A buddy has a big block Chevy. He had a Tremec TKO five speed behind it and somehow managed to break it. Now he wants to swap to an automatic trans. He is stumped by getting the pilot bearing out. He used the standard Chevy bronze bushing. First I asked if he staked the bearing in place. He did not. I told him that is good as it should come out easy. I told him to fill the cavity behind the bearing with grease, get a drift the size of the input shaft, put it in the hole, and bang it with a small sledge hammer. The hydraulic force should pop the bearing right out. A busted input shaft make the perfect tool, and he had one. But that got me thinking. How else to get that out? One guy I know uses a slide hammer with a hooked end on both kinds. I use the roller bearing, and stake that in place. I grind off the stakes, and also use the slide hammer. It comes right out. I have heard of stubborn bronze bearings needing to be smashed out with a sharp chisel. He had the idea to use a tap that fits the bearing, and screw the tap in until it bottomed out, and pushed the bearing out. Sounds like a plan. It won't work on the roller bearing though. Any other ideas?
