When installing the pilot bushing does it need to be as far back in the shaft as possible? The spline tool doesn't fit inside it, and I can't get the bushing to go any farthur inside.

Here's a picture....

 

That's plenty far enough.

You might want to see if your transmission will fit into it; you'll have major shifting trouble if it doesn't, or if it fits too tight.

 

Here's what a bearing looks like, for comparison. The bushing should look the same , at least dimensionally.

 

The bearing fits over the input shaft fine. I guess the alignment tool is worthless then. It fits inside the shaft perfect without the bushing, but not at all without. Kinda stupid when I have to put the bushing on before the clutch.

 

They must have given you the wrong tool. That bites.

You can still get it together even without it being lined up. Get the disc lined up as close as you can, by whatever means. Assemble the clutch hydraulics and get all of that working before you put the trans in; and then, at the moment of truth when you try to get the trans to plug into the pilot, get somebody to hold the clutch pedal down. DO NOT try to force the trans in. If the clutch is pushed, the disc will be free to move around in there; and it won't be helping you keep everything lined up, but you'll at least be able to get it to go together.

 

So here's the bushing I pulled off. What can cause it to warp and crack in half like that? It only has about 10 miles on it.



The whole story is I did the Auto -> Manual swap. This is actually the second time I've dealt with this bushing. The first time when the tool didn't fit we lined it up as best we could by eye, but didn't do the clutch pedal thing while putting the tranny in. Whenever I let the clutch out it would make a whiring noise. I ended up taking that tranny out again because it was leaking.

So anyway, I wanna be sure I do it right this time around, because I guess I didn't do it right last time.

 

Ok guys. I dremelled out that Checker bushing and reinstalled one from Napa. The Napa one fits perfect with the spline tool.

Moral of the story... DON'T BUY FROM CHECKER. Duh.

 

Why are you putting in a bushing and not a bearing? Particularly since you had to pull out the one that didn't fit the alignment tool? Jeez, the price difference is mice nuts and the bearing is way better.

 

Hey can anyone point me to any other threads on replacing pilot bushings... when I had my GTA (305, 5 spd) at the shop, the mechanic said its starting to go (I guess he could here it when he was under the car). I know I gotta take the tranny out and clutch too... just wonderin if there's any other info I should know before tackling this myself.

 

Damn! If you've got to pull the tranny and clutch, now would be a good time to replace the clutch as well if it's worn, no sense in going to all that trouble again in a year. You'll want to change the tranny oil while you're at it as well. And go with a bearing, not a bushing.

 

when you are in there you might as well do it right an resurface the flywheel. That pic up top looks like it needs it, also replace the throw out bearing, the clutch disc, and pressure plate. All of which come in a clutch kit. i just got done with mine today.

 

The flywheel doesn't need resurfaced. I sanded it lightly, it was in good shape when I got it. It only has about 10 miles on it. The clutch and pressure plate also have the same miles.

And I asked for a bearing specifically at both stores, and neither could find a bearing for a v6, only a bushing.

 

Here's the stupid thing - it has a new clutch! Why the heck the previous owner went through the trouble of replacing the clutch and not the pilot bushing at the time, I have no idea. He said the clutch only had a couple hundred miles on it before he stopped driving the car. I plan on checking everything else out while I'm doin the pilot bushing tho. Who knows what else... maybe I should check out the tranny too while I have it out...

 

I just installed a newer T5 in my 1989 Camaro w/ 2.8L and did some searching for pilot bushings/bearings. Every place I talked to, including the dealer, said that for the V6, there is only a bushing. No pilot bearing available.