I am stuck at the halfway point on a clutch replacement on my 99 because I cannot find the right pilot bearing. All of the dodge dealers in town give me the part number 52107562AB. This is a needle bearing of 1 in OD and 3/4 ID. It is nothing at all like what I pulled out of my flywheel I have an NSK B20-123 which is a sealed bearing of approx 1.80 OD. That bearing is in beautiful shape, however the input shaft is not. The shaft is .743 DIA (I am guessing that is started out closer to .750) and there is quite a bit of play between it and the NSK bearing. Is there a way to repair the shaft to get rid of the extra play. I bought the truck used about 50K miles ago it has 130K on it right now. Is dodge giving me the right part number, or do i have a one of a kind?

 

I dono...but if the input shaft is bad now is the time...and s.b. clutch sells them too.

 

You don't say what year truck you have but the caged needle bearing is unfortuantely the stock bearing for the second gen trucks. Someone has machined the flywheel for the better bearing which I intend to do in the future. It was probably done when the stock bearing froze like mine did. I don't know where you go with it, probably need to replace the input shaft to be right. IF the input shaft does not grip the inner race of the pilot bearing it will just keep wearing and probably take out the disk center. Been there too. The last time I went with the six speed and a SBC clutch, which still has the stock bearing in it.

 

This is just my opion ok??? take all your stuff back to dodge and go to SB clutch or someone like that and put in a bigger one. Oh and you will be happy knowing as you up grade the clutch will hold the power. 8)

 

Forget the dealer. Take the bearing to any bearing dealer and let them find either the same one or a replacement. They can cross referance bearing numbers unbelievably. For years on any needle, roller or ball bearing I have never gone to the dealer. Just taken the bearing to a good bearing shop and have them supply the equivalent at a fraction the price.

 

It is a 1999. I am not quite ready to wholesale replace the transmission just yet. I don't do any heavy hauling and the truck is entirely stock which has suited me. I will check out new shafts and see where that gets me.

 

thats what I am saying ,,just put in a new input- shaft( about 60.00 if i remember right).

 

Jeff K you live to far from civilization to be messing with this thing, as suggested if all the work to pull it out is done consider the shaft replacement. If the pilot bearing end is worn then there will be play at the work end where the torque is so this area will also have play. This bearing (input shaft bearing) takes all the torque any time under load in any gear carefully consider and look at the input shaft before re-installing. The larger bearing is probably a sealed ball bearing which is more capable of carrying the load than the little factory open caged bearing. As Mexstan said cross reference the bearing you pulled out because as you noticed it has specific dimensions to match the existing flywheel re-machined dimensions. One has to assume that they were in here before for a reason- clutch, input shaft or bearings- was the oil extra dirty or high in metal particles. Look for unmatched wear on gear teeth (replaced gears, synchro's). PK

 

if you do need a new shaft call Enterprise Engine, Haisley's, Shieds,or maybe even SBC. They are always switching out the smaller shaft for the larger and might have the smaller ones around that they'll give you or sell cheap

 

A BCA bearing 204BBAR = .7500 ID 1.7805 OD .6100 wide
is close to what you describe, you didn't give a width.

 

Dont know if it makes a difference but... when I rebuilt my dads tranny I got a new pilot bearing and the tranny shop said they have had so much trouble with the needle bearing style bearins that they have gone with a graphite impregnated copper bushing. I still have the graphite impregnated bushing if your interested . I descided my dads was in good enough shape that it didnt need replacing. 8).
Scott

 

I had problem finding right bearing / bushing too. I went to my locals parts store and found dorman part number 690-005 graphite impregnated copper bushing works for my 91 Dodge. After hours of pulling hair we found it. $9.00 cheaper too.