Removing Chevy Pilot Busing - Truth or Fiction

I wasn't too bright and tried it using a broken input shaft. I was covered in splattered grease. I use the old hacksaw blade trick ever since. Fool me once shame on you....

 

grease...never heard the bread trick...

 

The Lisle tool that was shown works fine, I've done the hack saw blade thing a time or two but many of us want to save the bushing if it is still good and I'd say that more than one of us has pulled one out of one crank and turned right around and installed it in another crank without much more than wiping the grease off it.

 

Just stick a peanut butter sandwich in there. It might attract mice, but then you can put dryer sheets around it.

 

Could it be that some pilot bearings are just in there tighter than others ? The last one I did I had to do the fat bolt routine and kept turning it in until it pushed the pilot bushing out. Of course it ruins the pilot bushing because of threads being cut into it, but I was replacing it anyway.

Don

 

I use grease of wintergreen grown on the small tropical isle of pango pango. After it has been certified by members of the Knights of the Mystic Sea Lodge.

 

I have always used grease and a drift that is about the same diameter as the pilot on the trans. Make sure the drift has a relatively close tolerance so the grease does not just blow by.

 

WHY JUST THIS MORNING ---I wasted an hour trying the grease hydraulic method. It has worked for me on on another motor, but not my 400 SBC. I took my motor to AUTO ZONE and borrowed their bushing removal tool and a slide hammer (they have a free tool borrow program). Unfortunately, the tool would not fit through the hole in the bushing. Went back home where I drilled two small holes 180 degrees apart, then increased the drill size to 1/4 inch and finally split the bushing into two parts with a screwdriver. For all my wasted time, spitting it into two parts took 10 minutes max.

 

I tried a puller on the last one - it broke. I took the slide hammer, threaded the hammer itself into the bushing, and popped it right out. I will be doing it like that from here on out.

 

Someone on anther thread suggested play dough.

 

I have used the grease method for a while. My last one, a buddy comes over and says he had a better way. We used paper towels and water. Just tear off strips dip them in water and stick them in. once full use your socket or dowel and presto. No greasy mess. Just another trick to throw in the mix.
Jim

 

Some are tight like Virgins and some are loose like 5 dollar hookers. The bread method is for me. Works great and afterwards I just sweep up the crumbs. Nice and clean.

 

i just removed my chev bushing using a 5/8 tap. worked really good with no grease mess

 

Yup, I got that a few months ago too. Haven't had a use for it yet....but if it'll stay threaded into the bushing, it will work

 

IF I am pulling the clutch then a new bushing is going in, no way would I reuse a $2 bushing after buying a new clutch and spending all that time and money changing it out. My dad used to short cut stuff like that, he spent more time redoing repairs from trying to save a buck. That is false economy to me.

 

I have used this grease method since I was an apprentice. Some things learned were:

Grease must be thick enough; heavy duty disc brake grease is best.

The plunger should be steel, and a good fit.

Today I learned about bread. Seems more than logical. Thanks.

 

I might have posted this before but I used peanut butter in the pits at Indy drung the nationals. Most any auto parts store has plastic pilot shafts to line up the clutch

 

The easiest cleanest way to do it.

 

X2. The bushing I.D is perfect for a 5/8" NF (fine thread) tap and then a slide hammer.