How to remove throw-out bearing retaining ring?

[azasadny]

I'm replacing my clutch and need to remove the throw-out bearing retaining ring. What's the trick to this? Is there a special tool required? Thanks!!

[Jim Sims]

I seem to recall using a small screwdriver. Pay attention to the way all the parts (make a sketch!) are assembled and oriented as you take it apart.

[azasadny]

Jim,
Thanks but I have already tried that. I'll tray again tomorrow (out of patience for the day), but I was wondering if there was a trick to removing the ring... Thanks again!

[plymouthcolt]

Put the pressure plate on the ground. Place your knees on the pp opposite each other and use your weight to push down. This will unload the pressure on the throw out bearing, allowing you to use a screwdriver or something to pry out the retaining ring.

[azasadny]

Howard,
Thanks alot! I'll try that tomorrow!

[azasadny]

I got the retaining clip off and read the diagram that showed the placement and order of the washers, bearing and clip. I put everything together and it "clicked" together, but after I installed the clutch, pressure plate, etc... there's "play" in the throwout bearing (where I'm pointing). What did I do wrong?

There is no play at all in the old assembly...

[azasadny]

Here's the schematic I used...




I followed this diagram on my new Sachs clutch and the throwout breaing has alot of "play" in it and even though it is "locked" in place, it moves around and doesn't feel the same as the old assembly if you spin the throwout bearing. The new one has some "wobble" to it that the old one doesn't have. What did I do wrong? This is my first clutch job and I could really use some advice. Thanks!

[Jim Sims]

"Pay attention to the way all the parts (make a sketch!) are assembled and oriented as you take it apart."

Since you apparently didn't do this, then at least check the old parts for match with the new parts. Are any of the older retaining rings, spacers, or spring in the old parts set thicker than the new parts? Will flipping over the finger spring (item #10) tighten up the fit?

[azasadny]

Jim,
I really did pay attention to the diagram as I didn't disassemble the old clutch, I bought a new clutch for a "new" engine, so I started at the flywheel. I bought the Sachs kit and placed the parts exactly as shown in the diagram (unless I misunderstood it). I can try flipping the #10 part, but I oriented it in the same way as I saw the diagram. I'm very careful, especially since I've never done this before.

[Jim Sims]

Do you have the old clutch, pressure plate and release bearing to look at as a reference? Is the "play" in the new assembly the same on all sides of the release bearing? Describe how you tightened the pressure plate to the flywheel; did you go around the bolt circle many times gradually tightening the the socket head screws with each pass to avoid over-stressing and warping the pressure plate spring fingers?

[azasadny]

Jim,

There is equla play in all sides of the assembly and I was carefulto slightly tighten each bolt, then it's oposite, then slightly rotate and tighten two other bolts, etc...until I had them all tight. I'm thinkinh I should take the entire assembly to my mechanic nad have him take a look before I go any further.

[azasadny]

I've fowllowed the schematic, but there
s play in the throwout bearing that shouldn't be there. Here is the kit I bought.

[azasadny]

I just dissambled the parts and part #10 was installed facing the "wrong" way, so I swapped it, reassembled the unit and it spins freely with no "play" or wobble in the bearing.

Jim Sims, thanks for your assistance!

[David 84 911]

Can I ask what a throw out bearing does when it needs to be changed?
My car does a growling rattle sometimes when restarted hot....Sorry not to mean to high jack the thread....

[azasadny]

David,
There wasn't anything wrong with mine but I replaced the clutch because I put a new engine in and this seemed to be the best time to replace the clutch. Sorry I don't know what a failed bearing would act or sound like...

[Jim Sims]

A failing release or throw out bearing typically makes a growling sound or other noise when the clutch pedal is pushed in (when the clutch is disengaged).

[David 84 911]

Thanks....not my problem, I think I have a chain tensioner intermittent problem

[azasadny]

Here's how I did it (replaced clutch and throwout bearing assy...






Tricky part...

















Done!



It helps if you have an assistant (my wife helped me) with the next step. Push down on the assy to get the retaining clip to snap into place...

[RWebb]

Christian pointed to this nice thread from his nice trans. rebuild thread (http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-technical-forum/399083-christiens-915-rebuild-post3945811.html#post3945811), so FWIW:

Bentley, Clymer & Haynes manuals all have diagrams of this procedure. Note that the Clymer diagrams have some mis-labeled parts. Some of the diagrams differ, so if hard to understand you can look in another manual (or post).

The toothed ring MUST be oriented properly - note that it is concave.

The little Sachs grease packet is for the splines on the trans. input shaft ONLY. The Throw Out Bearing comes pre-lubed internally and does not need more. I did put a smear of grease (isn't there a Yiddish word for that?) on the "U-channel) that engages the ends of the arms of the clutch fork, as well as on the arms themselves.

Be Sure to check the arms of the clutch fork as per the Bentley manual! See:
Throw Out Bearing Failure

This thread can be very helpful for those who change to a newer type clutch (e.g. '73 & on) and don't have old parts to sketch out before removal.

Jim Sims' admonition bears repeating:

ALWAYS make a sketch of part orientation and assembly order.

Even tho you will obviously "remember" everything when you got o re-assemble, you WILL forget after a delay in getting parts, the dog or kid scatters everything you laid out, & etc. etc.

[1982911SCTarga]

This is a two-year-old thread that Art started that just saved me some serious head-scratching over the orientation of that toothed concave washer. Thanks, Art.

The next task is mating the transaxle back up with the engine. Hmm, they haven't seen each other for about seven months. Is a bottle or two of Swepco in order to toast a happy reunion?

Brian