do you need to remove the flywheel nut in order to get the bearing out?

 

Nope

 

Not sure but these might help

https://www.rx7club.com/1st-gen-archive-71/engine-pilot-bearing-removal-pix-535403/

http://www.wankel.net/~krwright/files/manuals/1980_RX7_FSM/large/80RX7(6)Clutch.pdf

 

thanks trochoid.

rxseven - i have that tool - i'm going to find out how to use it tonight.

 

Here's a later thread including a few more tips and pictures (click the "Additional tips" link and scroll down):

Additional tips

And let me add one more thing. When you tighten the "T-handle" to expand the legs and grip the pilot bearing outer edge, don't overtighten (barely finger tight is good). If you crank too hard, the legs may break. Also, the legs just need to "grip the lip", not push against the inside wall of the eccentric shaft so hard that it causes extra friction when you are ready to tighten the nut down (which actually pulls the pilot bearing out).

DD

 

Pack the pilot hole with grease and get a rod or bolt that fits snug in the hole and hammer in the bolt. The pressure from the grease in the hole will force the bushing out. Its an old piston engine trick my dad taught me.

 

71plymouth,

Not to argue with you, but that "old" trick (and I know it 'cause I AM old) works well with pilot bushings, not pilot bearings. These roller bearings allow the grease to exude when packed and hammered and if the rollers are already gone (as is often the case) the race (or pilot bearing outer cover) is too thin to offer the resistance needed to pop out. Of course, I'll stand corrected if someone has used the grease trick (or the wet toilet paper trick) on an RX-7. I'm old, but not too old to accept the successful experience of others.

Regards,

DD

 

well the jc whitney tool worked like a charm - although the bearing was gone and all that had to come out was the race.

it took about 3 minutes with that tool.

i was worried after hearing all of the stories.

 

Three minutes??? What...you took a two minute break? Just kidding. Good job!!!

DD

 

to follow up -

i took advice a post somewhere in here to put the pilot bearing in the freezer (overnight)

on the install i used a brass punch and that baby went right in - nice and smooth.

 

well how do you get it out with out taking out the flywheel....anybody have any pics of that under the car?

 

rotary_83,

You searched and drug up an old thread. Good for you. Let's see if I can help...

1. Let's assume you have already removed the transmission and set it aside.

2. Then you removed the clutch pressure plate and clutch disc.

Now you are still under the car and looking at what's left. The big round thing is the flywheel. It's held on by a big nut. Look inside of that nut and you'll see the eccentric shaft, and inside of it is the pilot bearing. The picture I've attached (look in the very center) is the pilot bearing. Normally there would be a pilot bearing seal covering it (read the earlier part of this post and look at the pictures) but hopefully now you know what to look for. The pilot bearing and seal are "simply" extracted with the tool described above. The tool legs "butt up" against the flywheel and the jaws are inserted into the pilot bearing. Turn the screw-type crank on the tool and the pilot bearing is pulled out.

DD

 

Said the young man as he walked into the house of the rising sun.

 

The Rising Sun

DD

 

lol...i know what a flywheel is...and what everything does as far as the pilot bearing and everything....but I was confused on where it was....

Thanks DublyDurty....that pic helped out alot....and this thread was the on;y thread I found that was any help...So +1