Assistance - Trunnions and New Springs Install - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

GCguy2169 · 05-21-2021, 11:32 PM

About two weeks ago I had a spring break. Limped the car home, started ordering parts. Well, I also noticed the trunnions (about 5 of all 16) had heavy, heavy wear. This again was only to a few.

Does anyone know WHY this happens? I called Comp Cams, and they didn't seem to care about answering since it was their kit. About 20-25k miles on these upgraded trunnions.

To me, personally, it looks like the steel must be soft. I'm super curious as to how this could happen, and want to avoid it again in the future at all costs. I have now bought a CHE Precision kit to go in, along with new springs from Texas Speed.

(In the pictures you can clearly see where it appears that the needle bearings "dug into" the metal trunnion. The right side in the picture, the needle bearings were all dumped into the motor. The left side, is clearly wearing and beginning to become what the right side is doing. All the left side needle bearings were intact, still.)

What causes this? If there is no explanation, so be it. If there is a reason I'm extremely curious! Thanks!

morepowerjoe · 05-22-2021, 12:48 AM

When did you buy those bearings? Because I have the same bearings too but I only have like 1500 miles on them and you've got me kinda scared. Oil starvation, extreme cam profile, extreme spring pressures, installation errors. Idk

GCguy2169 · 05-22-2021, 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morepowerjoe

When did you buy those bearings? Because I have the same bearings too but I only have like 1500 miles on them and you've got me kinda scared. Oil starvation, extreme cam profile, extreme spring pressures, installation errors. Idk

I’m running a BTR stage 4 cam. It’s aggressive, but not “dangerous.” I called and talked to Paul at BTR and he wasn’t sure based off what I had told him. Google searching, all I could find was people complaining on LS Tech forums about the Comp Cams trunnions being “soft.” I have no idea either. .660 Dual Valve Springs in the car right now.

I’d almost think that if it was something cam related, spring pressure, etc.. you’d see more than 5 or so out of 16. I could be wrong, I’m no engineer!

However if I were you, pull your valve covers off every 5k miles. Check them. I wish I had done this very thing long ago. Now I will be.

morepowerjoe · 05-22-2021, 02:50 AM

Oh yeah after seeing yours like that I will definitely will be keeping an eye on mine.

fz4k98 · 05-22-2021, 08:27 AM

It looks like soft metal to me. The underside of the part that is not damaged could be tested for hardness if you knew what the specification for hardness is.

The left side of the pic shows the indents where the needle bearings created "pockets" for them to ride in over time. That could reduce the ease of travel for the needle bearing to glide over a surface.

The left side does not appear to show oil starved.

zz430camaro · 05-22-2021, 06:07 PM

bad heat treat maybe, when you install new ones, run oil with Zinc in it.

Black_SS10 · 05-23-2021, 09:20 AM

The bronze bearings will wear much faster. They are really overkill for a street car. Get some caged needle bearings. They are better and can't fall apart.

gunchamp · 05-23-2021, 10:52 AM

Ive heard of many horror stories on these motors and comp cam stuff. I stayed clear. Looks like poor heat treating or who know. Sucks youre going through it. Che and smith bro stuff is great. Im running smiths and Im happy

olblue75 · 05-23-2021, 09:23 PM

The solid bronze bushings are supposed to be much better than any of the bearinged trunnions kits.

camguynj · 05-24-2021, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunchamp

Ive heard of many horror stories on these motors and comp cam stuff. I stayed clear. Looks like poor heat treating or who know. Sucks youre going through it. Che and smith bro stuff is great. Im running smiths and Im happy

CHE bearings are hand pressed in so they don't require any special tool. BTW not to hijack this tread but ...did you get a custom tune, a data log tune or dyno tune from Jannetty?

Greenhornet2 · 05-24-2021, 07:59 AM

the comp cam trunnion kit is know to be pretty much junk. If you have then installed I would get them out. BTR V2 kit is a better design or a bushing kit. I have the CHE trunnion kit its bushings. only have about 5k on it so another 20k to go before I do the springs and check out how the bushing kit is doing.

gunchamp · 05-24-2021, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

CHE bearings are hand pressed in so they don't require any special tool. BTW not to hijack this tread but ...did you get a custom tune, a data log tune or dyno tune from Jannetty?

Yes, Jannetty did my tuning

camguynj · 05-24-2021, 08:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunchamp

Yes, Jannetty did my tuning

Was it a dyno tune?

gunchamp · 05-24-2021, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by camguynj

Was it a dyno tune?

