Yeah, you remove the 10mm bolt from the shafts bearing cap\mount, then just slide shaft straight out.

@@DevJB thank you, much appreciated!

Can you do it if engine is on the car? Thanks in advance

@@rmadrigalb Sadly the intake and exhaust balance shafts cannot be removed with engine in the car because the body gets in the way.

You don't have to remove the shafts to change the gears on them. I just did my timing chain and balance shaft chain and the same improved gears he had. Motor still in. Before you take any guides or chains off break the bolts lose for those gears. Then you don't need to remove the shafts.

Yep, it's all about proper maintenance and oil changes, but also the design of the timing components and other things. This ecotec keeps going bad because of the front timing guide rattle\breaks because the bolt hole walls are too thin and there is a lot of stress on the front guide. There is a few revisions on all timing parts in these ecotec motors so I put the updated parts in it this time, so far 12k miles later, it's doing fine and I'm going to call her today to find out if they need an oil change!! lol