Pilot Bearing Q
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 837
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From: Derry NH
Pilot Bearing Q
Can a pilot bearing be removed without removing the clutch disk and pressure plate? I am guessing no since the bearing is likely larger than the OD of the input shaft, but I would like to avoid trying to do all of the labor involve in removing/replacing the clutch to get to the pilot bearing.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 837
Likes: 2
From: Derry NH
Originally Posted by Dan_the_C5_Man
Not that lucky
The input shaft rides on the inside of the pilot bearing, which means the TQ tube needs to come out.
The input shaft rides on the inside of the pilot bearing, which means the TQ tube needs to come out.Umm, yeah. Here i was thinking it was beside the dipstick. (kidding)
I need to be more specific. I have to remove my pilot bearing. My plan of attack is to lower rear crossmember, lower rear end/tranny/torque tube. So that leaves me a bellhousing mounted to the back of the motor with the clutch/flywheel/pp in place. What I would then like to do is get the pilot bearing out of the without dropping that assembly. I have the LS7 clutch too, so clearance isn't my friend. When the clutch install was taking place the top bellhousing bolts were more trouble than anything, and getting everything lined up on the reinstall wasn't all that smooth either. I was hoping to avoid all of this.
I discovered when I got home (after clutch install) the new pilot bearing I bought was still in the box-o-parts i supplied, unopened. Now I am having issues.
I was going to get my tranny massaged a little while I was at it, but the guy I want to use doesn't have the means to drop a tranny, he just works on them via benchtop.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 448
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Your post is clear now.
My guess is no one has tried this at this point.
My second guess is it's unlikely the O.D. of the pilot bearing is smaller than the I.D. of the clutch center, but it should be a simple manner for someone to measure both components to provide a definitive answer. In addtion you've got to have room for the tool to pull the original.
My guess is no one has tried this at this point.
My second guess is it's unlikely the O.D. of the pilot bearing is smaller than the I.D. of the clutch center, but it should be a simple manner for someone to measure both components to provide a definitive answer. In addtion you've got to have room for the tool to pull the original.
Last edited by Dan_the_C5_Man; Dec 7, 2006 at 11:32 AM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 837
Likes: 2
From: Derry NH
Originally Posted by Dan_the_C5_Man
My second guess is it's unlikely the O.D. of the pilot bearing is smaller than the I.D. of the clutch center
I guess my only fear is I will invest all of the time in disassembly just to find that I can't my bellhousing off in my garage with jackstands. And then if I do, I can't mange to get everything back in there. Isn't the LS7 clutch thicker than the stock clutch. I thought I read smewhere it wasn't easy to get in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 3,333
Likes: 1
From: Central NJ/PA
NO!, The pilot bearing will not come out with the clutch installed. The pressure is not the problem, its the input hole on the disc.You should be able to do it with the upper bell housing in, but its more time consuming to re-install the clutch with the bellhousing on since you have to keep spinning the motor to get to the oposing bolt. You can get the bell housing out with the car on jack stands, its tricky but I've done.
Also, be very careful when removign your pilot bearing. Their is a freeze out plug in the crank behind the bearing. If you knock it out of place it may start leaking oil and that will drip straight on your clutch.
Also, be very careful when removign your pilot bearing. Their is a freeze out plug in the crank behind the bearing. If you knock it out of place it may start leaking oil and that will drip straight on your clutch.
