How can you tell when this goes bad? I have a feeling mine has.




1978 F-150 flareside. Primitive by todays standards but she was a jaw dropper back then. :-staun

 

What do you mean pilot bearing? When do you have the trouble and what are the symptoms?

I am guessing you mean throwout bearing? Usually when the throwout starts to go it will make sound when you first engage the clutch only part way. It can be hard to hear if your truck is noisy. But it sounds like a roller bearing that is loose and needs grease. Sometimes it might screech. When the clutch is out, the bearing isn't usually turning so no noise. when there is full pressure on the clutch, the bearing is often under enough load that it can't make noise. But when you just barely engage is when it is usually easiest to hear. Clutch engagement may also be harder or maybe jerky.

If it is a pilot bearing in the Torque converter, I don't know what sound if any it will make. If it is a TC pilot you can figure your tranny will be on it's way out.

Good Luck and tell us more if the above wasn't it.

Jim Henderson

 

When the clutch is all the way engaged something grinds VERY badly but once it's let out it goes away. Also...if I go over a speed bump slowly and when the front gets over the hump it'll grind again. Any ideas


1978 F-150 flareside. Primitive by todays standards but she was a jaw dropper back then.

 

Just to clarify..
There is a pilot bearing as well as a throw out bearing. The pilot bearing (upgrade) or bushing(stock) located in the rear of the crankshaft. It supports the front of the input shaft to the transmission. Since the clutch plate rotates on this shaft, the bushing (as well as the front bearing of the trans) keeps the shaft from running out of round when the clutch is released and there is no pressure on the plate anymore. So, if the noise is only heard when you have pressure in the clutch pedal but not when its relaesed or to the floor, you most likely need to replace the throwout bearing (or relase bearing as refered to by Ford.) I would go ahead and replace the pilot bearing, clutch disk, pressure plate, throwout bearing, and resurface the flywheel for good measure. Make sure that when you re-install everything, clean the bellhousing and engine surfaces very well before assembly. If you get enough dirt or grime one one side, the trans will not be aligned properly and your release bearing will fail again soon .
Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

P.s. Use a tranny jack of you can. Manual trannies are very heavy and are hard to stab by yourself while holding it up.

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If I remember right, when a pilot bearing is worn enough, the trans will jump out of 4th gear regularly. What happens is the input shaft will loose its alignment and make the trans jump out of high gear.
Roger Lane