Pilot bearing replacement
- Thread starter jchotrods
- Start date
Tom Wesenberg
Well-known member
If you don't have the correct puller, many times it works to pack the air space behind the bearing with grease, then insert a pilot shaft and hit it with a hammer. The grease will push the bearing or bushing out.
john in illinois
Well-known member
If the bearing is not sealed,the grease method won't work. A small slide hammer with a two jaw internal puller makes quick work of it.
Kurt in NJ
Well-known member
I have used a bolt with a nut, and a crowbar ---a screwdriver blade shoved in to keep the bolt head offset, pull the bearing out like pulling a nail --it can take some resetting on opposite sides to work it out.
Once late at night and having nothing else I used channel lock pliers and a small hammer--hooked the jaw under the bearing and tapped on the other jaw ---not nice but I got it out
With the A you can take off the flywheel and drive it out from either side ---just remember to mark the location on the crank ---and a bar bolted across for a handle can make for much less chance of squashed fingers and toes.
Once late at night and having nothing else I used channel lock pliers and a small hammer--hooked the jaw under the bearing and tapped on the other jaw ---not nice but I got it out
With the A you can take off the flywheel and drive it out from either side ---just remember to mark the location on the crank ---and a bar bolted across for a handle can make for much less chance of squashed fingers and toes.
Robert Winston
Junior Member
Pack the bearing half full of grease and the other half with wet news paper, use a 3/8 socket extension to put inside the bearing, as you pound keep adding more wet newspaper. Took me about 5 minutes to remove mine.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Tom Endy
Well-known member
It is always prudent to replace the flywheel pilot bearing when ever you have the engine or transmission out of the car. However many people ignore the condition of the pilot end of the transmission input shaft. Many are worn down from spinning inside the bearing. This condition aLLows the end of the shaft to be improperly supported and leads to popping out of gear.
The end of the pilot shaft should have a nice "sliding" fit into the bearing. You do not want an interference fit as you would have difficulty installing the transmission.
Input shafts pilots can be repaired. I have a friend and colleague who has a Model A shop that has developed a repair technique. He turns down the pilot, then presses on a sleeve with an interference press fit, then turns down the sleeve for a "sliding" fit into a new bearing.
His price is very reasonable. If anyone is interested contact Jim's Automotive Services, Costa Mesa, CA 714-546-2969.
Tom Endy
The end of the pilot shaft should have a nice "sliding" fit into the bearing. You do not want an interference fit as you would have difficulty installing the transmission.
Input shafts pilots can be repaired. I have a friend and colleague who has a Model A shop that has developed a repair technique. He turns down the pilot, then presses on a sleeve with an interference press fit, then turns down the sleeve for a "sliding" fit into a new bearing.
His price is very reasonable. If anyone is interested contact Jim's Automotive Services, Costa Mesa, CA 714-546-2969.
Tom Endy