macamm0

Hi "salty", I recently replaced the timing belt and idler pulleys on my 99 ES300. The pulley bolt is standard, meaning that you would rotate it counter-clockwise to loosen. Fortunately or unfortunately, Lexus uses thread-lock and therefore a great amount of torque is needed to break it free. I'd say somewhere around the 250 lb-ft (spec for this bolt is 159 lb-ft). To hold the pulley/damper in place, I purchased the following tool from Sjdiscounttools (http://www.SJDiscountTools.com ) Schley Products 64300 SCH64300 1 $61.30 Harmonic Damper Pulley Holding Tool You will also need a puller to remove the pulley/damper from the crankshaft. I used the two bolts that came with the schley holding tool with a bar type puller since they fit into the threaded holds of the pulley/damper. Hope this helps. Best of luck! The Lexus factory service manual does not call for using locktite on this bolt. The one on my car had no evidence that it was used initially either.

The bolt is a standard right hand thread. I just finished doing a timing belt and water pump change and removed the bolt by securing my 3/4" drive ratchet against the floor and bumping the starter. It came loose as easy as can be. Just be sure to remove the ECU fuse so that the engine doesn't start! I know this does not sound like a good idea, but when done with care does not create any problems. I have also read questions in other areas about whether or not it is necessary to remove the cam pulleys to remove the water pump. It is not. The trick is to loosen the bolts in the engine side cover and to also remove the right hand engine mount studs (I did this by double nutting them) so you can drop the pump down and out. 96 Lexus ES300 97,000 miles