Pilot Bearing vs Pilot Bushing
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 529
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From: Waco TX
Pilot Bearing vs Pilot Bushing
A friend told me to use a transmission pilot bearing vs a bushing. He said it would make clutch engagement a little smoother as well as minimize wear on the trans input shaft.
Any thoughts or advice?
Any thoughts or advice?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
It's a great theory behind p-bearing ... but, in practice the p-bearing itself tends to fail in our older cars because there's usually a fair amount of slop (sideplay) between crank bearing & trans input bearing. A good pilot bushing lasts a long time and puts insignificant wear on trans shaft.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 7,493
Likes: 1,500
From: Little Rock AR
Bearings are less tolerant of any bellhousing misalignment so score another point for the bushing.
Bushigs are easier to replace.
The bearing will not make your car faster or make the clutch live longer.
Why would anyone use the bearing rather than a bushing? I have no idea. Probably "More's Law".
-Mark.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,065
From: Virginia USA
Let me just put it this way, after installing my new ZZ4 with my 4 speed and a new pilot shaft bearing I was under the car 2000 miles later removing the shelled out bearing and replacing it with a bushing. I guess you can figure out which one I like the best.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
This "pilot bearing" failed after 20,000 miles in my 69 502....
What is bothering me now,is I think the one in my 78 4 speed is starting to go...have 30,000 on it..(stupid me,I just put a new one back in the 69 a few weeks ago)....when they go,you hear a "groan" sound at very low speed...like creeping out of driveway...and I got a similar noise just starting in the 78...
Live and learn,I guess...
Edit: My original 78 bronze bushing lasted 112,000 miles,BTW...and was only changed because I need a new clutch....!!!
Rich
What is bothering me now,is I think the one in my 78 4 speed is starting to go...have 30,000 on it..(stupid me,I just put a new one back in the 69 a few weeks ago)....when they go,you hear a "groan" sound at very low speed...like creeping out of driveway...and I got a similar noise just starting in the 78...
Live and learn,I guess...Edit: My original 78 bronze bushing lasted 112,000 miles,BTW...and was only changed because I need a new clutch....!!!
Rich
Last edited by rihwoods; Apr 10, 2007 at 02:49 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
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From: Gulf of America
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If you have an older muncie or BW four speed I would go with the bronze bushing. Even with a freshly rebuilt Muncie, the input shaft has quite a bit of up and down movement. If you are running a modern transmission like a Tremec, correct any bell housing runout (.005 max)and go with the GM roller pilot bearing. Grab the input shaft an a Tremec, there's no up and down play.
