throwout bearings, which is better?

[bugimike]

Does anyone out there have any views on which is preferrable in a clutch throwout bearing, the original carbon-suface bearing or the ball-bearing type? Any pros & cons on each?

 

[Stephen P. Mers]

Ball bearings are better, not only because they are not Stone Age, but because they JUST are better!

FWIW, They will not work in EVERY application.

Take care-Steve

 

[spritenut]

I use both, Mainly because I bought 10 new carbon bearings for $5 once, So for .50 cents each, and on the shelf, they work fine. I also seem to pull the engine a couple times a year so replacing a carbon is no big deal.
However I do run a roller bearing on one of my Sprites and the other has a 5 speed with a roller bearing.

If I were to buy one because I didn't have it on the shelf, I would go for the roller bearing.

 

[aeronca65t]

Rollers are better but the carbon units are OK so long as the driver does not hold the clutch down for long intervals with the engine running. If you're sitting at a light, put the car in neutral and release the clutch (true for all cars with this type of throwout bearing....MGAs, etc)

 

[littlecars]

I too believe that rollers are better the carbon ones do tend to wear. If you have multiple drivers like I do some people don't seem to understand how everything fits together and if they do not take their foot off the clutch pedal all the way it coulld cause a lot of heat in the bearing and a roller will not heat up like a carbon one.

 

[Bugeye58]

I've run nothing but the roller bearings as replacements for carbon for quite awhile now with absolutely no problems.
All the Triumphs I have came with the roller setup as stock, and I've never had a failure there, either.
Jeff

 

[bugimike]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the input. You all confirmed what I have found, though I have spoken to a couple of old timers, who I guess are just traditionalists & insist that the carbon ones are the way to go. I guess old habits die hard for some. Always look for the better way and Happy new year to all.

 

[Andre the Giant]

I can't resist the quote from the movie "Fletch"

"Its all ball bearings nowadays!"

 

[regularman]

The carbon ones last a long time if people realize not to hold the clutch in at a red light, etc. The last one I changed was metal to metal all the carbon was gone. I couln't believe it was still working. I showed it to the guy and told him to shift into nuetal and let the clutch back out at a light. This should be standard practice even for a ball bearing type throwout, some folks just don,t understand.