just fall out?

I was swapping my clutch this past week - after taking the flywheel off i just assumed the pilot bushing would still be inside the crank - i was installing the new clutch/pressure plate and the alignment tool wasn't really locking in at the time i figure it was because my car is slightly slanted in the drive way - any way i did a balancing act with alignment pleasure the pressure plate and got a few bolts semi-finger tight - then it started raining - so i covered her up and ran inside - for some reason everyday I've had to work on my car her in So calif. it starts raining the past 3 weeks

- I thought you had to wack the bushing into place? either way im most likely going to take everything off and see tomorrow - but I was just curious to what you guys thought - weird thing is i never heard/saw anything fall out - and its not that small if it did for me not to have been able to see it - this is my first attempt at a clutch install (at least this part, i let my mechanic friend align it since he was helping me and i didn't want to screw it up in the past) there is a rounded "cup" in the crank though i though pilot bushings had teeth - i just need some assurance either way cause I've been doing this semi-blindly- hah - thanks everyone

 

They do sometimes just "fall out"; although in fact, they do their job just as well stuck to the clutch gear and spining inside the crank, as the other way. They tend to not last very long that way though, since they won't retain grease.

That's one reason I prefer bearings to bushings.

 

thanks - i was thinking of getting a true roller bearing any way since it looks like ill be getting a new one tomorrow