Does anyone else have problems with high milage Bronc II's blowing starter after starter? They take out the thrust bearing in the nose of the starter. I've gone through maybe 10 or 15 starters and it gets shorter between replacment each time.

It's not just me, but my nighbor too - both 89s. w 2.9 L engine, both 4x4s with plenty of off-road time. We both do not want to trash the cars as we really love them. OK - I actually went out and bought a new Saturn Vue SUV but I kept the Bronc for the rough stuff.

Before buying the Vue, I tried everything including a new flywheel. After the last one blew, trying to figure out what the heck is going on, I tried moving the crankshaft by prying harmonic balancer w screwdriver - to my amazement it moved maybe .050 inch front to rear. My B-II has 175K my friend has under 100K. It seems the thrust bearings are worn out. I fixed it one last time and made it my brush car and fire wood getter until I can figure out exactly what's going on.

The best fix would be a to pull the crank and put in a new thrust bearing but you'd also do the whole bearing set at that time I think. OK - so here's my bright idea to save the big repair and keep from blowing starters.

Since the starter inserts into the bellhousing front to back - with nose pointing backward - a shim just won't do the trick as it does with GM starters. The nose is already too close to the flywheel when it cranks over. I'm thinking the worn bearings let the flywheel and ring gear go clear through the pinion backwards and hit the thrust bearing housing on the starter.

OK, why not pull the mounting flange off the starter and machine the pilot deeper into the flange, an amount equal to the crankshaft end play or a bit more.

That way, the starter mounts further back into the housing and further from the ring gear. Yes - No? Has anyone had a similar problem or a stupid idea better than my stupid idea?