crazydalys

I'm going to putting a new clutch in my car this weekend, and was told to change the pilot bearing to a roller bearing? Is this hard to do? What does the pilot bearing look like? Also, Is there a plug on the m-21 (Warner) trans to drain the gear lube, and were do I put in the new gear lube in? Sorry if this seems like a dumb question. Thanks for helping, Pat

OldSchool

The pilot bearing is more like a bushing. It goes into the end of the crank on the tranny side of the motor. The input shaft rests in this.
My experience is that the copper bushing can wear in an egg shape or just get out of round and cause play in the input shaft. A roller bearing is like a small wheel bearing that has the same purpose as the bushing ,stabilize the input shaft. I think the negative of the roller is that it could come apart, where the bushing may just wear...

crazydalys

So should I shouldn't I use a roller bearing.

Gordonm

I have the roller in mine and have no problems. I think the biggest problem is on the install. If it is pounded in it destroys the roller bearing. If it is carefully installed there should be no problem. Depending on the year Muncie you have it may or may not have a drain plug. It will have at least one plug which is the fill plug. If you have the trans out the fluid is easy to remove. Just saw you have a Borg Warner trans. I think they have drain plugs.

crazydalys

Thanks for the help!! I'll hopefully be putting everything back together this Saturday. Do I just ask NAPA or whoever for gear lube? Hopefully will figure out how to post pics as well.

Grinchia

One note: the old pilot bushing will not just fall out...I borrowed a slide hammer with a small "hooked" arm attached to the end which I slipped through the center hole of the old bushing, hooked on the inside lip, then used the slide hammer to pull it out. If there's an easier way, hopefully someone will chime in. I'm a good customer at my local O'Reillys, and thay lend me tool all the time at no charge

CGGorman

If the existing bushing is still in reasonable shape, you can pack the cavity with the heaviest bearing grease you can find and then find a dowel with a close slip fit to the bushing. Pound in the dowel to displace the grease and force out the bushing.

If the dowel doesn't fit close enough or the grease is too thin, it won't work.

crazydalys

This may sound silly, but I have no idea what a slide hammer is. I thought I could just pull it out by hand

Gordonm

No it will not come out by hand. Another method that is used is get a very large screw. Thread it into the bushing and it will bottom out on the crank. Keep turning and it should work its way out. The slide hammer is the best way.

Grinchia

When you go to your parts place, explain that you are replacing the pilot bushing, and ask them what they have that will get the job done, they can explain how to use whatever they suggest.

-Roy

GTR1999

If you're just going to drive the car around town and cruises I would use the bushing.It will last in normal usage many many thousands of miles, easily over 100k. NAPA sells them for a few bucks but be sure it's not magnetic-shouldn't be but some have metal in them now. AutoZone has a 3 jaw slide hammer that works on this and you can borrow it at no cost. 90 wt gear oil is all you need for tranny oil, same as the rear end.
Gary

crazydalys

Ok, I'll go to autozone, but I'm still kinda nervous about this. I'm sure either I'll be fine roller or regular, but the Corvette shop here says all they use is roller bearings. I just don't want to be sorry. I do like to "drive it like I stole it" on occasion, but usually just cruise around town.

Solid LT1

I take a 5/8" coarse bolt, taper the end on a bench grinder, cut a "V" groove in the end and thread the bolt in to pull the old pilot bushing out. I have tried my buddies Snap-on pilot bearing slide hammer and prefer the ground down bolt method of pilot bushing removal. I ALWAYS use a BUSHING and not the bearing because I have even had bad luck with the GM "Diesel" pilot bearing assembly. STAY FAR AWAY from the Moroso pilot bushing as the bearing cage that holds the rollers is plastic on the last Moroso one that someone installed, it didn't last more than 2 weeks on a properly indicated bellhousing. I only want to do that job once and am not willing to do "R&D" testing for the amount of work that is involved if you need to do a re-do after installation. Pioneer makes a great HD pilot bushing and most automotive machine shops stock the Pioneer line.

Chuck Harmon

"STAY FAR AWAY from the Moroso pilot bushing as the bearing cage that holds the rollers is plastic on the last Moroso one that someone installed, it didn't last more than 2 weeks on a properly indicated bellhousing."



Same happened to me in a bit longer time frame, but still only lasted a few thousand miles.

I like the bolt idea of Solid LT1's too. Which I had heard of it earlier. The grease/dowel method has suggested to me by someone else and did work for me at the time.

Chuck

Chuck Harmon

"STAY FAR AWAY from the Moroso pilot bushing as the bearing cage that holds the rollers is plastic on the last Moroso one that someone installed, it didn't last more than 2 weeks on a properly indicated bellhousing."



Same happened to me in a bit longer time frame, but still only lasted a few thousand miles.

I like the bolt idea of Solid LT1's too. Wish I had heard of it earlier. The grease/dowel method has suggested to me by someone else and did work for me at the time.

Chuck

SanDiegoPaul

I remember trying it, last time I did a clutch. Didn't work for me - I found it easier just to use a slide hammer instead. Faster, cleaner, simpler to do.

w1ctc

My pilot bearing was stuck and the slide hammer would not move it. 5 min. with a die grinder did the trick. As far as the roller bearing, if it fails could, it destroy the input shaft on the trans?

Paul Borowski

...another way of getting out the pilot bushing is to CAREFULLY drill it out. I use a small rechargeable drill & drill four or five 1/8" holes around the circumference of the bushing until it basically caves in on itself. Be careful not to nick the crank. I've done four so far like this, it's easy & not messy.

pws69

Grease method has ALWAYS worked for me. Pullers often don't even budge the bushings.

The bolt method sounds OK, but more work.