need help replacing mazda clutch

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 1:06 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

HAHA!! found a 10th bolt that no one disclosed! Right at the slave cylinder and somewhat hidden. Tranny is free! Now to wrestle this bad boy out. Back later.....

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 1:39 pm

OK, tranny is out and I'm happy to report that everything looks good, no grooving on the flywheel. So to those of you that recommended to leave the flywheel alone, right now I'm all for that and just hit it with a pad to roughen up. I'm also assuming you guys didn't replace the pilot bearing and left that in place. No way to replace w/ out removing the flywheel unless you know of some trick....

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 1:48 pm

I wouldn't put it back together without replacing the pilot bearing. Pulling the flywheel shouldn't be a big deal, just make sure to remember your loctite.

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 1:49 pm

RodneyWright wrote:

OK, tranny is out and I'm happy to report that everything looks good, no grooving on the flywheel. So to those of you that recommended to leave the flywheel alone, right now I'm all for that and just hit it with a pad to roughen up. I'm also assuming you guys didn't replace the pilot bearing and left that in place. No way to replace w/ out removing the flywheel unless you know of some trick....

No help on the pilot bearing (bushing?). If bearing can you take a good look at it to make sure it still has rollers? Also can you smear some fresh grease into it? Look at the condition of the input shaft to see if it still looks healthy (maybe a slight satin look but I'm not sure what it should or shouldn't look like other than not really sick looking).

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

I replaced it. Removing the flywheel is a bitch though.

When putting the tranny back in, I highly recommend getting some spare tranny bolts and cutting the heads off to help align it on its way back in.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 2:11 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

I replaced it. Removing the flywheel is a bitch though.

When putting the tranny back in, I highly recommend getting some spare tranny bolts and cutting the heads off to help align it on its way back in.

OK, I'm this far into it, might as well replace it. Now is the time I dig having an airgun to remove bolts like this....

EDIT: OK, the flywheel is off, but the bearing is in the crank, not the flywheel. Without some specialized tool, I don't see getting this out nor do I want to hammer on the end of the crank shaft. I think the old bearing is staying in place. There's no scoring on the end of the input shaft and all the bearings look good and are in place. I think a light coat of grease and I'm done here....

Aaron Buckley · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 2:24 pm

I agree with replacing the pilot bearing. It's cheap. On my '97 Protege it was in the center of the flywheel and was easy to replace with a pair of bent nose pliers. With the flywheel, like others have said, use red loctite and ensure you have the proper torque specs. They also are almost always 12 point bolts, so make sure you have the proper one. - AB

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 2:30 pm

BriceJohnson wrote:

I replaced it. Removing the flywheel is a bitch though.

When putting the tranny back in, I highly recommend getting some spare tranny bolts and cutting the heads off to help align it on its way back in.

That's a very good idea.....

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 3:59 pm

OK, so I learned a new trick. You can take out the pilot bearing w/ bread, sort of. Instead of packing the backside of the bearing w/ grease, use some dense bread like a hamburger roll. Used about 1/2 of one side of the bun. I'd never believed it if I hadn't seen it on youtube. Works great an no grease to deal with. Bread comes right out.

Ryan Holton · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 4:53 pm

For those who think Rodney has been huffing gas fumes, here is what he was talking about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfDV982g4XM

Learned something new!! I love stuff like this!

DickRasmussen · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 7:19 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

For those who think Rodney has been huffing gas fumes, here is what he was talking about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfDV982g4XM

Learned something new!! I love stuff like this!

Assume "fresh" bread versus "very dry" :lol:

I have a slide hammer tip that might work for pilot bearings assuming the hole in the crank is at least 1/4 deeper than the bearing. The last time I might have used it was almost 20 years ago on a Lotus so I don't remember.

George Bright · **Posted:** Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:37 pm

Ryan Holton wrote:

For those who think Rodney has been huffing gas fumes, here is what he was talking about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfDV982g4XM

Learned something new!! I love stuff like this!

Now people will wonder when you yell for a sandwich.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Sep 03, 2013 7:53 am

As normal, I'm now at a hold point again. When I removed the clutch pivot arm, it had a really odd wear grove in it, so it looks like I need a new arm. Everything else is done. Clutch and pressure plate installed and torqued. Pilot bearing is in and set to the correct depth and I have the new clutch pivot pin installed. New axle seals are installed and this is just about ready to reassemble. Just need the pivot arm now so I can start wrapping this up.

I don't think I want to ever do another one of these....painful. Hopefully it goes back together right. The clutch instructions did say to drive 750 miles before getting on the clutch hard. That will be hard to do before the next autox.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

RodneyWright wrote:

I don't think I want to ever do another one of these....painful.

Couldn't agree with you more, although reading this thread does make me feel better about taking a month (working off and on) to get mine done.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Tue Sep 03, 2013 8:14 am

Ryan Holton wrote:

For those who think Rodney has been huffing gas fumes, here is what he was talking about

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfDV982g4XM

Learned something new!! I love stuff like this!

I had called Brice asking for some advice and he's the one that mentioned this on the phone. I thought he was into the beer a little deep for the day when he mentioned using bread for the pilot bearing, but I decided to look on line. Turns out it's true. The upside to this is it's very easy to clean up afterwards. The bread comes out in one big wad and there's nothing left to clean up.

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