I'm in the middle of changeing a clutch, and I'm replaceing my pilot bushing. Do I need to put locktite or anything on the bushing, or is it supposed to be free moveing in the crank? Thanks

I've always just coated it with a bit of grease and tapped it into place in the end of the crankshaft.

The pilot bearing, weather a needle roller type or bronze bushing should be a press fit in the back of the crank. The input shaft spins in the bush. The bush should not spin in the crank. I have run into non-press fit situations, and have secured the pilot bearing in the crank by completely cleaning the end of the crank and the OD of the bush, roughing both parts up with some fine sandpaper, clean completely, then install the pilot brg. with some Loctite stud and bearing formula, red or green. After its fully set, (which can be speeded up with carefull use of a butane torch, do not exceed 200 degrees) put a very small coating of grease on the ID of the bush and input shaft, and your good to go.

Phred

Just how loose is it ? Try the bushing over the trans shaft to see if it fits there, should be a smooth fit not to tight or to loose . The bushing should be tight in the crankshaft and need to be tapped in place. If it is loose and has any play it may spin and it is not supposed to , and if there is too much slop and you locktight it in if you are off center you will may have trouble with the installation of the trans. I would take it back and make sure it is the correct one. thats my 2c

Is there a easy way to remove it with hand tools?

Have you tried using the socket and grease method to force it out?

If it's a bushing, (and not a needle/roller bearing) a Hammer and Small Chisel will do the job.

Just be careful to not score the wall of the hole in the crankshaft with the chisel.

Yeah, could be a bear of a job since the motor is still in the car. I will probably have to do some weird body contortions to get to it. What should I look for to decide whether it needs to be replaced or not? Thanks

Yeah, could be a bear of a job since the motor is still in the car. I will probably have to do some weird body contortions to get to it. What should I look for to decide whether it needs to be replaced or not? Thanks

With the engine in the car it is a bit of a hassle to get it out, but it's worth the effort IMO.

If you don't want to try the hammer and chisel method, pack the bushing with grease, find a socket that just barely fits into the bushing. Install the socket backwards on an extension, then tap (hard) the socket into the grease filled bushing to compress the grease and force out the bushing.

Look for grooves, or other deformation of the bushing, and looseness in the crankshaft.

Frankly, I would just replace it without questioning whether it needed replacing or not. It only cost a few dollars, and having to pull the transmission again to do it later is a MAJOR P.I.T.A. The only time that I didn't replace a pilot bushing because it looked (and felt) OK, the damn thing failed before the pressure plate and clutch disc needed replacing again.

It's your call, but I know what I would do.

Carl

Interested to know how you can tell if a pilot bushing has failed with it installed in the car.

Thanks

Joseph

G'Day Joseph:

When mine failed, the failure was that it started spinning in the crankshaft and made a Gawd Awfull "screeeeeching" noise tha made people on the sidewalks look around for at least a block ahead of me. Sort of like putting a live cat in a meat grinder, feet first.

It was the loudest, most annoying sustained noise I've ever heard come from a car (except for my neighbor kids stereo)

Hello Carl

Thanks for the reply. Im pretty safe in saying that mine hasnt failed in this way :>

Joseph

what do you do when that bitch REALLY doesn't want to come out?