thanks dude, you saved me some searching. That was the thread I was referring to.

 

Update: I finally got under the car again with a flashlight. When I looked into the input shaft "hole" I can see the 'needles' from the pilot bearing just sitting at the bottom of it, the whole thing appears to be shattered. So I'm guessing thats what caused my problem. Hopefully it will be easier to take out because of that!

 

Yep pilot bearing is totally fubar. Its coming out in slivers and its locked solid.

 

congrats on finding the problem man

 

Ok, problem. The pilot bearing is kind of broken, but still lodged in there pretty good. I went to a couple parts stores and their pilot bearing removers are too large for my bearing. I know the one from mazdatrix is great, but I really don't want to wait for it to be shipped. So I called some friends to ask their opinions. One friend said to take a chisel and just hammer the pilot in two and just pull it out. The other one (supra guy) said to stuff paper towels into the hole until the pressure inside it forces the bearing out, which I thought was a novel idea, but again I'm not sure what to make of it. Any ideas?

Also, whats the best method of putting the new bearing in? And which side of the bearing does the seal go on, trans or engine side?

 

Anybody? I tried packing wet toilet paper into the void behind the case of the bearing, then forcing a 1/2'' extension into the bearing and hammering it. Tried doing this for about an hour and just nothing happened. I'm so pissed off at this stupid bearing. Its like its welded itself to the e-shaft. Should I torch it? Dremmel it?

 

i wouldnt torch it....heat and e-shaft just doesnt seem like a good idea to me

 

When only the shell is left, I've used a 1/8" carbide bur chucked into a die grinder. Cut 2 grooves opposite each other to weaken the shell. Cut as deep as possible without cutting into the e-shaft. Then drive a very small screw driver down the groove in the shell, working the shell until it splits.

 

dude i did the exact same thing last week on my rx-7 u have to have that special tool thats the only way ur gunna get it out i tryed 4 diffrent bearing pullers and they all broke everyone snapped the moment i tightened it the one from mazda trix i ordered it on a tuesday and i had it by friday then i got the p/b out first try easy as hell i was so mad that i didnt buy it sooner but just get the tool and it will all be over shortley

 

^^Thanks. I think I'm just going to order the puller so I don't risk damaging the e-shaft. Then I'd really be mad at myself.

 

use a small grinder and take your time and break that thing, all the above methods have been used before and they all work, you just have to try them all

 

The Mazda bearing remover worked as its reputation suggested. So In order to make my money back, I'm going to rent it out to DFW RX7clubbers

 

Question! When greasing the new pilot bearing, do I put the grease on the outside of it, the inside of it, or both?

 

outside only because the inside come pregreased and a very little bit on the outside or the pilot bearing i dont know wat would happen if u do grese the inside

 

I got it far enough in so that the seal is flush with the end of the e shaft, is that correct? I did grease the inside a little, but I don't think it will effect it much?

 

it really should affect it if you grease the inside, worst that could happen is the rollers wont roll until all the extra grease is burnt off

 

Whats the purpose of greasing the outside? I only put a little bit on the outside. I managed to get it in fine though. Just a 14mm socket and a hammer.

 

i'm not sure on that, i suppose just to lube it up a bit make it easier to go in and out maybe, and just keep the friction coefficient lower, a little bit should be fine, if you pack that hole full of grease you'd have a hell of a time putting the tranny back on, ask me how i know haha

 

I think it will work out fine. Now just to put her all back together.

 

****!! Went to put the clutch disk into the flywheel, and the stupid thing is too large!! The disk I took out is 1/2'' smaller diameter than the one mazdatrix sent me. Which one is correct?? The pressure plate is the exact same size and everything lines up with it as far as the flywheel goes. The disk I got is ~9.5'' and the one I took out is ~9'', which is the correct size for a 13b SE?

EDIT: Looks like the disk they sent me was the 240mm unit for the 86-92TURBO engines. WTF

EDIT2: My order confirmation shows that I ordered the correct clutch, but the part number on the clutch I got in the mail is the same as the 86-92 Turbo.

I'm sooo pissed right now. This has to be the longest clutch job on record. Also I just found out that NOBODY around here (even the mazda dealers, carry the correct spark plug, so I'm gonna have to ORDER those and have it take another WEEK)

 

I just recently did this to my car. I'm with mazdaverx713b. Somehow get the oem pilot bearing tool. I bought it from mazdatrix and got the sucker out in less than a minute. The harbor freight crap is worthless. Not worth your time and money. Get some extra bolts that will thread into where the tranny to engine bolts go. Cut the heads off and put one in each corner. It will help guide the tranny in. Doc told me that trick, works great!

 

Just as a heads up, when you get ready to install the tranny, 1 bolt has a different thread pitch than the rest of them. That bolt goes under the starter. The pitch is close enough to the others that it will thread into the other holes, the others will thread into it, and strip them out in the process. That particular bolt is the only one in the entire car with that diameter and thread pitch. Make sure you have it separated from the others. Easiest way to find that bolt is to check the pitch between them by holding the threads against one another.

 

damn dude i hate that happened to you, on the other note, spark plugs, they never have them handy here either always have to order them, but they're usually here by next business day, unless i go to o'reilley's before 12 they can have them there by 3pm that same day lol

 

Well after working everything out with mazdatrix, I'm getting the clutch on monday, and its going to have the plugs in there free shipping, so I guess it could be worse.

 

not a bad deal, hope they send the right clutch this time