Camshaft Installation Note

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2002 Mazda 626. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

Apply clean engine oil to the camshaft journals, camshaft lobes, and camshaft gears.
Install the camshafts so that the intake camshaft gear mark and exhaust camshaft gear mark align. Adjust the friction gear position with a screwdriver. (Intake side cam lobes of the No. 1 cylinder (RH) and No. 2 cylinder (LH) face straight up.)

Fig 1: Aligning Intake & Exhaust Camshaft Gear Marks
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

Fig 2: Identifying Proper Camshaft Lobe Position (Cylinders No. 1 & 2)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
CAUTION:
- Install the thrust caps (RH: 4 mark, LH: B mark) first. Otherwise, camshaft can be broken or damaged.
Install the thrust caps onto the cylinder head. Hand tighten the cap bolts gradually in two or three steps in the order shown, until the thrust caps are fully seated on the cylinder head.

Fig 3: Installing Thrust Caps (Installation Sequence)
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Apply silicone sealant to the shaded areas as shown.
Thickness

1.5-2.5 mm {0.060-0.098 in}

Fig 4: Identifying Silicone Sealant Application Areas
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
CAUTION:
- Because there is little camshaft thrust clearance, the camshaft must be held horizontally while it is installed. Otherwise, excessive force will be applied to the thrust area, causing burr on the thrust receiving area of the cylinder head journal. To avoid this, the following procedure must be observed.
  
  Fig 5: Identifying Thrust Direction
  Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Install the camshaft caps according to their identification marks, and hand tighten the bolts.
NOTE:
- RH: numbers
- LH: letters
Tighten the bolts in the order shown. Verify that the camshaft remains horizontal as the camshaft cap bolts are tightened.
Tightening Torque

11.3-14.2 N.m {115-145 kgf.cm, 100-125 in.lbf}
Retighten the bolts in the order shown.
Tightening Torque

11.3-14.2 N.m {115-145 kgf.cm, 100-125 in.lbf}

RH

Fig 6: Camshaft Cap Bolts Tightening Sequence - Right Side
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.

LH

Fig 7: Camshaft Cap Bolts Tightening Sequence - Left Side
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Apply clean engine oil to the lip of the new camshaft oil seal.
Push the oil seal slightly in by hand.
Tap the camshaft oil seal using the SST .

Fig 8: Installing Camshaft Oil Seal
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.
Tap in the new blind cap using a plastic hammer.

Fig 9: Installing Blind Cap
Courtesy of MAZDA MOTORS CORP.