2.3L ('83-'97) Any one done pilot bearing and rear main seal? 1996 2.3

[Kailash]

I'm gonna be replacing my clutch tomorrow, figured I'd do rear main and pilot bearing. Any one have tips? do I need to do pilot bearing if it's not visibly worn. It seems like getting it out is a nightmare from half the peoples testimonies

 

[Kailash]

Oh also dumb question but do I need to drain oil to do rear main seal ?

 

[scotts90ranger]

I've done it before, pilot bearing is a pain, have had to result in using a dremel to hog out the cage when other things didn't work, but that was my first attempt many years ago, don't remember what I did last time...

No need to drain oil for rear main, it's a couple inches above the oil level.

 

[Kailash]

Alright thanks I'll pick up a Dremel. Any other odd ball tool recommendations for either or clutch?

 

[Shran]

You can rent a pilot bearing puller from any parts store. Makes quick work of that job. You can also use "the bread trick" or the grease trick........... I guess I feel like a puller is easier and certainly not a nightmare. Anything can be a nightmare without the right tool

Make sure you get the rear main seal in straight, use a very light coat of RTV around the outside of the seal, clean that area on the block really well with brake cleaner... make sure the crankshaft doesn't have a groove from the old seal. Grease up the inside lip of the new seal so that it slides onto the crank nice and doesn't get ruined by running dry for a bit.

Pulling the old seal out is easily accomplished by drilling a tiny hole in it and screwing a sheet metal screw into that hole, then grabbing that with a slide hammer (preferably) or vise grips and yanking it out.

I would replace your slave cylinder while you're in there, might as well. Read up on bleeding those. They can be a pain.

 

[Kailash]

Alright thank you. I'm replacing all the hydraulics

 

[RobbieD]

I'm replacing all the hydraulics

Do yourself a big favor and buy the matched set, of master and slave cylinders, as pre-filled and pre-bled.

On the pilot bearing, I've never had any luck with the "old trick" methods. I quit wasting my time and bought a puller; they're not that expensive, or a parts stores can supply one as a loaner tool.

 

[Kailash]

Yea that's exactly that Im doing. I just read a few posts of guys saying the puller didn't work.

Thanks

 

[Mechrick]

The 2.3 pilot bearing is smaller than normal, which is why many pilot bearing pullers won't work. If you get the right puller you're golden.

 

[Curious Hound]

The bread/grease method worked great for me.

 

[RobbieD]

The bread/grease method worked great for me.

Besides it just not working for me, to add insult to injury my bread tasted like grease afterward, and I had to throw it out.

That was way back when did my 2.3 Lima. It fought coming out even with the puller, but the new one went in OK. On my Colognes (2.9 and 4.0) since then, the pilots came out a lot easier.

It may just be a 2.3 thing; they seem to make you work harder on a lot of things.