Pilot bearing question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Plant City Fl
Pilot bearing question
I have everything off/out for my clutch swap except the pilot bearing. Rented a tool from Autozone and it doesn't fit. What would happen if you leave the old pilot bearing in?
Does anybody know of a good tool to use? Thanks
Does anybody know of a good tool to use? Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,342
Likes: 1,123
From: Dyer, IN
What does the tool look like? Post a pic.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Plant City Fl
I'm taking it out, like you said I've done all this work. I read on another thread to grind the lips on the puller.
I just want to know what happens if you leave it in. I know alot of shops do it out of laziness, I just wanted to know what it could cause.
I just want to know what happens if you leave it in. I know alot of shops do it out of laziness, I just wanted to know what it could cause.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,348
Likes: 25
From: STL Mo
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Plant City Fl
I rented it and it works alot better. Just need more room to fit the hammer. I have to drop and move the cradle/diff/trans some more.
Still trying to figure out what leaving the old pilot bearing/bushing would do to the car. Would it make noise? I just like knowing these things I guess.
Still trying to figure out what leaving the old pilot bearing/bushing would do to the car. Would it make noise? I just like knowing these things I guess.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 837
Likes: 2
From: Derry NH
I rented it and it works alot better. Just need more room to fit the hammer. I have to drop and move the cradle/diff/trans some more.
Still trying to figure out what leaving the old pilot bearing/bushing would do to the car. Would it make noise? I just like knowing these things I guess.
Still trying to figure out what leaving the old pilot bearing/bushing would do to the car. Would it make noise? I just like knowing these things I guess.
A tuner did my LS7 clutch swap. I was not aware that they did not swap pilot bearings, but they didn't. That may not be the cause of the failure, perhaps the input shaft was forced in when it wasn't perfectly centered. Either way, I had a bad noise (rattle) when launching the car from a dead stop. Over a few weeks, it got much worse. I pulled the drive-train myself in the garage and found a busted pilot bearing. The 'inner' surface was worn out of round. Several of the needle bearings were still intact but the input shaft had room to move around. Luckily the input shaft bearing on the torque tube was fine.
Lesson 1: Save $900 and do the clutch swap yourself
Lesson 2: Replace the $8 pilot bearing and
Lesson 3: Be absolutely sure that the input shaft gets inserted into the pilot bearing smoothly and not at an angle.
"That's what she said."
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,342
Likes: 1,123
From: Dyer, IN
I hope you have the cradle separated from the differential, if not, lining it back up will be a challenge.. Can't tell from the pick, but there are warnings about dropping the assembly too far....engine support.....firewall damage..etc.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
I've heard that some people use a bushing instead of a factory replacement bearing. Does anyone have experience with using a bushing, and if so, with what results? If positive, then where/which do you recommend?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,776
Likes: 928
From: Indianapolis IN
I can not recommend the bronze bushing idea. It did not work for me. After less than 100 miles it started making an intermittent horrendous sqauling noise. Took everything apart and foudn the bushing was all worbled out letting the input shaft flop around. Every now and then it would "bind" just right and squeal all bad like when engaging the clutch. Removed it and replaced with stock roller bearing. Just did this last week as a matter of fact. Maybe I got an off-sized bushing, I am not sure why it would have worn as badly as it did.
Instructor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 169
Likes: 36
From: China Spring TX
When the old needle bearing cratered, it probably gouged some rough spots on the input shaft. These rough spots then wore the soft oilite bushing like a file. The bushings are oil impregnated and should not be greased at all. That closes the pores and will not allow the oil to work out. GM used the bushings from 1928 to 1984. And they worked for 100,000 miles. The 'new improved' needle bearings will not usually last that long and when they do fail, they usually damage the input shaft. At my clutch shop, we always recommended replacing the needle bearing with an oilite bushing. New aint necessarily better!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 854
From: MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
I rented it and it works alot better. Just need more room to fit the hammer. I have to drop and move the cradle/diff/trans some more.
Still trying to figure out what leaving the old pilot bearing/bushing would do to the car. Would it make noise? I just like knowing these things I guess.
Still trying to figure out what leaving the old pilot bearing/bushing would do to the car. Would it make noise? I just like knowing these things I guess.
Also, there are some "old school" methods to remove the pilot bearing that should NOT be used on the LS1/LS6 engine such as packing the pilot bearing input shaft hole with grease and using a tool to force the grease behind the bearing to remove it from the cranke.
Allways use a puller to remove the pilot bearing,
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 254
Likes: 0
From: Plant City Fl
The blind hole puller worked best for me, just have to do a little more work to get the pilot bearing out. Would you recommend cleaning the crank well before using a bushing?
I removed it as one unit also, haven't had a problem yet.
I removed it as one unit also, haven't had a problem yet.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 2,340
Likes: 854
From: MI
Cruise-In VI Veteran
TIP> Berfore you install the pilot bearing in the cranke, clean/inspect the TQ Tube output shaft and test fit the pilot bearing on the output shaft to ensure you have the right pilot bearing.
Cheers
Kevin
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,793
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria Ca.
I polished the end of the propshaft with 600 wetordry,and mothers polish first,as it was gnawed up pretty bad from the grenaded needle bearings in the oem pilot bearing I had just installed,then fubared when reinstalling the drivetrain-they're not very forgiving.
Bushings(Kevlar or oillite)are somewhat "idiot tolerant" ,and since aligning the drivetrain perfectly apparently isn't one of my strong points,I went with the bushing,and it's working very well.