15-2006, 04:32 PM

I took it apart and greased it, but now, i'm having trouble putting the cap back on... the gears won't lock onto the motor. Any ideas to put it back on? Thanks!

XxToKeSxX · 05-15-2006, 03:48 PM

Here ya go... I used this stuff... and mine was noisy as hell, I had hitiachi... Good as new now...

Sr20kidD · 05-15-2006, 04:12 PM

and Ameen saves the day

good pics

Toolapcfan · 05-15-2006, 07:14 PM

I packed mine so full of grease you couldn't see the gears at all. I just redid it the other day when I was getting my VE ready to go in.

BoostedLRYDR · 05-17-2006, 02:08 PM

Great write up and pics!!! I had that annoying squeal for awhile...then I came across this thread. Guess what??!! No more squeal!!!
I packed so much grease in there, shouldn't be making noise no time soon!

Its311Pete · 05-17-2006, 06:07 PM

Good pics XxtokesxX. I used a synthetic axle grease formula. My original starter that squealed finally bit the dust a few monthes ago and up to the day it died I never heard another peep out of it.

SE-Rawkus · 05-17-2006, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rockwood

of course, as long as you have 2 people, its really easy to just remove the whole shebang...

2 people? I can remove and install my own starter

You're a rookie

billc · 05-29-2006, 07:11 AM

Quote:

I took it apart and greased it, but now, i'm having trouble putting the cap back on... the gears won't lock onto the motor. Any ideas to put it back on? Thanks!

I also am having this problem -- what am I missing? The 2 parts still have about a half inch gap and won't go together. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Bill

jerryeads · 05-29-2006, 01:49 PM

What a great idea - just saw this. Bill - I haven't been here but make sure all those gears are seated correctly - may be with all that grease in there one of 'em's not all the way back in.

billc · 05-29-2006, 05:16 PM

Thanks, Jerry. I got it together, and it worked!

My problem was that way down on the far end of the starter from the engine there are some spring loaded parts that needed to be spread apart so that the cylinder in the middle could seat properly. The cylinder must have slipped out when I pulled it apart, and I did not notice it. You can probably tell from my technical terminology that I'm a dunce when it comes to electro magnetic stuff. Anyway, I just kept at it -- checking one thing after another and it all finally fell in to place. I would never attempt this with the starter on the car. Too many moving parts -- and you gotta line up those long little bolts too.

FuelCutOff · 05-31-2006, 12:19 AM

Finding this thread is a blessing! I was almost ready to drop $120 for a new starter...now I find that some lube will fix the problem...lube always fixes the problem

serioulsy, my starter only squeals on cold day starts...would this be the same problem?

junknstuff · 05-31-2006, 09:14 PM

hm. sounds easy enough to just remove the starter, but everyone has their ways. great write up and, ameen, great pics as always!

billc · 06-02-2006, 02:35 PM

Quote:

my starter only squeals on cold day starts...would this be the same problem?

Most likely it is. You do not have much to lose by giving it a try.

wooten · 12-07-2006, 11:22 AM

so you dont have to worry about any parts flying out when you remove the cover??

billc · 12-07-2006, 07:54 PM

Nope -- nothing flies out. You just have to use some common sense. And, again, I would not attempt this without taking the starter out of the car and doing it on the bench (or kitchen table).

wooten · 12-08-2006, 08:11 AM

alright thanks billc

Nostrodomas · 12-13-2006, 12:29 AM

I would like to thanks you guys for saving me $160 for a new starter........