throw out bearing

[terry]

The click and clack brothers (Magliozzi's) reminded people with standard
shift this morning to not keep the clutch pedal depressed while waiting at red
lights or standing elsewhere for long periods. It causes excess wear of the throw-out bearing. I have never had to change one nor have I had to
work on my ******. But, I have noticed that the clutch engages rather
quickly...not too far from the floorboard...on my car, as I release pressure
on the clutch pedal. How does this throw-out bearing work and what are the signs of it going bad? Terry

 

[19Fordy]

My experience has been that a bad throwout bearing will make lots of noise when you depress the clutch pedal.

The other noise regarding the throwout bearing is the one you make when you install the transmission but forget to install the throwout bearing. Did that one time.

 

[40cpe]

The throw-out bearing pushes on the clutch pressure plate fingers to release pressure on the clutch disc. The pressure plate is revolving with the engine and the throw-out bearing is actuated by a lever that can not revolve. The throw-out bearing has a housing that can stay stationary (non revolving) with its lever and an inner portion that can revolve with the pressure plate fingers.

The common symptom of a worn bearing is noise.

Your clutch engagement close to the floor could probably be solved with a clutch adjustment. There should be about 1" to 1 1/2" free-play in the clutch pedal before you feel the pressure of the releasing clutch. If it is more, it should be adjusted.

 

[Ken Crans]

Does any one sell a good one to last? Without noise? Are they factory greased or dry?

 

[oldford2]

"The click and clack brothers (Magliozzi's) reminded people with standard
shift this morning to not keep the clutch pedal depressed while waiting at red
lights or standing elsewhere for long periods. It causes excess wear of the throw-out bearing. I have never had to change one nor have I had to"

Plus, as Walt D says, you are trying to push the engine into the radiator. So maybe a bigger concern on holding the clutch down for long periods is wear on the thrust part of the rear main bearing. John

 

[deuce_roadster]

Ken, I had a brand new BCA bearing that felt good in my hands last 7 miles before it sounded like a can full of marbles. Plenty of free play, just defective new junk.

 

[J Franklin]

I re-greased my 34 truck TO bearing - a Ford original, it even had provision for getting grease when the collar was lubed. They are noisy when bad you should not be able to notice anything from the clutch pedal. It is time to adjust the clutch free play and check/lube the linkage.