jdmmax

iTrader: (6)

about a month ago i had a 5spd swap done.

now when we were installing the clutch the alighment tools was loose so we tried to use the pilot bushing that came with the clutch kit. the pilot bushing did not fit.so we slaped the clutch on.
we did not know that we had to take out the automatic bushing.
i've been driving around for about 1000 miles so far. ran it hard twice on the freeway.

my question is what would happen if the pilot bushing is not installed??

ejj

iTrader: (5)

I don't think its necessary. It really doesn't serve any purpose in our cars.

However, what do you mean by automatic bushing? There's a spacer in the end of the crankshaft that would prevent you from putting on the clutch if not removed, so I assume that's not what you're talking about. Auto crankshafts don't come with a pilot bushing installed.

Pic of the auto spacer (the rusted disc):

jdmmax

iTrader: (6)

hmmmmm for some reason the pilot bushing did not fit.

i assume the washer was taken of if you say i prevents you from putting the clutch on.

im curious talk to hlh0501 earlier he said he never used the pilot bushing out of the clutch kit and i know he beats the **** out of his car.

ejj

iTrader: (5)

You don't need a pilot busing, you'll be just fine.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

It's there for a reason. It supports the input shaft on the tranny. BUT how much it supports it is the question. When I replaced my clutch, I got a new bushing(brass/bronze thing). It's a pain to remove so I just used a clutch alignment tool to guage how "worn" my old one was. There was some slight drag when I shoved it in there. The same drag was felt when I put the new on there. So I concluded that the old one was fine. Now you say WTF does that have to do with me? Well I'm saying that if there was little or no wear after 100k+ miles, it probably doesn't do much. But the next time you take the tranny off, I'd press fit one in there.

ejj

iTrader: (5)

The pilot "bearing" on 4g's clearly doesn't support the input shaft in any way...which IMO, is why its not really needed.

You can see in these pictures, the OD of the pilot bushing is the same as the OD of the input shaft:




None of the input shaft goes into the bushing, which is why I don't see its use.

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....=pilot+bearing

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Ah. maybe you got the wrong bushing? My 3-gen bushing slides right into the end of the input shaft of my tranny(ie.. the short end smooth portion, not the machined geared portion). In the 1st picture, I assume the bushing does NOT fit onto the tranny output shaft? So the that is the length of the not gear portion of the shaft? ie.. about one inch or so? On the 3-gen tranny, that portion is about the length of the bushing.

jdmmax

iTrader: (6)

there not much of the imput shaft resting on the the bushing. thats wierd.

thanks for the help.

mtrai760

iTrader: (19)

I ran into the same problem when I did my swap. I got everything swapped and put back together, when I realized I hadn't put the pilot bushing in. So, the next day I pull it all apart again and try to remove the spacer. Nothing. Couldn't remove that thing as hard as I tried. Got a pilot bushing remover, and it would budge. Tried to find a tool called a slide hammer, but nobody within 15 miles had one available, unless I wanted to buy one for $170. So I just put it back together without it. Never had a problem in 2k miles or so of hard driving and a trip to the track. Then some idiot driver swerved in front of me and bye bye maxima. Flash foward, I helped Iansw do his 5spd swap. The tool shop down the street had a slide hammer for rent, and I got his spacer removed in about 30 seconds. Only took about 3-4 hits and it was out. I installed the pilot bushing, but to be honest, it didn't seem to do much at all, it seemed to set at about the same spot as the original spacer, I don't see how it could stabilize anything. If you want the piece of mind, next time you pull your tranny, get a slide hammer, remove the spacer and install the pilot bushing. If not, don't worry about it and enjoy the 5spd. BTW, I asked the same question when I did my swap, and except for one person out of 5 or 6, no one else had installed the pilot bushing either.

jdmmax

iTrader: (6)

thanks alot.

ohhh does anyone get a moaning noise right before 1st gear engages. once its in gear sound goes away. the noise sounds similar to the sound of wet brakes.

ejj

iTrader: (5)

Nope. That was my replacement bushing, but it was EXACTLY the same size as the stock one.

Correct, in the first picture the bushing is just touching the end of the shaft, none of the shaft fits into the bushing. Here's about the only picture of the input shaft that I could find:



The non-geared portion is quite short.

Stephen Max

iTrader: (59)

Yes, I get that noise. I thought maybe it was an ACT clutch issue. Is that what you have or do you have the oem clutch?

Also, I asked a transmission specialist about the pilot bushing and how it doesn't support the shaft. He said that it is not needed on a car with an input shaft as short as the Maxima's. Made sense to me.

jdmmax

iTrader: (6)

i am using an excedy pressure plate with the clutch net 6 puck sprung disk.

Jeff92se

iTrader: (82)

Yeah. Then I think that bushing is just for the alignment tool then. Like someone said before. Good call on that BTW.

BigDogJonx

iTrader: (7)

Thats wierd cause on the 5th gen I didnt see no pilot bushing at all.
http://www.turbofedmax.com/fullpics/...ainstalled.jpg Thats with the fidanza installed.

http://www.turbofedmax.com/fullpics/...toremoved5.jpg This was with the auto tranny removed.

Dixit

JAY25

iTrader: (38)

The tranny shaft doesnt need any support onto the engine. Dont worry about that useless pilot crap. All the bolts around the bellhousing and the two alignment lips hold the tranny secure onto the engine. Trust me on this one. Youll be just fine!

ejj

iTrader: (5)

The point of a pilot busing in normal applications isn't to support the transmission, its to support the input shaft. Because of the forces that the shaft sees, it will want to wander from one side of the crank to the other...the bushing keeps it centered.

Just not in our application.