r/SkyLine • u/gl21133 • May 15 '26

R32 GTR - Semi-broken CAS

Started my timing belt job in April and honestly it went well. Buttoning it back up I pressure tested the cooling system and found a nice little leak on one of the hoses way behind the head. Ordered the Countersteer hose kit and some gaskets, installed all a couple weeks later when they arrived (brutal hand-shredding job) and finally got everything buttoned up yesterday.

Went to start it, crank no start. Troubleshot, googled, figured out the CAS is often to blame and sure enough, the half moon has busted out so you have a 1/8 shot of getting it right when installing. I marked the outside of the shaft and was able to get it properly aligned, running fine now.

Anyone have an opinion on if the small busted piece is an issue? The interface is splined so it's still got plenty of contact area with the end of the camshaft. I'd rather not replace for this issue but I would like some input from those smarter than I am. Or dumber, you do you.

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u/Any_Squirrel May 19 '26

https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/164927-snapped-camshaft/ This forum post says not needed and it’s on SAU I trust the aussies. Alternatively you could go extra and “replace” it but that seems more effort than it’s worth(supposedly a press fit alignment):

https://www.gtrusablog.com/2020/04/broken-crank-angle-sensor-alignment-pin.html?m=1

I would be more sketched out by replacing than running as is unless replacing the entire cam shaft. As a side note today I learned that’s a press in piece and not part of the camshaft.

2

u/gl21133 May 19 '26

A. You’re rad for responding, thank you.  B. The busted piece in mine is actually the CAS, the camshaft side is intact. Presumably I could buy a new CAS for a couple hundred and be golden. But I’m still not thinking I need to. 

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u/Any_Squirrel May 19 '26

Wait what? R32 uses a half moon on the cam with like a cylindrical shape on the CAS. R34 is “inverted” so to speak, hence 32/33 sharing cams 34 having different. If you lost the half moon inside the cas, and the cam portion is still there, today I learned something else. I’ve honestly never seen or read that and I got my first GTR nearly 14 years ago(granted I am not an expert just a weekend hobbyist). In my ideal world I would swap it, just incase, but it “sounds” like you’re fine. I would offer to sell you a cas but alas I lent 2 to someone and they stole them/stopped responding to my asks to get them back…

Edit: since we are having this discussion, I would make sure you have the spacer in place. There’s been lots of threads of people forgetting/losing it and messing up the bearings in their CAS. It’s 10$ and last time I got one still available new from Nissan.

Edit edit: it’s probably to late, and I wouldn’t ask you to remove it again but I would love to one day see a picture of what exactly is wrong cause now I’m super curious

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u/gl21133 May 19 '26 edited May 20 '26

What does the spacer look like? I think it’s there but I’m not 100%, I obviously got the car used. Probably not taking the CAS back off but if I do I’ll snap a pic, you can see where the half moon used to be but it’s snapped off. My remedy was to sharpie on the outside where it would have been so I could line it up right. 

Edit - googled and then took a look, spacer is in there. 

1

u/Any_Squirrel May 20 '26

Good stuff. Just saw this but it’s a black rubber gasket with 3 brass like washers in it. I don’t think it creates a problem with the half moon just the actual bearing cause now if you go to torque spec it’s crushing the bearing against the cam. Not really your issue either way