This is topic The notorious pilot bearing squeak...need advice in forum Tech Talk at Northern California Ford Owners  .


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Posted by norcal351w (Member # 9170) on :
 
I recently purchased a 95 gt with a well built motor and a brand new clutch, however it is getting the notorious squeak from the pilot bearing (in my case bushing). I was told the bushing had about 300 miles on it before it started squeaking and now it has about 500 miles on it and is getting louder. The noise only happens when the car is warmed up and the position of the clutch pedal has no effect on the noise.

My question is; what route should I go again, bushing or bearing and is there one in specific anyone would recommend?
And anyone willing to do the work for cheap lol?
 
Posted by SteveL (Member # 1241) on :
 
Not sure why you have a bushing instead of a bearing.

In any case, I would pull the transmission, remove the clutch and inspect the bearing/bushing and the tip of the transmission shaft for wear or anything unusual. Make sure it is the correct diameter bearing/bushing for the transmission (T5?). Check the transmission input shaft to make sure it's not bent.

Replace the bearing and use just a touch of bearing grease. Before putting the whole thing back together, just bolt up the block plate and bell housing and using a dial indicator, check the bell housing for run out. You want to measure if the transmission opening in the bell housing is not centered with respect to the end of the crankshaft (and pilot bearing).
 
Posted by 68stanger (Member # 7842) on :
 
if somebody installed a solid bushing instead of a roller bushing that could be your problem.

it should be a pilot bearing in there.
 
Posted by inlaw80 (Member # 9353) on :
 
^^^^agree with above posters on it should have a pilot bearing instead of a solid bushing.

another thing it could be is transmission noise but I would check out that pilot bearing first before jumping into expensive problem
(trans rebuild)
 
Posted by turbo50 (Member # 6700) on :
 
if it goes away with light pressure on the clutch pedal then u are referring to the throwout bearing not the pilot. pilot bearings usually squeak under load and have a small vibration to them.
 
Posted by streetsleeper (Member # 9895) on :
 
I had almost the same problem when I took off the release bearing I replaced the pilot bearing also becouse it made nise .. so maybe its a good idea to replace the release bearing while ur down their I know of a few people that had that same problem
 
Posted by inlaw80 (Member # 9353) on :
 
^^^he also stated that clutch pedal position has no effect on the noise, so clutch pedal in or out made no difference.
 
Posted by username1822 (Member # 8583) on :
 
The clutch probably wasn't adjusted correctly. The TOB shouldn't be riding on the PP all the time, if it does, it will wear out prematurely because they aren't made to spin constantly. If its riding on the pp, it will make noise, and when you push the pedal in, it will keep making noise as it is still riding on the pp.

If it was the pilot bearing, the noise would go away when you push the clutch pedal in. The pilot bearing is 2 peices and is constanly spinning. When you push the clutch in, the inner part of the bearing slows down to match the speed of the input shaft, which would make the noise go away.
 
Posted by norcal351w (Member # 9170) on :
 
Thanks everyone for the input. Ill probably pull the trans out and inspect everything and just buy new TOB and PB's for shits and gigs and make sure they are CAKED in grease. Previous owner/builder said soaked the bushing in oil for 3 days before putting it in, but whatever. Better safe then sorry
 
Posted by Notch1320 (Member # 2647) on :
 
quote:
Originally posted by norcal351w:
Thanks everyone for the input. Ill probably pull the trans out and inspect everything and just buy new TOB and PB's for shits and gigs and make sure they are CAKED in grease. Previous owner/builder said soaked the bushing in oil for 3 days before putting it in, but whatever. Better safe then sorry
Do NOT "cake" them with grease! The pilot bearing only requires a "touch" of grease as previously stated. The TB doesn't require any. Excessive grease will only make matters worse as it ends up on the disc.

Also, if you, or the previous owner was in the habit of driving with their foot on the clutch pedal constantly while driving the slight presure will cause the TB to wear out prematurely as well.

[ April 27, 2010, 07:52 PM: Message edited by: Notch1320 ]
 
Posted by norcal351w (Member # 9170) on :
 
good to know. I was reading a bunch of stuff earlier that said to pack the hell out of it so ill just add a regular amount of grease
 
Posted by Duncan Motors (Member # 7045) on :
 
how bout your input shaft bearing. normally clutch engagement will quite most of the above. and it probably has a pilot bearing in there, its hard to get a bushing anymore, probably just got your words messed up.but if u dont see nothing wrong. wiggle your input shaft.
 
Posted by norcal351w (Member # 9170) on :
 
im going off what the previous owner told me, however I am starting to think that the noise could be the flywheel brushing up against the starter. I had a lifted 2 door yukon that was making the exact same noise and it was an automatic. I could walk under there and see that the flywheel was slightly warped or bent and brushed up against the starter. Im going to take a look at the flywheel
 




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