Editing Pilot bearing and bushings

There are several ways to remove the pilot bearing from the crankshaft. The pilot bearing/bushing is used with a manual transmission '''only'''. And, it is in your best interest for the bearing to be removed when changing from a manual transmission to an automatic transmission.

Here are just a few ways to remove the bearing either for a new replacement or complete removal. First when removing the bearing you will be removing the transmission. So, as anytime, when doing these changes be safe and have the vehicle properly secured when lifted in the air, if you do not have a lift. Be sure to use the proper jack stands for the weight of the vehicle in question, and, if possible, have someone there with you while performing the work. Please do not place vehicle on blocks of wood or concrete blocks, and, if possible, and you have access to a transmission stand, use it by all means.

Vehicle needs to be on a good level surface. After the transmission has been removed and cleared from the vehicle, you will remove the flexplate/flywheel. Then, if you look at the end of the crankshaft, you will see the bushing. It is where the shaft of the transmission will ride when installed. The nose of the shaft sits inside the bearing. Now you can either rent or buy a puller for this. It's a small slide hammer puller with fingers on it that you will place in the bearing and use it to pull the bearing out. If you do not have access to a puller here are a few other ways of removing the bearing.

*You can fill the center of the bearing with grease and find something that is almost the same size as the bearing and place it in through the center of the bearing and take a hammer and hit whatever you are using and the force with the grease behind the bearing will force it out. You might have to hit it pretty hard and more then once but it will come out. '''When using something like grease, please wear safety glasses. The force of the grease can cut the skin, or even put your eye out. Also watch out for flying pieces of metal.'''
*When using the grease/toilet paper method wear gloves or wrap a rag around whatever you are using to hit with the hammer to help prevent flying debris.
* Another method is you can fill the center of the bearing with wet toilet paper and use the same process as above.
*You can also use an old shaft that has been cut from an old transmission. You will have to do some modification to the old shaft though.
*You can also use a lineup shaft too, if made from proper material '''(not plastic)'''.
*They make a slide hammer with expandable fingers; it would be the safest way for the removal. This slide hammer is often called a blind hole puller. 
*If you can't find a tool to use to fit the bearing, you can use a 3 inch 1/2 Inch drive extension to place in the center of the bearing and force it out. But by all means if you can use the small fingered slide hammer, do so.
*If you have a brass or bronze pilot bushing, an alternate method can be used as well. Use a tap and cut threads into the bushing. Then screw in a bolt and bottom it out inside the bushing so it contacts the crank. Then just keep on turning and it will pull the bushing out.Works real well if you have a tap where as you may not have a piece of stock to fit the bearing inside diameter.It is a little safer as it takes the hammer out of the equation.  

This process will work on whatever vehicle you are working on that has a manual transmission.

[[Category:Transmission]]
[[Category:Good articles]]