Pilot bushing Bearing Removal need suggestions

:nws: :wtf: I just recently removed t-56 trans out of my 00 SS for LS7 clutch upgrade. I'm having one hell of a time with the pilot bearing bushing removal. I don't have a removal tool. Hanes suggests filling the hole in back of the bearing with heavy grease and either find a close fitting socket with extension or wood dowel as close fitting to the inside diameter of the bearing. Place the the dowel or socket inside the bearing and beat on it with a BFH. The grease acts like hydraulic pressure on the bearing forcing it out??? Well, That f%^kn bearing got real hot, hot enough to turn the end of the input shaft blue! That Aluminum bell housing seemed welded to the guide pins on the block. Talk about a fried clutch.........nothing but steel rivets grinding into the pressure plate and flywheel. When I burn a stock clutch I burn a stock Clutch! yeah I know :givesaf: Need advice on removal methods any best ways to remove this Bitch with a capital C! Thanks

I had the same problem!! but I hate to say it you do need the tool to remove it.

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Originally Posted by Zak

:nws: :wtf: I just recently removed t-56 trans out of my 00 SS for LS7 clutch upgrade. I'm having one hell of a time with the pilot bearing bushing removal. I don't have a removal tool. Hanes suggests filling the hole in back of the bearing with heavy grease and either find a close fitting socket with extension or wood dowel as close fitting to the inside diameter of the bearing. Place the the dowel or socket inside the bearing and beat on it with a BFH. The grease acts like hydraulic pressure on the bearing forcing it out??? Well, That f%^kn bearing got real hot, hot enough to turn the end of the input shaft blue! That Aluminum bell housing seemed welded to the guide pins on the block. Talk about a fried clutch.........nothing but steel rivets grinding into the pressure plate and flywheel. When I burn a stock clutch I burn a stock Clutch! yeah I know :givesaf: Need advice on removal methods any best ways to remove this Bitch with a capital C! Thanks

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If the Hanes method didn't work you will need the tool. If you have a good cold chisel set you can break it and then remove it but the tools are not expensive so I would strongly recommend that you get one.

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Originally Posted by Zak

:nws: :wtf: I just recently removed t-56 trans out of my 00 SS for LS7 clutch upgrade. I'm having one hell of a time with the pilot bearing bushing removal. I don't have a removal tool. Hanes suggests filling the hole in back of the bearing with heavy grease and either find a close fitting socket with extension or wood dowel as close fitting to the inside diameter of the bearing. Place the the dowel or socket inside the bearing and beat on it with a BFH. The grease acts like hydraulic pressure on the bearing forcing it out??? Well, That f%^kn bearing got real hot, hot enough to turn the end of the input shaft blue! That Aluminum bell housing seemed welded to the guide pins on the block. Talk about a fried clutch.........nothing but steel rivets grinding into the pressure plate and flywheel. When I burn a stock clutch I burn a stock Clutch! yeah I know :givesaf: Need advice on removal methods any best ways to remove this Bitch with a capital C! Thanks

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I guess this would be a good time to make my 1st post on ls1.com.
I really don’t think you want to do the “Hanes method” :nono: The ls1 has a Welch plug in the back of the crank where the pilot bearing goes and if you start trying to push out the frozen pilot bearing using the hydraulic force created by packing the bearing with grease and inserting some sort of piston like object you will more then likely damage the Welch plug before pushing out the bearing which will result in a BIG oil leak. :eek: I had the same problem when I installed a LS7 clutch (frozen in pilot bearing) and I had a pilot bearing remover, albeit a shity one ant that. Took me about 6 hours of pounding with the slide hammer type puller, modifying the dumb ass thing numerous times, multiple trips to the hardware store, est., est., est. Before I finally got that P.O.S. out. :brick:
Do yourself a favor and check around and see if someone rents a pilot bearing puller. If they only have the slide hammer type make sure it has 4 jaws as the 2 jaw type will just keep slipping out of the bearing. Snap On makes a really nice one that works kind of like a gear puller. Good luck and feel free to PM me with any questions.

go to autozone, they rent out a pilot bearing removal tool. It will save you a lot of grief in the end. Well actually, i think you already found the grief

I had the same problem when I replaced my clutch. I tryed the tools from autozone and pepboy's, neither place worked. I had to get the tool from a tool truck like Snap-on, that was the only way I could get it out. Just my .02 cents

[QUOTE=Dave D;359865]I guess this would be a good time to make my 1st post on ls1.com.
I really don’t think you want to do the “Hanes method” :nono: The ls1 has a Welch plug in the back of the crank where the pilot bearing goes and if you start trying to push out the frozen pilot bearing using the hydraulic force created by packing the bearing with grease and inserting some sort of piston like object you will more then likely damage the Welch plug before pushing out the bearing which will result in a BIG oil leak. :eek:

I did get the pilot bearing out with small sharp cold chisels and a metal cutting jigsaw. Also installed the LS7 clutch Kit new master Cylinder with drill mod and new slave. Only to have my garage burn to the ground with the 00 SS Camaro inside on jackstands, not to mention two other vehicles and tens of thousands $$$ in tool and equipment loss on 02 Aug. :cuss: This really sucks, hope I can find another some day.

NAPA or AutoZone will rent you the tool.