'99 3500 manual transmission.

Pilot bearing went out. One day, out of the blue at a long red light, shifted into neutral, light went green couldn't get it to go into gear, any gear. Shut down the engine and it goes into gear just fine, shifts OK, a little hard but got the shut it off to get out of neutral with the engine running. About the only thing to cause this is a seized pilot bearing.

Well, she's up on jack stands and the transmission won't come out. Pilot bearing holding it together. Prying isn't getting me anywhere, haven't busted anything yet but................. Yes, all the bolts are out and I've done this type of work before.

Any suggestions??????

OK, got it out. The come along did the job.

Holy cow, its got a new clutch and pressure plate. That's the good news.

Bad news, input shaft is bad. Some sorry SOB (have now had this truck for about 2 months) has been here before me for the same reason. He found the input shaft bad, hit it with a die grinder, put it back together and got rid of it. Transmission is at Cleveland Transmission, needs a new input shaft and bearings. Saw plenty of metal in the top of the transmission when I got it in good light. Hate to think what this is gonna cost me.
Got the new pilot bearing in, clutch is in, bell housing on, as son as I get the transmission back, it'll be back on the road in a couple of hours.

Sure am PO'd at who ever halfassed this thing. It was done in Kentucky so if the guilty SOB who did this is reading this post, hang your head in shame, you deserve a good butt beating.

 

Shake and pull harder. You won't break anything in the motor or trans until you start using lots of leverage.

Remember, when your gaze crosses a chain and your buddy's truck do not connect the two. Bad. Idea.

 

Some are that way, just have to keep shaking and pulling , and might give a little pry with a bar between the bellhousing and engine plate.

 

I dont know if the 5 speeds are any different but make sure your shift tower is not hitting the body, that got me for a bit when I did my clutch

 

I had a bad pilot bearing on a 924 Porsche. No amount of prying or kicking would break it loose. I finally used a bearing puller with a 10 lb slide hammer to get it separated.

For those not familiar with a 924 (or 944) the input shaft is around 6' long and not cheap to replace after the pilot bearing dies.

 

I would suggest a come along attached to the tranny and the rear axle housing, or something similar to keep a little constant tension on the tranny. Then try wiggling and prying until it breaks loose. Just make sure you have a good tranny jack under it and stay out from under it just in case it really breaks loose!

 

Another tip is to get some bolts several inches longer than the stock trans bolts, cut the heads off and thread them in to the stock holes. It helps to have them long enough to support the trans untill it is free of the clutch disc. The trans will be able to slide out a few inches supported on the bolts. Be sure to check for clearance as noted above.

 

I tried that on the 924 and it didn't budge.

I think the bent guy has a great suggestion on longer bell housing bolts to support the weight when it finally does separate. I forgot the 924 had a cross member that with a wood spacer caught the input shaft.

-John

 

Don't run a bearing. I had the same thing happen at a light. Had to start in gear to get going. replaced the bearing with a bushing. It's been about 200K and no problems. Those dinky bearings are junk.