I've done some searching, and have found a lot on changing the pilot bearing. My question is; Would a bad pilot bearing keep your clutch from disengaging? I don't really see why it would. It looks like it keeps the shaft centered. If you had some wobble, why would that keep the clutch from disengaging. Mine wouldn't disengage. I pulled the transmission yesterday. This morining I pulled the clutch out. Everything looks good, but I noticed some metal on the end of the tranny shaft, and I think the pilot bearing is toast. Can it be changed with the flywheel still on. It looks like it can. Oh yeah; my hydraulics are fine. I did check that first. TIA

 

Yes it can be changed with the flywheel on and yes sometimes if it's toast it will keep the clutch from disengaging. Don't ask me why it does that but mine got destroyed once and samething happened to me. all that was left was the outer shell of the pilot bearing. I had to take a dremel and drill a line through the pilot bearing to get it out.

 

What do you mean by, "drill a line through it"? did you perforate it, and then pop it out? TIA

 

I had replaced a tranny, clutch, n pilot bearing and driveshaft. drove it around for about 3 days when I noticed the clutch wasnt engaging like it really should have. then when going to work it just wouldnt engage at all. got it back home later that day and removed the tranny and clutch and my pilot bearing had just been trashed. Nothing left but the metal bits around the tranny shaft and the shell still stuck. the first time I took it out I didnt have the pilot bearing remover and a friend n I went around to some machine shops looking for a drill bit to just drill it out with. this time I bought the removal tool and it is sooooo nice. makes light work of pulling that horrible horrible thing out and putting it back in.

 

What caused your pilot bearing to go out after 3 days? I was looking at one in a spare engine I've got. It looks like it needs to be packed with grease. I wonder if wheel bearing grease would work? I just got a puller from Autozone. It looks like it ought to work. I'll find out when the part comes in. I don't feel like crawling under there again right now, and I've got a truck to drive.

 

First, if the pilot bearing "goes" it will adhere to the trans input shaft and when the pedal depressed, the pressure plate will release the clutch disc from the flywheel, but the shaft will continue to turn the same rpm as the flywheel, do to the bad pilot bearing. Turning at that rate, you will not be able to shift.

Having said that, you'd be better served installing a new bearing, being they are inexpensive. It's lot of work removing the trans if the bearing goes.

The bearing could go after 3 days if, during installation, it was damaged.

 

i put a act cluch in my 87 t2 and i was forced to install a stock relese bearing in it cause at the time i couldnt get the act bearing but the speed shop told me the stock one would work so i figured id try it.. i got it togethr and the pedal felt like stock (not stiff) and the cluch wont disengage whats the deal????is it the bearing?

 

Thanks for the explanation turbonut. That makes sense. Still no response on what type of grease to use? I'm thinking wheel bearing grease, since they're needle bearings. K. Landers says he uses dry moly, but he doesn't use a seal either.

 

I got a puller from Autozone, and it worked great, without being modified. The problem with todays auto parts stores is; everything is computerized (except loaner tools). You get some skank in there that doesn't know **** about tools, and there's no telling what she'll try to hand you. I went thru 3 clerks, then an old guy in the back overheard us, and knew exactly what I needed. They have a "Pilot bearing puller" you just have to ask the right person. Had the bearing out in 5 seconds.

 

any ideas on that release bearing anyone? clutch wont disengage

 

Did you change the pilot bearing (in the end of the engine) ? That's why mine wouldn't disengage.

 

it was a brand new engine and im assuming they installed a new bearing there was one in it

 

I think maybe my pilot bearing is goin bad... It makes a "whining noise" whith the clutch out in every gear including neutral. But when you push the pedal in it stops... Would a bad pilot bearing cause this?

 

a worn tranny would

 

my tranny did that on my 240sx when my syncros were goin bad and then a couple weeks later i lost my reverse gear. im assuming it probably was about to just completely die but i never found out because i replaced it

 

I think maybe my pilot bearing is goin bad... It makes a "whining noise" whith the clutch out in every gear including neutral. But when you push the pedal in it stops... Would a bad pilot bearing cause this?

Throwout bearing... my friends tII does that same thing

 

ah! sorry totaly didnt mean to thread jack, just thought maybe i would have the same problem.

 

i got it to go into gear but its really hard to get it to go in and it grinds goin into gear how do i fix that?