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Probably not a popular topic of discussion. I have never liked the steel roller bearing bushings. I my mind that solid bushings never failed, and the steel rollers were just another source of possible failure..
Some bushings are much more expensive than others. Is that the material (metal) that they are made from?
The car has a close ratio Muncie and used on the street and on road courses like Lime Rock and NJMS.
If you run the steel roller bearing the bellhousing/input shaft HAS to be centered usually using offset bushings........any side loading of the bearing will fail the bearing stat.
That said......99% of people use the bronze sintered metallic "oilite" style.....porous and impregnated with oil......
The pilot is actually a fairly loose fit relatively speaking and the shaft doesn't touch the pilot or it shouldn't......it may kiss it once in a while but true to its name...it is a "pilot".....just keeps it located.
If you run a Muncie or Borg/Warner they can run the bronze bushing. The ball bearing style front transmission bearing design allows a lot of movement. Make sure the bushing you use is non-magnetic so it dies not tear up the input shaft. Those non-magnetic ones are harder to find but Paul Cangialosi at 5speeds.com has them.
The Tremec has a tighter roller style front bearing design that is not tolerant of any runout or misalignment. Tremec transmissions need to run the roller pilot bearing.
I'm not sure anyone will know the answer...
But is there a difference in quality? A lot of major companies make them:
Timken McLeod
Chevrolet
CenterForce
If you run a Muncie or Borg/Warner they can run the bronze bushing. The ball bearing style front transmission bearing design allows a lot of movement. Make sure the bushing you use is non-magnetic so it dies not tear up the input shaft. Those non-magnetic ones are harder to find but Paul Cangialosi at 5speeds.com has them.
The Tremec has a tighter roller style front bearing design that is not tolerant of any runout or misalignment. Tremec transmissions need to run the roller pilot bearing.
If you run a Muncie or Borg/Warner they can run the bronze bushing. The ball bearing style front transmission bearing design allows a lot of movement. Make sure the bushing you use is non-magnetic so it dies not tear up the input shaft. Those non-magnetic ones are harder to find but Paul Cangialosi at 5speeds.com has them.
The Tremec has a tighter roller style front bearing design that is not tolerant of any runout or misalignment. Tremec transmissions need to run the roller pilot bearing.
Why is non-magnetic important? I have never heard that before.
They were not magnetic until about 15 years ago, now you have to take a magnet to the parts store and check them. The National was good but I haven't bought one in a while. My buddy went to 3 parts stores and checked the bushings before finding a non magnetic on. The theory is the magnetic ones will get hot enough to start to weld to the input, not sure that will happen but I would still buy a non magnetic one as we did for the 40 years before.
Interesting. I never heard that. I was going to put a McLeod bushing in. After all the clutch and pressure plate were McLeod. I emailed tech service and they mentioned "They are a powdered material with iron and oil compressed under heavy load and heat. None of that stuff is made in the states. Most of it is coming out of India."
So I may have to go where stingr69 mentioned or similar.
Interesting. I never heard that. I was going to put a McLeod bushing in. After all the clutch and pressure plate were McLeod. I emailed tech service and they mentioned "They are a powdered material with iron and oil compressed under heavy load and heat. None of that stuff is made in the states. Most of it is coming out of India."
So I may have to go where stingr69 mentioned or similar.
SEE POST #9.. i agree that bushing from McLoed didn't feel right and was magnetic..and looked completely different than what i took out.. silver not bronze... WHY DO THEY DO THIS FOR pennies???? https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...se-79-l82.html
i did NOT USE the McLoed bushing.. local Oreillys had in stock USA non magnetic in stock.. running perfect still knock on wood.. same one as @Mr D.
Last edited by interpon; Oct 26, 2021 at 05:46 PM.
If you have a dialed in bell housing >.002, surfaced true flywheel, new clutch plate , and front tranny main shaft bearing the pilot bearing because of clearance should never be touched.
Stock M transmissions have a weak main shaft and housing issues which can be replaced. They are relatively low tq
Summit may still sell the GM pilot bushing, decent oil impregnated one.
Rushed the last install and got an auto parts store off brand. From the first start squealed and had release issues. Improper ID (too tight)
PITA to do it over to save $3.
pilot bushing
