Dodge 2.4 & 2.5 engine balance shaft removal
Last Updated on July 23, 2024 by Mutiara
Applications:
- Chrysler K 2.5 I4 SOHC engine, used in many Dodge, Chrysler, and Plymouth vehicles from 1986-1995.
- Chrysler 2.4 DOHC engine, commonly found in the Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Stratus, Chrysler Sebring, and other vehicles.
The balance shaft assembly did not change much throughout the two engines, and the whole procedure is quite easy to do on any vehicle. Extra detailed pictures are provided for the 2.5 engine. Removing the balance shafts is quite simple and frees up a decent amount of power. While the engine vibration may increase slightly it is a good trade off for anyone who wishes to increase performance.
Procedure:
- Drain the oil from the oil pan.
- Remove the oil pan.
- Disconnect the oil pickup tube, in order to provide clearance for the removal of the balance shaft assembly.
- Locate the oil balance shaft assembly and remove the stamped sheet metal cover.
- Cut the chain that turns the balance shafts, best done with bolt cutters. If any pieces of metal come off, make sure to clean them up and that they do not remain on any internal parts of the engine. An angle grinder can also be used but should be done carefully to make as little of the metal being cut ends up on other parts of the engine as possible.
- If possible remove the chain by hand, or rotate the engine until it comes off from the sprocket located on the crankshaft.
- Remove the bolts that hold the balance shaft assembly to the bottom of the engine.
- Find the oil feed hole and tap it with a 7mm tap, this along with a 7mm bolt can be acquired from stores like Ace Hardware.
- Screw the tap in, working it back and forth, and flushing the hole out with WD 40.
- Run the tap in a ways, the take it back out, stick the red tube from the WD 40 can WAY up in the hole and flush the metal shavings back out. Then screw the tap in again, but deeper still. Keep doing this until it is deep enough, or it gets to hard to turn.
- Do not apply excess pressure, as the tap may break and become stuck!
- Take the 7mm bolt and either put some teflon tape, threadlock, or rtv on it. Then drive it into the oil feed hole in the engine block. Make sure it is tight for if it ever manages to come out from engine vibration, oil pressure will be lost and the engine will fail shortly.
- Reassemble the oil pan, replace gasket if necessary, add new oil.
This procedure increases the oil capacity in the oil pan. One slight downside is that the balance shaft housing acts as a windage tray and as a splash shield, while taking sharp turns oil may come in contact with the crank shaft which results in loss of power and foaming of the oil, reducing it’s lubrication effectiveness if air makes it’s way into the sump. However this has been performed on many vehicles, including the older 2.5 L I4 Dodge engines, without any reported problems.
2.5 engine balance shaft removal pictures
 Bottom view of balance assembly. Hose at top of picture is heater hose connected to water pump.
View from the right fender well. 3 of the 4 bolts which hold the thin metal cover over the front of the sprockets have been removed. |  Chain has been cut with an angle grinder.
Tapping the oil feed hole on the 2.5 engine. |
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These pictures originally taken by Paul E. Smith, were reproduced with permission from turbovan.net.
