Engine Camshaft Bearing Installation / Removal Tool
What Is an Engine Camshaft Bearing Installation / Removal Tool?
Camshaft bearings are the precision-machined bushings that support the camshaft as it spins inside the engine block. These bearings are pressed deep into the block's camshaft bores and must be seated at an exact depth, with their oil feed holes perfectly aligned with passages in the block. When an engine is rebuilt or a camshaft is replaced, worn or damaged cam bearings need to come out — and new ones need to go in — without disturbing the surrounding metal or misaligning those critical oil passages.
That's where a dedicated engine camshaft bearing installation and removal tool becomes essential. These tools use an expandable driver system to grab the bearing from the inside, pull it free without gouging the bore, and then precisely drive a new bearing into place at the correct depth. Without the right tool, cam bearing replacement risks damaging both the bearing and the block — a costly mistake on any engine build.
Why Proper Tooling Matters
Camshaft bearings sit deep inside the engine block, often stacked across multiple bores along the full length of the engine. Removing and installing them requires a tool long enough to reach each bore, adaptable enough to fit a range of bearing diameters, and precise enough to avoid cocking or distorting the bearing during installation.
Older methods — such as a hammer and block — were prone to misalignment and bearing damage. A hammer and chisel were once used to remove old bushings while a hammer and mating block handled installation, a method proven unsatisfactory due to the difficulty of reaching deep engine journals and the risk of damaging the bushing or engine block. Modern cam bearing tools eliminate these risks through controlled, even driving force and proper centering.
One especially important detail during installation: make sure you get oil holes lined up correctly — a misaligned oil passage can starve the camshaft of lubrication and cause rapid engine wear.
Universal kits typically include a driving shaft, shaft extension, expander unit, multiple split driving plugs, driving collars, and a centering cone — giving you everything needed to handle a wide variety of engine types in a single set.
What to Look for When Shopping
- Bearing I.D. range: Make sure the kit covers the bearing diameter used in your specific engine. Many universal sets handle a broad range of sizes to cover both small and large displacement engines.
- Wall thickness compatibility: Cam bearings come in thin-wall and thick-wall versions. Look for tools that include interchangeable sleeves or drivers sized for both.
- Vehicle coverage: Some kits are truly universal, while others are optimized for specific platforms like GM LS engines or diesel trucks. Confirm fitment before purchasing.
- Kit completeness: A complete kit with a carrying case, extension shaft, centering cone, and multiple drivers saves time and ensures you're ready for any journal position in the block.
Top Brands in Engine Camshaft Bearing Installation / Removal Tools
Lisle is the benchmark brand in this category and one of the most trusted names in specialty automotive tools. Lisle has been the innovator in specialty tools since 1903. Their flagship universal cam bearing tool is designed to remove or insert camshaft bearings in nearly all engines, on everything from compact cars to heavy trucks. The tool uses a neoprene sleeve over which the split driving plugs are mounted and expanded to size, with two sets of rubber sleeves supplied for each expanding driver — brown sleeves for thin-wall bearings and black sleeves for thick-wall bearings.