Pilot Bushing

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gnrand
Posts: 277
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:10 am
Location: Wildomar,Ca

Pilot Bushing

Post by gnrand »

Spent some quality time trying to remove one from my 1968 140 motor. Speaking to a Chevy friend he said that his buddy packed the area behind the bushing with grease then used a shaft the same size as the inside of the bushing to push the grease (I guess hitting the shaft with a mallet) and create a hydraulic effect to remove the bushing.
Jeff
1965 140 Corsa
1968 140 Monza convertible 4 speed
1965 Corsa Convertible
1966 Crown V8 383 435hp
1986 Buick GN V6 600hp
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acarlson
Posts: 454
Joined: Wed Nov 02, 2016 5:54 pm
Location: Dahlonega, GA

Re: Pilot Bushing

Post by acarlson »

Hah I've done that, but I used bread instead of grease. I saw a number of discussions on the net about using bread to remove a pilot bushing. I decided to give it a try - what could it hurt ???

My first problem was I didn't have a rod which fit the inside of the bushing. I tried a 1/2" rod, but that didn't work - it just squished the bread out. So, I went to Home Depot and bought a 4" x 5/8" bolt. I used my bench grinder to grind 1/16" off of the threads about 1" from the end. A 9/16" rod is a prefect fit and the head of the bolt is a perfect hammer impact spot.
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Then I put masking tape on it to mark the max depth that I needed to go into the bushing. I packed the bushing with plain white bread and used the bolt to drive it in. Some more bread - more packing - and what do you know ??? The bushing popped right out. Took about 5 minutes...

I guess grease would work as well but bread makes a better story when you tell your friends how you removed the bushing.

Alec
Alec Carlson
Dahlonega, GA
1965 Regal Red Corsa 4 Speed Turbo Convertible
Restoration "In Progress"...
notched
Posts: 674
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:13 pm
Location: Southern New Jersey

Re: Pilot Bushing

Post by notched »

I have an old junk input shaft that I use. I pack it with grease and it pops right out. My buddy Dave uses bread and that works well too.
1966 Corsa turbo
1969 Monza convertible
1987 Buick Grand National
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caraholic4life
Posts: 535
Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2010 5:19 pm
Location: Westminster, Maryland

Re: Pilot Bushing

Post by caraholic4life »

Many many years ago I invested in a Pilot Bearing/Bushing removal tool because I was tired of doing things the hard way. :banghead:
I have not used it in over 20 years now but will have it when I need it again.
Many folks sold a version of this back then, and still do today.
Pilot Bearing Tool.jpg
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1962 95 FC Van
1964 Greenbrier Deluxe
1965 Monza Coupe
1965 Monza Convertible
Mid Engine enthusiast &
Prior Kelmark Owner
66vairguy
Posts: 4531
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2010 3:44 pm

Re: Pilot Bushing

Post by 66vairguy »

The old grease or bread trick has been around for some time - BEWARE to use gloves and a full face mask. A few have reported injuries when hydraulic pressure shot the grease/bread out past the shaft or bearing.

I bought an internal bearing puller form HF. It's a slide puller, very easy to use, very effective. Just use a coupon for 20% off this one https://www.harborfreight.com/slide-ham ... 62601.html

Or this one https://www.harborfreight.com/3-jaw-pil ... -4876.html
gnrand
Posts: 277
Joined: Sun Nov 15, 2015 8:10 am
Location: Wildomar,Ca

Re: Pilot Bushing

Post by gnrand »

I was able to use a slide hammer attached to a 1/4 inch bolt. Got the head of the bolt behind the bushing and it slowly came out.
Jeff
1965 140 Corsa
1968 140 Monza convertible 4 speed
1965 Corsa Convertible
1966 Crown V8 383 435hp
1986 Buick GN V6 600hp
User avatar
Danny Joe
Posts: 214
Joined: Fri Nov 14, 2014 7:02 pm
Location: Toney, Al (just outside Huntsville)

Re: Pilot Bushing

Post by Danny Joe »

A 5/8" tap works very well, just screw it in until it locks and then use it to turn out the bushing.
'64 Spyder Convertible
'63 Rampside (to be Rotisseried)
Toney, Alabama (just outside Huntsville)
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