Stubborn pilotbearing
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Stubborn pilotbearing
Ever had a pilotbearing that refused to move? Tried all the tricks I could find on line and just broke the jaws on a puller i got from harbor freight I know it isnt the best tool out there. Any ideas appreciated.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 6,505
Likes: 139
From: Butler Pa
You could try to break it. Drill a hole in it and then hit it with a hammer and chisel. Should come out in pieces.
I've also heard that if you pack the cavity behind it with grease, making sure to get all the air out, you can pound a shaft into the bore and drive the bushing out. (The grease won't compress). The shaft must fit the bore tightly.
I've also heard that if you pack the cavity behind it with grease, making sure to get all the air out, you can pound a shaft into the bore and drive the bushing out. (The grease won't compress). The shaft must fit the bore tightly.
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 61
Likes: 4
From: Discovery Bay CA
I just did mine. Pack bread chunks inside the bushing and use a 1/2" or 5/8" bolt and beat the bolt with a hammer to compress the bread. Add bread as needed. It took me 2 pieces of wonder bread. Clean the bread out with a screwdriver and your done. A lot less messy than grease.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
2nd vote for packing it with bearing grease. I took a large bolt and ground down the threads so it would fit the bng. Packed with grease (right to the top) ad gave it 5 good smacks. It popped right out. (mind you, everything on my car is usually worst case scenario. this is the ONE thing that went by the book)
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 161
Likes: 17
From: Georgia
Grease trick always worked for me
As stated above, pack it in slowly so you work out any air bubble. I use an input shaft from an old tranny that I have for an alignment tool, comes right out with a sharp rap from a 2 lb hammer.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Thanks all, guess ill break out the hammer, chisels and drill in morning. Its just to worn out to leave in there. Tranny rebuild went well and my super street pro clutch is sitting on the work bench. On a good note new pinion seal is holding,topped off the diff with new fluid n additive this morning. Im with ScottD on the worst case scenerio thing,its like trying to bathe a mountain lion with this car. Geez!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 95
Likes: 28
From: Southern MD
I just used a bolt that was a little larger than the hole. Tapered the end with a grinder and screwed it into the pilot bearing. The bolt will cut the threads as it is screwed in. When the bolt bottoms out on the crank, the pilot bearing will walk right out of the crank. It worked very well for me.
Cruising
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 13
Likes: 1
From: Louisiana
I have used the "bread in lieu of grease" method. Works very well and much less mess. I did wrap masking tape around the bolt threads to make a snug fit/ seal in bearing bore, driving the into the back space making the hydraulic force to move the bearing.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 374
Likes: 42
From: Coldwater Mi
(I posted this same thing on your thread in "general" section):
I've always had good luck w/ the "toilet paper/hydraulic" approach:
Take a good amount of tp & soak it in water...then stuff it in the pilot bearing...
Use a piece of alum/steel/whatever insert that fits the ID of the pilot bearing nice &
tight....then just hit the insert with a hammer a few times, and the bearing will
come right out!!
I've always had good luck w/ the "toilet paper/hydraulic" approach:
Take a good amount of tp & soak it in water...then stuff it in the pilot bearing...
Use a piece of alum/steel/whatever insert that fits the ID of the pilot bearing nice &
tight....then just hit the insert with a hammer a few times, and the bearing will
come right out!!
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 719
From: Lafayette Louisiana
I just used a bolt that was a little larger than the hole. Tapered the end with a grinder and screwed it into the pilot bearing. The bolt will cut the threads as it is screwed in. When the bolt bottoms out on the crank, the pilot bearing will walk right out of the crank. It worked very well for me.
Good luck and you might soak it with acetone/trans fluid 50/50 first for a few days.
Limping across the line
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 5,299
Likes: 109
From: Peoria Az
Just a forwarning in case anyone doing a web search comes across this thread.
Above methods will work for GEN I,II and III GM motors. DO NOT try to use above methods on GM LS series engines.
Why you ask? LS series engines do not use a solid crankshaft if you drive anything into the pilot cavity, you risk driving the freeze plug in the end of the crank further in and losing it and its oil seal
Above methods will work for GEN I,II and III GM motors. DO NOT try to use above methods on GM LS series engines.
Why you ask? LS series engines do not use a solid crankshaft if you drive anything into the pilot cavity, you risk driving the freeze plug in the end of the crank further in and losing it and its oil seal
Race Director
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10,956
Likes: 409
From: California
I used a small reciprocating saw (Jigsaw) and carefully cut through it, then it just dropped out... screwed with it for hours with pullers and things like bread and the like..
then took 5 minutes and cut it...
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,367
Likes: 1,061
From: Virginia USA
Used AutoZones borrow a tool and they had a puller and slide hammer. One wack and it was out. The puller was a little big (it was brand new) so I ground it down but not enough to notice. I told the counter guy and said I'd pay for it. He said it was OK but they know me well there. I'm on a first name basis with most of the guys. Is that good or bad???? 