No, remote tuning with HP tuners

05-21-2021, 11:32 PM	#1
GCguy2169 Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 76 View My Garage	Assistance - Trunnions and New Springs Install About two weeks ago I had a spring break. Limped the car home, started ordering parts. Well, I also noticed the trunnions (about 5 of all 16) had heavy, heavy wear. This again was only to a few. Does anyone know WHY this happens? I called Comp Cams, and they didn't seem to care about answering since it was their kit. About 20-25k miles on these upgraded trunnions. To me, personally, it looks like the steel must be soft. I'm super curious as to how this could happen, and want to avoid it again in the future at all costs. I have now bought a CHE Precision kit to go in, along with new springs from Texas Speed. (In the pictures you can clearly see where it appears that the needle bearings "dug into" the metal trunnion. The right side in the picture, the needle bearings were all dumped into the motor. The left side, is clearly wearing and beginning to become what the right side is doing. All the left side needle bearings were intact, still.) What causes this? If there is no explanation, so be it. If there is a reason I'm extremely curious! Thanks! __________________ 2010 Inferno Orange Metallic 2SS/RS - 6 Speed Manual -BTR Stage 4 Cam, ID850 Injectors, E-85 Tuned, Corsa Xtreme Exhaust , Kooks 1 7/8 Headers, Melling Performance Oil Pump, ATI Super Damper, BMR Suspension: Sway Bars, Trailing Arms, 1” Lowering Springs, Differential Bushings, Rx Ported and Polished Throttle Body, VIS Racing Carbon Fiber Hood, Custom Painted - Body Kit, Entire Vehicle, ZL1 Addons Wicker Bill, MRR 20” Wheels, Powerstop Brakes, Koni SRT.T Shocks and Struts

05-22-2021, 12:48 AM	#2
morepowerjoe Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,136	When did you buy those bearings? Because I have the same bearings too but I only have like 1500 miles on them and you've got me kinda scared. Oil starvation, extreme cam profile, extreme spring pressures, installation errors. Idk __________________ DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817

05-22-2021, 02:50 AM	#4
morepowerjoe Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 2,136	Oh yeah after seeing yours like that I will definitely will be keeping an eye on mine. __________________ DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817

05-22-2021, 06:07 PM	#6
zz430camaro Drives: 2015 1LE Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 1,485	bad heat treat maybe, when you install new ones, run oil with Zinc in it. __________________ 2015 1LE, TSP 225/236 113+3, VMAX Throttle Body, CAI with race scoop, GPI Ported Intake, Land Speed Stage 2 Heads, 1-7/8 headers, NPP exhaust, 25% Fluidampr, LT1-S Monster Clutch, 485 RWHP & 444 TQ

05-23-2021, 09:20 AM	#7
Black_SS10 SomeguyK Drives: 2010 Black 2SS/RS Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: FL Posts: 1,947	The bronze bearings will wear much faster. They are really overkill for a street car. Get some caged needle bearings. They are better and can't fall apart. __________________ TMS 427, Dart iron Block, Forged assembly, Frankenstien heads, AGP TT 62/62 BB turbo's, AGP/Fore triple fuel system, Tilton clutch, Holley 1 7/8 shorties, Technostalgia tail lights,Oracle, Aeroforce, MGW shifter,Flowmaster, Pegasus subframe bushings,BMR trailing & toe arms,Z28 UCA bushings,Zl1 rear sway bar,Prothane,BMR,Goodridge brake lines,Ridetech HQ coilovers,3.91,Trutrac,billet caps,DSS axles,HE offest,built TR6060,1LE diffuser,Havoc spoiler,SSclones,20in MRR 017, Pirelli P Zero, Nitto NT555RII More to come.

05-22-2021, 08:27 AM	#5
fz4k98 Drives: 2013 1ss Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: WI. Posts: 525	It looks like soft metal to me. The underside of the part that is not damaged could be tested for hardness if you knew what the specification for hardness is. The left side of the pic shows the indents where the needle bearings created "pockets" for them to ride in over time. That could reduce the ease of travel for the needle bearing to glide over a surface. The left side does not appear to show oil starved.

05-23-2021, 10:52 AM	#8
gunchamp Drives: 15 Camaro SS Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Mountains of central PA Posts: 1,442	Ive heard of many horror stories on these motors and comp cam stuff. I stayed clear. Looks like poor heat treating or who know. Sucks youre going through it. Che and smith bro stuff is great. Im running smiths and Im happy __________________ 15 Camaro SS- GPI max top end, ESS Vortech V3 9psi, ID 1050s, ZL1 pump, JMS bap, Long tubes, Corsa extreme, Circle D pro 5C, 391 rear, DSS carbon drive shaft, poly cradle bushings, tuned by Ted Jannetty and much much more

05-23-2021, 09:23 PM	#9
olblue75 Drives: 2010 2SS/RS Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Clarksville Tennesse. Posts: 6,070	The solid bronze bushings are supposed to be much better than any of the bearinged trunnions kits. __________________ Orange Krush II 1LE Front sway bar, Splitter, shocks and struts, Z28 dual mode mufflers, Intake, UCA Bushings, and Toresen 3.91 Diff. 1 piece DSS Drive Shaft, ZL1/C7 Calipers, and 32mm JPSS Rear Bar. ASC race spec splitter and wicker. 6th Gen M017 Wheels. Stainless Works 1 7/8 LTs. DSE and PAFDT Suspension components.

05-24-2021, 07:59 AM	#11
Greenhornet2 Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS LS3 Whipple Join Date: May 2019 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,925	the comp cam trunnion kit is know to be pretty much junk. If you have then installed I would get them out. BTR V2 kit is a better design or a bushing kit. I have the CHE trunnion kit its bushings. only have about 5k on it so another 20k to go before I do the springs and check out how the bushing kit is doing. __________________ Whipple 2.9 CAI ID1050x injectors ZL1 Pump JRE FPCM JMS Voltage booster JRE Rough Idle blower cam BTR .660 springs CHE trunnion kit 1 7/8 Speed Engineering Borla Atak JRE scoop 1.5" lowering springs BMR trailing arms and toe links Cradle inserts 704WHP 603WTQ 93 octane