Pilot Bearing
 

Any ideas on how to remove the pilot bearing without a pilot bearing remover?

You may find much more detailed information on a search as I know this has been covered before. But, I remember something about loading up a bunch of grease into the center of the bearing, inserting a dowel and then hitting the dowel with a hammer. The grease is supposed to push out the bearing. Not sure if it works (and kind of sounds messy to me :D ) but I've heard it here before.

Or, just find a local shop that will let you borrow the tool or check with Autozone, Advance Auto Parts, etc, as they have tool lending services for free I think. This will probably be your best bet and will save you headaches.

Hope this helps,
E

I did mine after a trans rebuild last month. Don't use grease, use soap. Just stuff soap chips into the hole until you can't push any more in.

You'll need an appropriately sized shaft (I used the old input shaft from my transmission) or a socket with extension. If you have to use a socket, I recommend inverting the socket on the extension so there is a flat surface hitting the soap.

Take an 11 ounce sledge (or maybe an impact chisel with a blunt tip will work if you're careful) and beat the shaft or socket into the hole. When I say beat, I mean beat. The harder you hit the less chance the soap has to sneak out.

You may have to repeat the packing once or twice but the bearing will come out.

Also make sure you clean out the soap once the bearing is out. When I finished I started laughing, the packed soap had the exact shape of the pilot bearing, almost like a mold of it.

Feel free to contact me if you need any clarification,

Rich D.

Do yourself a favor
 

Go to your local part store and rent a puller. I went to autozone, put a $20 deposit on it and pulled my bearing. I tried a few times to get it out without the puller and it was a pain in the *** The rental should be free, so I'd suggest doing it that way. Good luck, Keith

I've tried the grease method, and it didnt work for me.

that soap idea sounds like a lot CLEANER method than the grease..

hahahhahahhaha, i crack myself up:p

I have used the greese before. It's a lil messy but it does work. I think I used a large bolt and a lil tape to get the exact size right. came out fairly easy. I had a tool but it didn't work very well because it was just the outter race of the bearing left in there. the rollers and the center completely failed and were in peices. I think the previous owner tightened the bolts on the trans. down and made it fit instead of lining it up correctly. I could also see the soap working and not be quite as messy. Either way Good Luck!!

i use grease..he uses soap..my buddy used to use grape jelly..it all works unless she is really in there..then you need to do the AZ route and rent a puller..

Thanks doe all the suggestions guys. I had to make a run to the parts shop anyways because I need some mercon and a tap due to a frozen starter bolt that broke off in the bellhousing. I got the pull hammer/pilot bearing tool and it came out with about five hits. I swear, I just got my car going and I drove her for 1/2 a day and the throwout went out...and I mean went out. When I got the bellhousing off, it was in three shredded pieces. Let's see...now I've got new head gaskets, planed headed, new lifters, new pushrods, new oil pump, new water pump, new hoses, cleaned out radiator, new fan clutch, new clutch setup, new oil in tranny/motor, and and an upgraded alternator. Anyone want to make any bets on what's going to go out next?:eek:

heater core or fuel pump :D

Now that's just plain mean:(

This may sound bad but if it worked for me... just take a drill and drill lots of holes in it... after awhile it will pretty much just fall right out. I had gotten this advise from other people so im not the only one. And i didn't even make a scratch on the block.

I just did this not too long ago. Go to someplace like Harbor Freight and look into a slide hammer kit. It has these neat little expander plugs that will fit into the hole very nicely. They expand outward enough to slam the thing out. It's in there real good but with a minimum of patience it should pop right out.
And yes, I'm still alive. . . a lot older now but still alive.

yah it is, but those are common problems with the fox stangs for some reason

Starter! :rolleyes: