Release Bearing
The basic definition of a release bearing is a ball bearing and collar assembly. As well as being called a release bearing, it is also sometimes known as a throw out bearing. The purpose of a release bearing is to reduce any friction between the presser plate levers, and the release fork. The sealed unit pack also has a lubricant with it.
It is installed by sliding it onto the hub sleeve that comes out of the front of the manual transaxle. It is then snapped over the end of the clutch fork to secure it in place. There are also tiny spring clips that secure the bearing onto the fork. When the fork moves, it slides the release bearing along the sleeve.
Replacing a release bearing is not as difficult as it might first seem. Obviously, you would need to know what you are doing in order to be able to do this yourself, though. If you don’t feel confident enough to do this yourself then it is best to contact a professional who will be able to replace the clutch bearing for you. Let’s take a look at the steps required to be able to replace a release bearing.
The first thing that you are going to need to do, is to use a floor jack to jack up the rear of the car. If you are not sure how to use a wheel jack then you are going to have to do some research to make sure you know how to do this properly. Once you have successfully jacked up the rear of the car, you are ready for the next step.
The nest step is to disconnect the battery cables from the battery itself. You then need to loosen the drive shaft bolts, and completely remove the drive shaft. The next step is to place the transmission jack under the transmission itself and put the holding straps in place to make sure it is secure. Remove the bolts that secure the clutch to the crankcase.
After this, you are ready to begin lowering the transmission jack to take the pressure off of the input shaft, and slide the transmission out to remove it. You then need to make sure that none of the metal fingers on the pressure plate are out of place. You then need to loosen the mounting bolts and then remove the pressure plate, and the clutch disc.
After all of this has been done you are ready to replace the release bearing simply by snapping it into place. Once you have done this then you will need to make sure that you put everything back into place correctly. It is important that you make sure you do your research on how to replace a release bearing properly because you need to make sure everything is safe once you have done it.
If you don’t feel confident enough to change a release bearing yourself then it is not a good idea to even attempt it. It would be more safe to pay for a mechanic to change it for you, so that you can be sure that everything has been done properly, and that everything is in place for you to be able to drive your car safely. You can buy a replacement release bearing from many different retailers now, and normally for a very reasonable price, so shop around and be sure that you are buying from a reputable retailer. If you still feel unsure then it is a good idea to ask for advice from a professional. They will be able to advise you properly.
