How to Pull Pilot Bearings
- 1). Make sure the engine is properly secured on an engine stand, on a workbench or inside the engine compartment, if you are working with the engine still installed in the vehicle and you have removed the transmission and flywheel.
- 2). Look for the pilot bearing at the rear of the engine block. The pilot bearing is located at the end of the crankshaft, inside the crankshaft flange where the flywheel mounts on. The flywheel is the large, metal wheel with an outside ring gear that meshes with the pinion gear on the starter motor when you are firing up your engine. You should be able to put your fingers inside the round cavity of the bearing and rotate the bearing with your fingers.
- 3). Clean the inside cavity of the pilot bearing with a shop rag.
- 4). Measure the inside diameter of the pilot bearing with a vernier caliper. Use this measurement to find a metal pilot bearing or bearing shaft driver with an outside diameter slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the pilot bearing and with a length of about 5 inches or more.
- 5). Fill the inside cavity of the pilot bearing completely with heavy automotive grease.
- 6). Position one end of the metal pilot shaft or bearing shaft driver over the inside cavity of the pilot bearing so that it covers the area filled with heavy grease.
- 7). Hit the other end of the metal pilot shaft or bearing shaft driver with a rubber mallet or hammer once or twice. This will squeeze the heavy grease under the pilot bearing and push it out of its housing.
- 8). Remove the metal pilot shaft or bearing shaft driver and the pilot bearing.