pilot bearing experiment...

[towcat]

Been installing the needle-type pilot bearing in 7.3 clutch jobs for years. I noticed when the grease finally dries out, the squeaking starts. matched up a bronze bushing today and am going to try it and see if I can get more life out of the pilot bearing area. yes, I am still running the DMF.Anybody go an opinion on the bronze vs. needle debate? Yes, I know about the kevlar option, but nobody local.

 

[timntools]

pics?

 

[Dsl_Dog_Treat]

TC
I have the kevlar pilot bearing in my rig. It has about 100,000 miles on it and is still nice and snug. When I was changing out the motor and putting the Lucky mod on the DMF, I checked it and had very little slack. I left it there instead of changing it out. If you could get yer hands on one, that would be the way to go.

Ron

 

[The Warden]

One alternate...what about a greasable needle bearing?

Someone on TDS said a while back that he found a needle pilot bearing that would fit a ZF5 input shaft but had a zerk fitting. IIRC, his version required you to pull the dust cover to get a grease gun up there, but someone else mentioned hooking a grease hose to the bearing and having it thread to a zerk fitting that was attached to the bellhousing, so you could grease it without removing anything.

At least I think I'm remembering it right...I have to start thinking about this myself pretty soon, along with how to handle the clutch...

 

[L.Wilkinson]

One alternate...what about a greasable needle bearing?

Someone on TDS said a while back that he found a needle pilot bearing that would fit a ZF5 input shaft but had a zerk fitting. IIRC, his version required you to pull the dust cover to get a grease gun up there, but someone else mentioned hooking a grease hose to the bearing and having it thread to a zerk fitting that was attached to the bellhousing, so you could grease it without removing anything.

At least I think I'm remembering it right...I have to start thinking about this myself pretty soon, along with how to handle the clutch...

Warden, are you refering to the throwout bearing, as the needle pilot or pocket bearing is about as inacessable as you can be, as you know being located within the flywheel, burried by the clutch pressure plate, and imput shaft.
Towcat, what sort of life would you be seeing from these bearings, less than a couple of hundred thousand miles? (that's what's on mine right now, with just one "grease job" when I had it apart several years ago) I'm gentle with my clutch, and not always standing on it at a light either, but then again, I don't want to get into an argument over clutch usage again. :Sly
Lorne

 

[Fred Hemer]

Warden, are you refering to the throwout bearing, as the needle pilot or pocket bearing is about as inacessable as you can be, as you know being located within the flywheel, burried by the clutch pressure plate, and imput shaft.
Towcat, what sort of life would you be seeing from these bearings, less than a couple of hundred thousand miles? (that's what's on mine right now, with just one "grease job" when I had it apart several years ago) I'm gentle with my clutch, and not always standing on it at a light either, but then again, I don't want to get into an argument over clutch usage again. :Sly
Lorne

Ah who needs a clutch anyway Eh Lorne!

 

[Pacific]

When I installed the Luk SMF in my truck there was a kevlar pilot bushing glued into the flywheel and no problems yet. I like the Luk set up its been flawless for the 2 1/4 years now its never slipped under the heaviest loads I had on the truck churning through 8" clayish muck some one called a driveway.

 

[The Warden]

Warden, are you refering to the throwout bearing, as the needle pilot or pocket bearing is about as inacessable as you can be, as you know being located within the flywheel, burried by the clutch pressure plate, and imput shaft.

Oh I misread it...I thought he was talking about the throwout bearing. Thanks for pointing that out.

Okay, then, what exactly is a pilot bearing? (you can tell I'm not too well-versed on clutch setups yet)

 

[towcat]

Okay, then, what exactly is a pilot bearing? (you can tell I'm not too well-versed on clutch setups yet)

Its a little bearing that can cause you alot of irritation. When I have you come by for the ZF5 I'll show you where it goes. Best to order the kevlar pilot if you have time on your hands. I don't so its prolly gonna be bronze in the meantime.

 

[towcat]

Towcat, what sort of life would you be seeing from these bearings, less than a couple of hundred thousand miles? (that's what's on mine right now, with just one "grease job" when I had it apart several years ago) I'm gentle with my clutch, and not always standing on it at a light either, but then again, I don't want to get into an argument over clutch usage again. :Sly
Lorne

Lorne-
I average 3-4years on a clutch. 60-80K in mileage a year. Empty wt 10k. Loaded wt. 15-17k and sometimes more. Alot of in city driving. With 4.56's and 5.13's, I am real busy with the stick getting the SOB going thru an intersection. Oh yea I have hills to deal with too. Good thing is most SFPD will look the other way when I am running stop signs going up a hill.

 

[Agnem]

Calvin, I can't blame you for wanting a better option if those pilot bearings are killing you that bad. Myself, If the grease doesn't dry out, clutch components will last me the life of the truck. My 86 Ranger had 260K when the rust got it, and I had never replaced anything in the drive train other than a set of U Joints. Will you run the Bronze dry, or with graphite, or some other lube on it? Ever consider trying to drill a very small hole through the flywheel and putting a zerk fitting on it? Don't know if that would create a huge balance problem or not, but it's worth a thought.

 

[towcat]

Calvin, I can't blame you for wanting a better option if those pilot bearings are killing you that bad. Myself, If the grease doesn't dry out, clutch components will last me the life of the truck. My 86 Ranger had 260K when the rust got it, and I had never replaced anything in the drive train other than a set of U Joints. Will you run the Bronze dry, or with graphite, or some other lube on it? Ever consider trying to drill a very small hole through the flywheel and putting a zerk fitting on it? Don't know if that would create a huge balance problem or not, but it's worth a thought.

mel-
my biggest concern is that my trucks won't be running as hard as they used to. outside of a TX commute, it will be doing alot of sitting. In my experience in the past, a sitting truck is a recipe for trouble.

 

[Agnem]

mel-
my biggest concern is that my trucks won't be running as hard as they used to. outside of a TX commute, it will be doing alot of sitting. In my experience in the past, a sitting truck is a recipe for trouble.

Not if it's in a climate controlled garage. Trust me on that.

 

[towcat]

Not if it's in a climate controlled garage. Trust me on that.

Mel-
outside of my shop in morgan hill, I haven't had a location that can park any of my trucks inside ........ever. Out here in Ca, its plain too expensive to build structures of that sort. Not to mention the property tax issues

 

[Agnem]

Mel-
outside of my shop in morgan hill, I haven't had a location that can park any of my trucks inside ........ever. Out here in Ca, its plain too expensive to build structures of that sort. Not to mention the property tax issues

Calvin, are you still maintaining your CA address? I thought you "moved".