lacycw

Well I took my tranny out yestarday to replace my clutch and everything was going fine until I got to the pilot bearing. I rented a slide hammer and pilot bearing puller attachment and used it about a dozen times to no avail until one of the prongs snapped when I was tightening it. Anyway when I looked in the pilot hole, the needle bearings and inner race were not there at all and only the outer casing was there. I tried for an hour or so with a screwdriver and hammer but couldn't get it to bend. I was wondering how the people that used a grinder on the bearing did it. Did you just grind away every part of the metal or did you just cut enough to get a screwdriver in so you could bend it. I haven't used a grinder much and I don't want to screw up the e-shaft. By the way, I did already check out the recent post on pilot bearing removal. I think the car was running without a pilot bearing for quite a while because when I first got it I could hear what I now think were the needle bearings getting ground up. Occasinally the tranny woulud engage with the clutch in. I think it was a needle bearing getting caught between the input shaft and e-shaft so it might be really jammed up. Thanks for the help.

deadRX7Conv

https://www.rx7club.com/forum/showth...threadid=76636

HAILERS

I used a Dremel motor with a cone shaped grinder on the end. Cut through what I judged to be halfway thru the thickness from one end to the other and then used a small blade screwdriver to collapse it.

zena13

I used a die grinder with a 1/8" dia carbide bit to cut a slot thru the outer casing. Once it is cut it will contract and pull right out. I actually cut a little too deep and cut a small groove into the pilot hole bore but it didn't effect anything as there is still plenty of surface area to hold the new bearing in place.
Good Luck

lacycw

Has anyone tried using a large tap to remove the pilot bearing casing?

deadRX7Conv

Try it and let us know if it works
Or try to use an easy-out screw extractor

RETed

Interesting question...
You're talking about a 1/2" or larger diameter tap - this is not something I normally keep around the shop! Another thing is those taps are sharp and are designed to cut metal.&nbsp I'd be wary about getting the insides of that pilot bearing hole nicked up, cause that's going to eat the new pilot bearing casing in a jiffy.



-Ted

lacycw

Well I'm at school right now and have access to a decent machine shop so getting the tap shoudn't be a problem. I'll have some time tomorrow to work on it and I'll post my results (if I have any). Right now I've got the car jacked up in our motorsports barn so I should really get it done as soon as possible. Thanks for the replies.

-Coop-

Wankel7

When you put that new bearing in don't foget the pilot bearing seal.

James

HoNdAh8rRx7LuVr

and dont forget to GREASE EVERYTHING BEFORE U PUT IT IN!!!! I went through 3 clutch's and a tranny,cuz the guy that was doin' my car forgot to grease the bearings everytime he did my clutch.Thankfully I didnt have to pay for his mistakes,he replaced the other 2 clutch's out of his pocket since HE screwed up!!

lacycw

I got it!!! I went out and bought a 1/8" carbide grinder bit so I could cut the side and after about 10 minutes the bit was worthless so i took a 3/8" bit we had laying around and just went to town. I ground it down until I was able to just slide it out with my finger. It didn't really scratch up the inside of the e-shaft much so I wasn't too worried. I got a lightweight flywheel to put on too and almost gave up trying to get the flywheel nut/flywheel off, but after a date with a torch and 30 minutes of beating the hell out of it with a hammer I finally got it off.
Thanks for all the help everyone.

-Coop-