DirtyBird222

iTrader: (7)

I've got everything apart.....trying to get the pilot bearing out! No luck what so ever! Anyone, does anyone know what to do? This is my last thing to replace before I start re-assembling everything. I have no idea what to do to get this thing out! SUCH A PITA

DirtyBird222

iTrader: (7)

anything anyone?

jeffbigwood27

I had to drill a hole in it to get it to budge. And then keep prying on it. It was a PITA. hope this helps. The new one goes in nice and easy with a hammer.

richieg

iTrader: (1)

I broke my first puller on it, took a grinder to it, 2 grinding tips later, had a hole big enough to get a larger puller behind it. Came right out after that. All you need to do is form a positive attitude about it, and realize that pilot bearings are the devil!

mrhzk35404

iTrader: (7)

I am having the same problem today. A few people have told me to pack the hole with grease and get something the same size as the inside of the bearing and hit it with a hammer. The force of the air and grease should pop it out. I will be tring this tomorrow.

P Mack

iTrader: (6)

That's a bad idea unless you're feeling lucky. There is a freeze plug in the crank behind the pilot bearing that could pop out into the engine.

DirtyBird222

iTrader: (7)

thanks for the info........i consulted my old man and his semi-redneck engineering skills...told me to pack it full of wettoilet paper (as much as you possibly f'ing can! Keep on packing it with a screwdriver and a hammer until the thing starts to bulge out! Took me a while but finally worked!

mrhzk35404

iTrader: (7)

yeah i just got a slide hammer i will try first

CHIWS6

iTrader: (31)

ditto, it work for me

Mike K.

come on toilet paper lol,,, did the freeze plug fall in or did it all go smoothly?

kenp

iTrader: (9)

It really isn't a freeze plug, it caps the oil galley in the crank. I would not do the toilette paper trick on the LS1 pilot bearing. Just asking for trouble.

The pilot bearings are pretty difficult to get out. I used a slide hammer to get mine out and it was a mangled mess when it finally came out.

02WS6Bird

iTrader: (2)

Can someone run me through ALL the steps on removing the pilot bearing, i have to do this soon for my new clutch

P Mack

iTrader: (6)

I used a pilot bearing puller i got from jcwhitney. I had to dremel down the arms cause they were too fat to fit inside the pilot bearing. It worked perfect.

Step 1 - remove transmission. Step 2 - remove clutch. Step 3 - pull pilot bearing.

Ehatcher

iTrader: (1)

I used a hammer and a chisel ever so gently to coax it out. Like said before it was a mangled mess.

Mike44138

iTrader: (3)

Go to Autozone. They rent a "blind hole" puller set. It's easy with that. I wouldn't be hammering, chiseling, cutting, grinding, or banging around with that oil plug there (much less running the risk of screwing up the bearing race.)

Camaroholic

iTrader: (1)

Don't use the wet TP. I did once. I almost knocked the crank oil gallery plug in to the oil pan. It did start leaking oil (and would have oiled down my clutch had I not replaced it). If you packed anything behind there (grease or TP), don't be surprised if it starts leaking oil (and goes straight to your flywheel face). New plugs are about $4 from GM.

To replace it, simply chisel a slot in the bearing, let the needle bearings fall out, jam puller jaws in there, rotate the jaws, and give it a couple yanks with the slide hammer.

NHRATA01

iTrader: (10)

I bought a bearing puller from harbor frieght, and managed to squeeze 2 of the 3 jaws in there after grinding them down. I later found one on northern tool I believe, that had 2 jaws and was smaller, and more ideal for the job. Neither tool was more than $15 IIRC. Definitely worth it.

DirtyBird222

iTrader: (7)

Well I will buy a bearing puller or whatnot next time I do the job, this worked and I cleaned the area where the bearing was very well before putting the new bearing back in. I have an LT1 so remember it is somewhat different than an LS1 tranny. I def. won't do this again but it worked....

Chuck Harmon

The grease method worked very well for me with my BB. Make sure any splatter doesn't come back at you and mess up your clean white shirt!

Chuck

jessmansweet

The wet toiletpaper(cleaner than grease) trick will work VERY well on a non ls1 small chevy. Like was said before DONT do it on ANY crank that isnt solid.