1st Generation Specific (1979-1985) 1979-1985 Discussion including performance modifications and technical support sections

Pilot bearing going bad?

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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 04:57 PM
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RustyRacer's Avatar
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Pilot bearing going bad?

Hey,

I've been having so much fun driving my RX7 around the neighborhood on 14 year old tires and an assortment of problems. The main one now is when I am accelerating or cruising I hear a ding ding ding noise that goes faster as I go up in RPM but as soon as I press in the clutch the sound goes away. I tried looking it up in the Search but those didn't have the same problem as mine. It shifts great with good acceleration and doesn't feel like it's slipping.
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 05:02 PM
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maby the throwout barring, ive never had experience with it rattleing around to the extent that you say it is though
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 06:02 PM
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pilot bearing, it rattles a lot when it goes out.
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 07:48 PM
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i hav e the same exact problem.

hmmm pilot bearin huh. might as well get a new clutch when ur whole tranny is off tho.
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 07:59 PM
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unless your clutch is hardly worn, mine wasn't but hardly worn when the pilot bearing was screwed up.
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 08:01 PM
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my clutch is supposidlyy a stage 2 but it slips alot so i think its worn.. the po said it was pretty new tho so idk.
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 08:06 PM
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well, i would take the tranny off and check the plate first since the PO said it was fairly new, then just check it and make sure before you make any expenses, eventho if its slipping then basically that means is worn out, you can try to put it in 4/5th gear and slowly let go of the clutch if it doesn't stall then your clutch is worn.
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 08:24 PM
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From: California
hmm i havent ever tried that.
when i put it into reverse witht he clutch all the wya down it will grind some.. and sometimes when im shifting itll grind second but not always.. so that might have something to do with the clutch??

(sorry about the thread hijack)
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 08:33 PM
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not necessarily, it may be that you just need more tranny fluid. and also, when you're going into reverse, it helps if you go into 5th gear first, then you go into reverse, i usually do that and makes going into reverse a lot lighter and easier idk why. and i'm sure if you get more lube in the tranny, do a fluid change and i'm pretty sure that should help. but if you have a bad pilot bearing like you said earlier, i'd get that tranny off as soon as possible and change the bearing.
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 08:38 PM
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From: Austin
Damn, I'm not really looking forward to that.

F/S


j/k
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Old Jul 13, 2008 | 08:42 PM
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it's not TOO bad, specially if you have a pilot bearing remover, it'll save you hrs, otherwise....look forward to some tedious work. the hardest part besides removing the pilot bearing is putting the tranny back on lol.
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Old Jul 14, 2008 | 08:43 PM
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well my other car when i replaced the clutch (83 rx7) the pilot beating just came out..
whats usually wrong with them?
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Old Jul 14, 2008 | 09:17 PM
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From: Hudson, NC
what usually happens is that the rods get torn and they go flying everywhere, so you're left with the shell of the P.B. stuck inside that little hole, sometimes, from what i've heard it's nice and easy and it just pops out othertimes you gotta take drastic measures such as a dremel of some sort or chissel or something to get that thing out lol.

reason i said to get the tranny off as soon as possible its because the rods could get melted into other parts and eventually the heat "welds" them into gears and all kinds of good ****, and ends up ******* everything up.
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Old Jul 15, 2008 | 07:03 AM
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From: craig,co
Get a pilot bearing removal tool.It's worth the few dollars.The previous owner of my car used a hack saw.Not a pretty sight.
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