Pilot Bearing NIGHTMARE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Angry](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon8.gif)
So I am doing an easy p1-3 hour job of replacing a clutch on a 98 trans am, and its not exactly going well, 4 hours to get the trans off and flywheel out for machining, then there was the pilot bearing........
Three ******* hours later and it is still in there. tried the slide hammer puller for an hour or two, then tried filling the area with grease and using a bolt or something to dispace the bearing, and all with no success.
We have run out of ideas for getting that god forsaken bearing out. Anyone else have this problem and find a solution? Our last resort is to maybe try and drill out the old bearing.... very last resort though.... appreciate any help, but please for the love of god help!
Three ******* hours later and it is still in there. tried the slide hammer puller for an hour or two, then tried filling the area with grease and using a bolt or something to dispace the bearing, and all with no success.
We have run out of ideas for getting that god forsaken bearing out. Anyone else have this problem and find a solution? Our last resort is to maybe try and drill out the old bearing.... very last resort though.... appreciate any help, but please for the love of god help!
#2
9 Second Club
iTrader: (17)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: New Braunfels ,Tx
Posts: 4,997
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
The slide hammer puller should work. Mine came right out. Option 2 get a dremel and grind it all out till its weak enuff to get out.Then get the puller back on it to get it out. Good luck
Joe M
Joe M
#4
TECH Addict
iTrader: (28)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Central Texas
Posts: 2,170
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
What exactly isn't working with the puller and slide hammer? You do have to dremel down the arms a little bit on the puller so they will fit into the pilot bearing and then tighten it so the arms will grab the bearing. Don't do the grease method, I've heard you can knock out a oil plug from the crank, then you'll be in for some more work getting that fixed.
#5
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
DAMNIT!!!!! did the grease method already...hope it didnt blow out an oil plug.... I would definitely commit ritual suicide....
We were gonna go buy a bunch of drill bits and drill the ****** out, but having never thought about the dremel tool before, it seems that will be much cheaper than buying bits... a couple milling tips or grinding tips should do the trick, might even grind the whole gay *** thing out, appreciate the help...
We were gonna go buy a bunch of drill bits and drill the ****** out, but having never thought about the dremel tool before, it seems that will be much cheaper than buying bits... a couple milling tips or grinding tips should do the trick, might even grind the whole gay *** thing out, appreciate the help...
#6
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
update: it was my car....we got the install done. mad props and thanks to derek(lt1z28) and two cadets, tristan and brad for all the help and assistance in the install. i like the clutch a lot so far. ![Happy](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)
EDIT: this is "mulletwearingtadrive" i forgot derek logged in on my comp.
![Happy](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)
EDIT: this is "mulletwearingtadrive" i forgot derek logged in on my comp.
![Cry](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_cry.gif)
Last edited by LT1-Z28; 03-14-2005 at 02:53 PM.
#7
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Livonia, Mi
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Wow... I was just about to make a post for this. And DAMMIT I TRIED THE GREASE METHOD! Hopefully I didn't hurt anything. Where did you guys get your slide hammers? And more importantly, how do I tell if I knocked that oil plug thing out? Thanks!
Trending Topics
#9
10 Second Club
iTrader: (5)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cali/Bay Area
Posts: 3,412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by NOBR8KSS
The slide hammer worked geat for me with a single large jaw that just fit inside the bearing. I did have to use some pretty good force on the slide hammer, but came right out...
#10
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
we did the install at a local air force hobby shop and they had a slide hammer we could use so that was nice. basically we used a dremel and grinded down into the side of the pilot bearing until the circle was broken and then it came out really easily....
#11
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Livonia, Mi
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I ended up renting the puller from autozone, had to modify the pilot fitting a little with a dremel to make it fit, but it came out after a few tries. Completely destroyed the bearing though.
#12
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
When I did my clutch install, we had a bigass puller and that bitch still wouldnt come out. Tried with some big guys absolutely railing on the puller and the bearing would not budge an inch. Anyways, the geniouses at F-Body Central up in Baltimore, used this crazy *** idea and got soaked toilet paper and started stuffing it in the center of the bearing and then packing it in there with a metal rod that was the same size at the bearing hole. They just kept hammering more and more wet toilet paper in, and finally it popped the pilot bearing right out. Pretty damn sweet. Took a ton of toilet paper, so if anyone ever tries this just keep doing it until the bearing comes out.
#13
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by burnout04
When I did my clutch install, we had a bigass puller and that bitch still wouldnt come out. Tried with some big guys absolutely railing on the puller and the bearing would not budge an inch. Anyways, the geniouses at F-Body Central up in Baltimore, used this crazy *** idea and got soaked toilet paper and started stuffing it in the center of the bearing and then packing it in there with a metal rod that was the same size at the bearing hole. They just kept hammering more and more wet toilet paper in, and finally it popped the pilot bearing right out. Pretty damn sweet. Took a ton of toilet paper, so if anyone ever tries this just keep doing it until the bearing comes out.
![Happy](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)
#15
11 Second Club
iTrader: (4)
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Rowletts,KY
Posts: 1,004
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/ranks/ls1tech10year.png)
![Default](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
^off the subject but my heavy *** modified torqu arm slid off and my head was between it and the floor and busted the side of my head. I thought you wasnt suppose to use the grease method on the LS1 cars due to the crank being hollow. They told me you could drive a cap in the end of the crank back into the oil pan as a result of this meathod. I dont know. Ive always took gease and a homemade driver and got them out. The one on my truck was a bushing so wore out I found an old Lincoln Log laying around and used it as a driver
![Happy](https://ls1tech.com/forums/images/smilies/LS1Tech/gr_stretch.gif)