Pilot bearing removal tip
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Seattle WA
Pilot bearing removal tip
I have been fighting a pilot bearing in the crank that would not budge. I broke the tips off a screw type puller. I bought a slide hammer puller and it didn't do squat. I tried using a reciprocating saw, but the stroke was too long and it broke blades in seconds. I tried a succession of drills, but got nowhere fast. I didn't want to heat it and damage the seal. I finally tried a Dremel with a straight tungsten carbide cutter. It ate through the side of the bearing in about 15 minutes. It popped right out with the slide puller after that. I recommend it for anyone who runs into this problem.
Thatch 98 C5 w/ Carroll Vortech (replacing driveshaft and clutch)
Thatch 98 C5 w/ Carroll Vortech (replacing driveshaft and clutch)
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Make sure that you didnt puncture the oil seal in the end of the crank when you were using the saws all!!! If you did you will have oil EVERYWHERE!!!!
BC
BC
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 23,283
Likes: 906
From: Lake Elsinore, CA
After struggling with a couple of different pullers on my buddy's, we found this one at Pep Boys (free to borrow with deposit) and had it out in just a few minutes. We clamped a set of vise grips to it and hammered on that for better leverage. Popped right out.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: crestwood KY
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Using the principles of hydraulics, you can use a bolt, paper towels, a hammer and some grease.
Put some grease in, pack it with some of the paper towel, insert bolt and hammer it out.
This works for me and many others I know.
Put some grease in, pack it with some of the paper towel, insert bolt and hammer it out.
This works for me and many others I know.
Resident moron
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,746
Likes: 20
From: Assachusetts
Originally Posted by Green Monster
Using the principles of hydraulics, you can use a bolt, paper towels, a hammer and some grease.
Put some grease in, pack it with some of the paper towel, insert bolt and hammer it out.
This works for me and many others I know.
Put some grease in, pack it with some of the paper towel, insert bolt and hammer it out.
This works for me and many others I know.
ABSOLUTELY DO NOT try this unless you like taking risks.
I used the Autozone bearing puller and modified it to work better. 2' of threaded rod with some big fender washers at the end, and vice grips for better grip, and boom, it came out in 30 seconds.
The jaws are too big to fit behind the bearing correctly so you end up grabbing it by the rear-most lip like the above picture.
Dope
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,558
Likes: 2
From: Cape Coral FL
Originally Posted by Green Monster
I know that the LS6 crank has the seal, but does the LS1 crank have it? I know the 6.0L cranks dont have the seal!
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Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Charlotte NC
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 1,421
Likes: 302
From: CSRA, SC
This thread is ANCIENT but yes you did do that. I know because I also did it using the bread method. HUGE MISTAKE. For others NEVER DO THIS!
You have to drop the front subframe to drop the pan to get the mess out now I'm sorry to say. Dorman sells the plug you pushed in. Its a freeze plug looking disc.
You have to drop the front subframe to drop the pan to get the mess out now I'm sorry to say. Dorman sells the plug you pushed in. Its a freeze plug looking disc.
