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Get a piece of rod that's a nice fit inside the bushing. Pump the hole full of grease and then tap the rod in. The grease will push the pilot bush out. Haven't done a bbc, but I've not struck an engine this method didn't work for me on.
Edit: jkippin beat me to it!
Last edited by Metalhead140; Mar 11, 2016 at 10:12 PM.
Another option too for you that I got from this forum.
Assume you have a bronze pilot bearing and not a roller bearing pilot bearing
1. Get a 5/8" or 3/4" bolt, about 2" long, you want the od of the threads to be slightly larger than the id of the pilot bearing.
2. Grind or file the end of the bolt threads to a taper so that about 1/4" of the bolt will go in the pilot bearing id. So, now your threads resemble tapered pipe threads.
3. Screw the bolt into the id of the pilot bearing and when it bottoms out, keeping screwing and the pilot bearing will come right out.
I have used this method 3 or 4 times and it works great.
try packing it with grease and driving a drift into the center. The grease should build up enough pressure to hydraulically remove it.
This is a good method but BE SURE to wear eye and face protection before doing this. The grease can squirt out of there at EXTREMELY high speed and do potentially severe damage to your eyes. I've seen this happen, and it was not a good thing.
Buy a 5/8 coarse bolt, taper the end with a grinder, cut a notch into the threads perpendicular to the threads (like a thread tap with only one relief) bang it into the pilot bushing and screw the bushing out....this method has worked for me since 1975....
BEFORE you install the new pilot bushing, find a magnet and see if the new one is magnetic, if it is.....THROW IT INTO THE TRASH! where it belongs and either order a proper "Oilite Bronze" bushing from Auto Gear Transmission or try to find a proper one at an auto parts store (bring a magnet along on that trip.) The magnetic bushing will squeal like a pig if you use it....(thank you China for all your quality parts!)
Buy a 5/8 coarse bolt, taper the end with a grinder, cut a notch into the threads perpendicular to the threads (like a thread tap with only one relief) bang it into the pilot bushing and screw the bushing out....this method has worked for me since 1975....
BEFORE you install the new pilot bushing, find a magnet and see if the new one is magnetic, if it is.....THROW IT INTO THE TRASH! where it belongs and either order a proper "Oilite Bronze" bushing from Auto Gear Transmission or try to find a proper one at an auto parts store (bring a magnet along on that trip.) The magnetic bushing will squeal like a pig if you use it....(thank you China for all your quality parts!)
Recently there seems to be a lot of cheap bronze pilot bushings out there . I asked for a good quality bushing at Advance but made the mistake of not sliding it on the pilot shaft to check it before installing it. I slid it on the installation tool and it seemed fine but the tool is slightly smaller than the input shaft. The inside tolerances were so tight that it wouldn't let the pilot shaft spin free and I couldn't get it into gear with the engine running. Had to pull it again and install a NAPA pilot ball bearing and all is fine .
Or go to you local chain autoparts store and they have a Tool loaner program. And not just pilot bearing removers- but a whole host of specialized tools.
Put a deposit ( usually the cost of the tool) on your card- have 90 days to use it- No cost at all!!!
Advance Auto is few miles from my house- so I've used them-
I used a slice of bread when i did the pilot bearing on the M3 engine swap in my 3 series. Cheap, worked great, and less messy than grease! I was fortunate to have a bolt nearby with an inside diameter that was slightly smaller than the bearing. Just gotta keep packing and whacking until the sucker pops out!
Another option too for you that I got from this forum.
Assume you have a bronze pilot bearing and not a roller bearing pilot bearing
1. Get a 5/8" or 3/4" bolt, about 2" long, you want the od of the threads to be slightly larger than the id of the pilot bearing.
2. Grind or file the end of the bolt threads to a taper so that about 1/4" of the bolt will go in the pilot bearing id. So, now your threads resemble tapered pipe threads.
3. Screw the bolt into the id of the pilot bearing and when it bottoms out, keeping screwing and the pilot bearing will come right out.
I have used this method 3 or 4 times and it works great.
Hope this might help.
I've used both methods once I tried the bolt I'm sold
Recently there seems to be a lot of cheap bronze pilot bushings out there . I asked for a good quality bushing at Advance but made the mistake of not sliding it on the pilot shaft to check it before installing it. I slid it on the installation tool and it seemed fine but the tool is slightly smaller than the input shaft. The inside tolerances were so tight that it wouldn't let the pilot shaft spin free and I couldn't get it into gear with the engine running. Had to pull it again and install a NAPA pilot ball bearing and all is fine .
My Napa store said mine called for the roller type. They are only as good as their puter
