1997 Jeep 4.0 Clutch Issues

[goatman64]

Hey fellow TJ folks .. I embarked a new clutch, pressure plate and throwout bearing today. Several issues on the clutch side ... some chatter but mostly an irritating stopped, can't get into gear behavior. I assumed this was a wasted pilot bearing and with 220k plus miles ... a good possibility.

All the teardown is done and i have discovered I have no pilot bearing ... wtf! You can see obvious signs of heat ...

Not sure what that thing is where the pilot bearing should be but .... I guess I need a NATIONAL FC69907 or similar.

Should I try to confirm I have the right flywheel before proceeding?

Thoughts?

 

[goatman64]

I was surprised to see a brass pilot bearing ... does anyone know if that's stock for 97 wrangler. I've done some reading and see the debate on pilot bearing and bushing. I've decided to go pilot and have extracted the bushing and replaced with a new pilot.

I also found my clutch fork is damaged ... replacing that too ... I don't understand how the clutch fork contacts the pressure plate but that's what appears to have happened. Would have made a lot of noise and must have been prior to my ownership ...

 

[CharlesHS]

When I replaced the clutch in my '98 XJ (built in Oct '97) there was a brass pilot bushing that I replaced with a pilot bearing.
Don't have the number available; that was 20 years ago.
Applied a dab of grease to the inside of the hole to hydraulic the bushing out.

 

[goatman64]

First drive was night and day difference. Clutch movement so easy ....time will tell if I made the right choice on pilot bearing.