For the record I am not hanging the original installer. I spoke with several transmission shops and all indicated that the pilot bearing would most likely fail due to physical damage to the bearing upon installation or an alignment problem when the input shaft was inserted. I am not only taking one shops word for it. I am not accusing him of doing this, just saying it is possible. The only reason i was saying it is a gamble to have him fix it is that he is not a transmission specialist and if the input shaft is trashed the only thing he said he could do is put in a different transmission in its place. I would have to take it to a trans shop to have the option of having the shaft replaced. But that would cost quite a bit more.

 

If the pilot bearing checks out fine there could be a issue with the flywheel if it had been turned during the clutch install, and it should be turned to give the new clutch a new flat surface. Only issue is that now the flywheel is thinner and this will move the clutch assembly further away from the release bearing, this can result in a low pedal and possibly not able to release the clutch completely and that will make it hard to get into gear.

Fitzall makes a shim that can correct this, it fits between the crank and flywheel.


FORD from Teckpak / Fitzall

 

Ok I put in a new flywheel with the clutch. So I should be ok there. Thanks for the advice anyway.

 

Hi guys,

Just wanted to give a final update on my issue. I ended up letting the guy who did the original clutch replace the pilot bearing. He actually let me hang out and give him a hand stabilizing the trans on the jack. When he pulled the trans I was happy to find the input shaft was not damaged. The pilot bearing was definetly bad though. The inner section of the bearing had actually pulled out of the outer section and there were marks on the outer bearing that looked like it had been slipping and spinning in the back of the crankshaft. After watching him wrestle the transmission out, I feel pretty confident that this bearing got trashed when the trans got put back in during the clutch install. He didn't want to remove the exhaust where it crosses under the transmission due to the rust and likelyhood that something could break. So he has to work the trans over it at an angle to start the input shaft into the clutch and then twist it into place. It was a battle with the two of us and a jack. I can only imagine what he went through without any other help. I guess I should consider this a lesson learned. I don't think we damaged the new bearing upon install of the trans but it wasn't pretty getting it in. I realize that there is a lot to remove to do this job properly and time is money so paying a quality mechanic to take his time and do a quality job would have been worth it. That being said I the truck is shifting great and I am glad to be done with this. To all of you who are having problems with getting your trans into gear, don't overlook the pilot bearing. It may not be your clutch hydraulics after all. Most of the people who I had mentioned this to felt that there was no way that the pilot bearing could be the problem.

 

Well here we go again. After having the pilot bearing replaced I thought we had this resolved. The truck drove great for about three months. In the past two weeks it is getting back to its old ways. Same symptoms (drives good when cold and gets progressively worse the longer I drive, hard to get in gear at a stop, Feels like it is not disengaging). Is there something that could be wrong with the transmission to cause it to keep destroying pilot bearings. Could it have been damaged again on the install. Why would it work well for three months and then start back up again. I love this truck but I can't keep dumping money into it. Please Help!!!

 

Can you go for a bushing vs bearing?

 

Not sure. The truck calls for a bearing but I have heard others mention using a bushing, i'm not sure who makes one to fit my truck or if it would be a better alternative.

 

Obviously the bearing can't cut the mustard.

Go to a machine shop and have one made.

 

What should the bushing be made out of? My father inlaw metioned "oil-lite" which he said was brass impregnated with oil but he wasn't sure if that was what people still used.

 

^5 .Plus packed with high temp grease.

 

What is ^5?

 

^5 is high 5

 

So that means yes to the oil lite bushing? I read that you shouldnt grease an oil lite bushing because it blocks the pores and prevents the oil in it from doing its job. The other option i saw was that ford racing makes a "performance pilot bearing" any thoughts on if this might be a good option.

 

There is a small cavity behind the bushing that can be packed with a good high temp grease.
Not jam packed, just filled.

The bushing will have no ill affects.

 

Thanks for your advice and quick replies