Pilot Shaft Bushing in 03 TJ?

[OldDustyTJ03]

Pulled the transmission yesterday on my 03’ to replace the clutch and noticed an oilite bronze pilot shaft bushing inside the crankshaft instead of a bearing. The bronze bushing fell right out, which might explain some of the noises I was hearing.

Any guess why I would have a bushing instead of a bearing? To the best of my knowledge this is the original motor/tranny.

Should I go back in with a bearing or another oilite bushing? My Luk clutch kit came with a bearing and everything a read on the net suggests I should have a bearing instead of bushing.

 

[mrblaine]

Pulled the transmission yesterday on my 03’ to replace the clutch and noticed an oilite bronze pilot shaft bushing inside the crankshaft instead of a bearing. The bronze bushing fell right out, which might explain some of the noises I was hearing.

Any guess why I would have a bushing instead of a bearing? To the best of my knowledge this is the original motor/tranny.

Should I go back in with a bearing or another oilite bushing? My Luk clutch kit came with a bearing and everything a read on the net suggests I should have a bearing instead of bushing.

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Wrong section but I'd guess based on the damage to the bearing adapter that the original bearing died, wallowed out the bushing hole, and then was replaced poorly with a bronze flange bearing. Or they tried to remove the bearing adapter, messed it up, couldn't get it out and then stuck the flange bearing in.

Hopefully you know to get a new one with a bearing in it.

 

[OldDustyTJ03]

Wrong section but I'd guess based on the damage to the bearing adapter that the original bearing died, wallowed out the bushing hole, and then was replaced poorly with a bronze flange bearing. Or they tried to remove the bearing adapter, messed it up, couldn't get it out and then stuck the flange bearing in.

Hopefully you know to get a new one with a bearing in it.

That’s exactly what I was thinking. I’m assuming after the original bearing failed, the PO tried to pull the bushing out and couldn’t and decided to cut corners and use the bronze adapter instead. I can see gouge marks on the bushing where it looks like the PO tried to pull it out with a puller of some variety and couldn't. The bushing and bronze adapter are both wallowed out pretty good.

I just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing by going back in with new bushing/bearing instead of another bronze adapter. The fun part is going to be trying to get that bushing out of the crankshaft.

 

[mrblaine]

That’s exactly what I was thinking. I’m assuming after the original bearing failed, the PO tried to pull the bushing out and couldn’t and decided to cut corners and use the bronze adapter instead. I can see gouge marks on the bushing where it looks like the PO tried to pull it out with a puller of some variety and couldn't. The bushing and bronze adapter are both wallowed out pretty good.

I just wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing by going back in with new bushing/bearing instead of another bronze adapter. The fun part is going to be trying to get that bushing out of the crankshaft.

Weld a nut over the hole, go in with a bolt with enough threads or threads and a spacer in the crank recess and jack it out. Works every single time.

 

[OldDustyTJ03]

Weld a nut over the hole, go in with a bolt with enough threads or threads and a spacer in the crank recess and jack it out. Works every single time.

Good idea! I have a small hobby mig welder from HF. I'm no expert welder, but maybe I can do good enough to weld a nut on the bushing. If not, I was also thinking about drilling a couple small holes into the bushing and running a screws in just enough to hook a slide hammer onto and try popping it out.

 

[mrblaine]

Good idea! I have a small hobby mig welder from HF. I'm no expert welder, but maybe I can do good enough to weld a nut on the bushing. If not, I was also thinking about drilling a couple small holes into the bushing and running a screws in just enough to hook a slide hammer onto and try popping it out.

I have done the drill and tap before, welding is more funner.