On my 83 RX-7 while removing my old clutch and I found metal shavings in the hole in the engine where the input shaft goes. I thought the pilot bearing was in there, I got a seal out but there still seems to be a bearing. How do I remove that bearing and is it the pilot bearing? Does the huge nut have to come off?

 

The huge nut can stay unless you want to resurface the flywheel for a new clucth (recommended)
You are describing a typical issue with the pilot bearing. You will need to pull the bearing
(whats left of it out) before the new one and a new seal can go in there. You can use a pilot
bearing puller from advancedzone but you have to round the outside bits just a little to make it
work. Thats what I did.

 

You want this tool:
https://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.asp?partnum=49-1285


It works as it says, in less than one minute, you'll have the bearing out. One time I was swapping engines and it took longer to get the old remains of the pilot bearing out than it did to put the engine back in.
Every RX-7 I've swapped engines or changed the clutch on has had a ruined pilot bearing.

It could be because most people don't have this:
Pilot bearing installer:
https://www.mazdatrix.com/getprice.a...tnum=49-MT-110

Follow its instructions to put in the bearing and oil seal and you should be OK. I've never taken a car apart again after I've used these tools but it dos make installation much, much easier. No, I don't work for Mazdatrix but I wish I did, that or racing beat or atkins or rotoryengines.com...

 

Thanks for the replies, speaking of the seal, I did get that out, but where can I find a new one?

 

Rockauto.com

 

Mazda 1881-11-404

 

Or compare getting one of these from advancedzone for $15.00

OEM/Pilot Bearing Puller Attachment (27059) | Pilot Bearing Puller Attachment | AutoZone.com

Filing it down a bit to make the jaws roundish and putting on your trusty universal
slap hammer puller. If you don't have one of those they cost ~$50.00. Oh and
most of these places will loan these out, thats right, you can use these for free.

I like mazdatrix and the tool is nice but sometimes the budget wins.

 

A very helpful friend tried the loaner one today, we are borrowing a Mazda one tomorrow. Hopefully that gets it.

Thanks for the replies and link to that seal.

 

Update for anyone that runs across this....USE THE MAZDA TOOL.

It took literally 1 minute to get it out with that.

 

Good hear. I use the universal but it does require modification to make it work well.

 

TG if you ever need the Mazda one I have one in High Point your welcome to use anytime...since your not too far away