Pilot bearing won't go in crank, do I need it?
 

Hey,
I'm putting a manual tranny on my 97 VQ engine and I thought it would be smart to use a pilot bushing but it won't fit into the crank. I double checked w/the parts store to make sure they sold me the right one. This car was an automatic. There is a steel "ring" at the end of the crank that looks like it could come out and may be slightly smaller than the crank hole, should I try to remove it?

thanks for any help
allen

Got it. The ring is pressed into the crank and has to come out, I guess it has something to do w/ the automatic flex plate or something. After that's removed the pilot bearing presses right in just like it should. It was a pain to get out, I'm sure they sell a tool that makes it easy but I used a rigged up steering wheel puller and finally got it worked out.

allen

Do you have a special 5 speed that has an input shaft long enough to even use the pilot bushing?
If for some strange reason your input shaft is longer than all the maxima 5 speed trannies i've seen, then you should have gone with a NISMO roller needle pilot bearing.