Transmission Pilot Bushing

[Joe C.]

Re: Transmission Pilot Bushing

Why? Please convince me. I do not understand why a roller bearing is better here! IT IS VERY RARE FOR A PILOT BEARING TO FAIL BEFORE A CLUTCH PLATE. Most, if not all folks replace the pilot bushing with the clutch------so what am I missing?

[Clem Z.]

dennis you are not getting off that easy! *NM*

[Kevin #38315]

Re: most 2 strokes and some porshes use roller cra

I can't see where a roller in place of the bronze bushing would be any benefit. As stated before, it is really only used when the clutch it depressed.

Also,two-strokes use them in the rods to insure that the lube oil gets in there. There's not a lot of lube oil floating around in the crank, and it needs all the help it can get to work it's way into the critical parts. I understand that they are not preferred where they are not absolutely needed because they have more 'slop' and are much noiser than bushings.
Kevin

[Clem Z.]

kevin there are also 2 strokes that use a split

bushing on the con rods. just some more worthless info.

[Dennis C.]

Re: dennis you are not getting off that easy!

OK - My limited experience. Not too many years ago, went to NAPA and replaced 4 or 5 bushings with their offering. ALL failed in short order. Would make enough noise to raise the dead. Upon removal, were way oversize, with few, few miles. Just decided to make the switch to GM needle bearing item. NO trouble since. Did I answer the question about the problem? NO. Did I solve the problem? YES

[Clem Z.]

Re: dennis you are not getting off that easy!

i will tell mikey waltrip about the bad parts the NAPA is selling the next time i see him.

[James F.]

Re: Transmission Pilot Bushing- Joe

Joe,
I stand with you on this one. I'm old enough to remember BEFORE we had a pilot bearing choice, bronze or needle. Through the '60's I can't remember any source at all suggesting replacing the pilot bushing when replacing a clutch assembly. Perhaps something I missed.(?) Bushing was just left alone, maybe add a little chassis grease. Bolt on the new disc and pressure plate. Do it once again in 40 -60 thousand miles! Regards,

[Bob Simard]

Roller Pilot Bearings

The shifter in my 60 rattled loudly. The pilot bearing was 1/8 inch oversize. Installed a new bearing and the shifter was quiet for one year and became noisy again. Changed transmissions and installed a roller bearing. The new bronze bearing was almost 1/8 inch oversize. Apparently the clutch grabs on one side first and hammers the bronze bushing. Has not happened with the roller. It may not be necessary, but I am sold.

[Dan White]

Re: Roller Pilot Bearings

How much clearance is too much with a bronze bushing? If my original bushing is round and smooth inside, does it have to be replaced? Thanks, Dan

[Joe C.]

Re: dennis you are not getting off that easy!

Clem:

That's why Jeff Gordon slammed into him in pit row last Sunday in New Hampshire, and took him out of the lead. I heard that Jimmie Johnson tried to pay Jeff with a case of needle type pilot bearings from NAPA, but he refused (this....only a rumour). He settled for a case of Bud from Mike's teammate.

FLASH: After Sunday's race, Mikey was spotted inside a Pep Boys store purchasing a case of permalubed bronze pilot bushings. He was later seen removing the "NAPA" logo from his car with Cap'n Lee's stripper.

[Joe L.]

Re: dennis you are not getting off that easy!

Dennis------

I expect that the problem with the NAPA pilot bushing was the fact that they sold you, apparently repeatedly, the wrong one. I've heard of this same thing occurring with with other vendors, as well. In fact, I've heard of it happening with the GM replacement bronze bushing, GM #10125896. Somehow, the supplier of these bushings to GM and others must have gotten a big batch of the wrong bushings out there. Perhaps they were defective or perhaps they were just mis-labeled. I expect the latter inasmuch as there are some other pilot bushings which are close in spec to the GM bushing.

In any event, the proper bushing should have an ID of 0.594". I would advise anyone that uses one of these bushings to check this spec before installation to make sure that the bushing is right. The OD of the correct bushing is 1.094". I've heard of this spec being off, too, in some of the replacement bushings.

[Clem Z.]

there are some out there that are not oilite *NM*

[Dennis C.]

NAPA Bushings

During the wonderful experience of changing out 5 pilot bushings, I thought, gee whiz, there are probably 40 bazillion cars out there running around just fine w/bronze bushings. Why can't I get it right? The only constant was that I got them @ NAPA and I installed them... I suspect a plot against the bushing changers of America.

[Mike M.]

Re: NAPA Bushings

Did you use a wally braun bushing installer and have your head screwed on PROPERLY? I'm back, mikie

[James F.]

Re: dennis you are not - Joe

Joe,
Good advice! Measure. Using a three finger slide pully, it was all I could do to get the old bronze bushing to come out. Grudging it did. I miked the new one and it was about .010 OD bigger than the old one. No way was I going to get this new one where the old bushing had been. I turned it down to exactly the same OD as the old one. As it was, it went in with resistance (it spent overnight in the freezer). Regards,