pilot bearing?

[mueller944s2]

Any know if I have to remove the flywheel to get to the pilot bearing? I know I probably do for the rear main seal.

[Gawernator]

I'm going to say yes to be an ass

[944 Ecology]

Nope, you can remove the pilot bearing without removing the flywheel.

[rhett]

944 Eco is spot on..see the photo below:



As you can see the pilot bearing sits in a machined recess in the crankshaft. However, removing it can be a pain.

A little trick I have used in the past is to take a grease gun and push it hard against the hole in the bearing (as long as the gun seals on the bearing!) and pump the gun. The grease will pass through the bearing and the pressure will increase behind it. If you are lucky this hydraulic pressure will start to push the bearing out. If not, then a bolt head passed through the hole with a plate on the shaft can be used. Simply ensure the head of the bolt engages with the bearing inside, and gently tap the plate.

Have fun!

If you are doing the RMS - yes the flywheel has to come off.

[mytrplseven]

there's also using the slide hammer approach with a small bit that goes inside the bearing and then slide the weight away from the flywheel. It pops right out.

[SolReaver]

Ahhhh...you missed out by not reading my thread "clutch happiness"
Clutch Happiness-Got any Gotcha's?

It might help on other difficulties.

here is the short form:

Hello Friends.

I discovered a really great way to remove a pinion bearing on the 2.5 litre engines. I am pretty sure that it will work on almost all of the 944 and 924's out there. Hec, It will probably work on any bearing that has a recess behind it. But please check and use some common sence.

Background: Clarks suggests 2 methods of removing the pinion bearing while doing a clutch. Niether one worked for me. So, I came up with this way, and it works like a charm.

Get yourself a 3/8" "Drop in anchor"(used for fastening to concrete) and a 3 1/2" or 4" bolt (or longer) with threads down it's entire length. Both of these items are readily available in any hardware store worth mentioning. The standard thread for a 3/8 th anchor is 16 threads per inch FYI, but check the anchor against the bolt itself to be sure.

Grease the bolt liberally and insert it into the anchor. Grasp the smooth end of the anchor firmly in a Vice grip locking wrench, (no mechanic should be without one) insert the anchor into the pinion bearing to be removed, hold the vice grip steady, and turn the bolt. The bolt will mushroom the portion of the anchor on the other side of the bearing. Continue to turn untill the bolt contacts the far wall of the crankshaft recess. Once it connects, Continue turning and the bolt threading past the anchor will push the pinion right out.

The tool is unfortunately a one time use, but the bolt and the anchor will run you between two and three dollars. I considered it money well spent as it saved me a lot of time and aggravation. This method doesn't use heat, so it doesn't destroy the seal and it is sooo much faster than either method I had read about.

You are free to use and distribute this tech-tidbit. If this works for you (and it will) you owe me a beer , or you can send me money for a beer!

Please note...I am totally serious about the beer thing. I like beer.

[SolReaver]

Slide hammer and grease method of removal are for amateurs.

[haroldina]

You can also fill the recess with grease, find a rod that fits snugly in the bearing (tape works great to make something like a 1/2" extension work), insert the rod into the bearing and whack it with a hammer until the bearing pops out. Very easy.

[SolReaver]

haroldina: see above. Try this method and then we can talk about it. If the bearing is original or the clutch toasted, not gonna happen. This works like a charm all the time and you don't have to pack grease down a hole....er...unless you LIKE that sort of thing.

[mueller944s2]

Dang that's great news! But I guess yall would probably tell me to pull the flywheel anyway to do that seal since I already have a new one huh...

[SolReaver]

You ARE there.....
AND your flywheel could prob stand to be resurfaced....
AND you do want fresh FW bolts.
AND should the seal fail you will have to go ALLL the way back just for a, (what are they now? 12 bucks?) seal. Sooooo.... Yup.

[haroldina]

Originally Posted by SolReaver

haroldina: see above. Try this method and then we can talk about it. If the bearing is original or the clutch toasted, not gonna happen. This works like a charm all the time and you don't have to pack grease down a hole....er...unless you LIKE that sort of thing.

Well, I'm glad you're a pro. It would be a shame for somebody to do something just because it works.

[SolReaver]

Sincerest apologies Haroldina. I was speaking off the cuff and meant no disrespect if it happened to hit a bit too close to home for your liking. I wouldn't consider myself a Pro. However, I have tried the method in question and feel that it is fruitless and inane. I concur that it MAY be effective on occasion but feel compelled to point out that when the pilot bearing is REALLY in there it is an exercise in frustration.

Further, I appreciate you making my point for me and even going further. Please repeat your last statement and add on the words "much better" because, IF you HAD tried my method before discussing it, you might just agree with me.

The next happy camper that does a Clutch job can test the method and the truth shall set us all free. At that point my friend you will officially owe me a beer.

[mueller944s2]

If I'm taking the flywheel off anyway then couldn't I just punch out the bearing? I mean if I'm holding the flywheel then wouldn't a punch and a small hammer take care of the problem? It actually sounds much easier taking the flywheel off, though I could be wrong. I have all the new parts I think I'll need, new pp bolts, fw bolts, clutch disk, pressure plate, rms, pilot bearing, reworked fork with needle bearings, throwout bearing. Also have some new exhaust bolts and gaskets, hanger bushing, plastic shift linkage bushing, inner shift boot, new bolts for that stupid clamping sleeve. Putting in a new left axle with all new bolts of course, swapping the shocks as well

[POPS 83 944]

No because the pilot bearing is in the crank not the flywheel.

[SolReaver]

The pivot shaft is usually bad, they go for about 40 last I checked.

Buy a 3/8 concrete anchor and a 4" long threaded bolt to match.
Trust me.

[haroldina]

Originally Posted by SolReaver

Sincerest apologies Haroldina. I was speaking off the cuff and meant no disrespect if it happened to hit a bit too close to home for your liking. I wouldn't consider myself a Pro. However, I have tried the method in question and feel that it is fruitless and inane. I concur that it MAY be effective on occasion but feel compelled to point out that when the pilot bearing is REALLY in there it is an exercise in frustration.

Further, I appreciate you making my point for me and even going further. Please repeat your last statement and add on the words "much better" because, IF you HAD tried my method before discussing it, you might just agree with me.

The next happy camper that does a Clutch job can test the method and the truth shall set us all free. At that point my friend you will officially owe me a beer.

I was suggesting that the grease method is an option. It's also an option one can try without going to the hardware store, since all it takes is grease and a socket extension, which anybody doing this job should have at hand anyway. Which is why I'm not likely to try your method first in the future; I've got plenty of grease and no drop-in anchors.

I'm not saying your method won't work. My method has worked for me on engines with the original clutch and over 150k miles, which means I've never had any need to try your method. I was trying to point out that this isn't a pissing contest, it's a bunch of people answering another person's question based on their own experience. I can offer what's worked for me without calling you a hack.

[mytrplseven]

Amateur? Thanks. I was just offering options, not biting commentary. After all, most of us on this forum are amateurs and, good or bad, are just looking for peer info sharing.

[thekidd]

I didn't want to spend money on a grease gun so I did this to get my pilot bearing out!

Pilot bearing removal- BREAD

[haroldina]

Originally Posted by thekidd

I didn't want to spend money on a grease gun so I did this to get my pilot bearing out!

Pilot bearing removal- BREAD

I was thinking of adding the possibility of using bread in my first post, but I figured you'd chime in.