Thought I'd post this in the 3rd gen area for those that have a really bad e-shaft (eccentric shaft) bore from a bad pilot bearing removal.

Blake over at Pineapple Racing has a special tool to do IN THE CAR reaming/overboring of the e-shaft pilot bearing hole.

This tool overbores to the FACTORY overbore pilot bearing size, and Blake of course has the overbore pilot bearings and seals in stock. Without this tool, it would be impossible to keep the center of the bore.

Of course, all of this could be avoided, if you use the FACTORY pilot bearing removal tool ($99 @ Pineapple).

Also, don't assume that your answers lie in your respective car's forum. If I didn't do a "search all forums" I wouldn't have found this.

More info here:
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...t=factory+tool

Below is a pic.

:-) neil

BTW: I am VERY lucky I didn't have to use this tool . . .

 

That's why I sprung for the Mazda pilot bearing removal SST, I plan to never have to use that big bastard

 

Does anyone have an alternative tool for the pilot bearing removal? I hate to just go and buy it for 1 replacement.

 

I did an EXTENSIVE search, and every other tool had to be modified in some way.

Also, since the pilot bearing's outer race is radiused, YOU MUST test fit the "jaws" of ANY ALTERNATIVE tool on your new bearing to make sure it will pull with AUTHORITY.

IMHO, you also you should use a puller with a minimum of THREE pulling jaws.

Once you add up the risk, and the contingency plan should the alternative tool fail, the $99-$125 is money well spent.

:-) neil

 

Hell, the Mazda SST can double as a weapon in the event of a carjack, it keeps paying for itself. I keep it under my seat, and it's already saved my FD the last time I was rollin' through Newark yo !

 

https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...2&postcount=40

 

Consider yourself one of the lucky few.

The Autozone tool I looked at had very worn jaws. . .

 

The one I had wasn't beat up at all. It's one of the 4-jaw ones, took some hammering but it came out within a couple minutes. I'm going to get the same tool when I tear down my engine if I have to have the side housing lapped, so I can pull the bellhousing alignment pins.

J

 

i tried using a "jaw" tool in there and it just ripped off the taper. i eventually had to dremel and chisile out the ****** thing! took me 5hrs to do it slowly without messing up the e shaft bore. trust me the 100 bucks for that tool is money well spent. i plan on getting one very soon!

 

+1

That's how long it took me to Dremel & chisel as well (plus about $25 for a carbide-bit, forged chisel) and the hassle of going to the store!

:-) neil