Did my throwout bearing just seize??

[AbandonedBronco]

Hi all,
I posted this video up a few weeks ago:

http://www.fullsizebronco.com/forum/...54#post2993054



Lately, the sound has drastically reduced to the point where I often don't hear it at all.

I drove to work this morning (lots of stop and go, so I was using the clutch a lot) and everything was working great until I pulled into the parking lot.
The instant I pushed the clutch down, a loud, shrill squeal started coming from the transmission (sounded like a belt seized). It didn't matter if the clutch was in or out, it just kept squealing until I turned the engine off.

The other thing I noticed was the clutch pedal wouldn't return all the way once the noise started (it's hydraulic).

I'm guessing my throwout bearing seized up, but I want to see what others think.



I'm just really thankful it happened in my parking lot, and not half way to work.

[LarryP]

It probably seized up on you if it will not shut up, also what might have happened it a few of the clutch ears broke off and the bearing is wedged in the crooked. I had this happen before a few times on customers rides.

[Alvin in AZ]

Originally Posted by AbandonedBronco

The instant I pushed the clutch down, a loud, shrill squeal started coming
from the transmission (sounded like a belt seized). It didn't matter if the
clutch was in or out, it just kept squealing until I turned the engine off.
The other thing I noticed was the clutch pedal wouldn't return all the way
once the noise started (it's hydraulic).

Wow it sounds like 2 things are wrong now... ??
1) throw bearing (like Nice and Penny said before and you too now). :)
2) hydraulic system ran farther out of fluid than my Bronco ever has.

Just my guess.

It's up to you to read the guesses then figure the rest out yourself. ;)
You're "the man on the ground" with the final word on it.

Alvin in AZ
ps- Oh heck... Larry's post sounds (a little too close to) right. :(
pps- Nice predicted it in the other thread too. :/
ppps- I've never had a problem like they describe because I believe...
"new noises are bad... look into 'em and fix 'em right away!"
...so haven't experienced lot of the worser things that can happen?
pppps- My '75 F150 has never broke down and left me stranded -anywhere-ever-!

[AbandonedBronco]

Alright, I guess I'll find out exactly what happened once I separate the engine and trans. Just wanted to be sure it wasn't something else before I dig in that far.

I don't think anything is wrong with the hydraulic setup. The clutch itself just didn't return, so the fluid didn't push the pedal back out. I had full pedal 2 seconds prior.

[Alvin in AZ]

Originally Posted by AbandonedBronco

I don't think anything is wrong with the hydraulic setup.
The clutch itself just didn't return, so the fluid didn't push the pedal back out.
I had full pedal 2 seconds prior.

Yeah. :/
Sounds wedged somehow huh? :/
How loud was it in the video?
Really loud? :/

Alvin in AZ
ps- Get a pressure plate with diaphragm-type-spring next time, they kick butt. :)

[AbandonedBronco]

It was a pretty loud chirp in the video. A little obnoxious in the cab, but a bit louder from underneath.

When it seized this morning, it would definitely have turned the heads of everyone in the parking lot, (if there had been anyone else there.) Pretty loud.



As far as replacing it goes, anything I should know? Seems super straight forward. Just remove the old one and put a new one in its place.

However, I'm thinking that if I'm going to be digging in that far, I should probably replace the whole clutch

What's the difference between a 10" and 11" clutch? Which should I get?

Also, I was looking at these two clutch setups at O'Reilly:

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1351&ppt=C0015

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/de...1351&ppt=C0015


$110 for standard, and $215 for kevlar. Is the standard one good enough? I don't tow anything and am generally really easy on it.

Lastly, what are the other parts pictured in the clutch kit? Is one of those a throwout bearing? What are the two other parts? (Not the alignment tool).

Thanks.

[Alvin in AZ]

Check out www.rockauto.com

Originally Posted by AbandonedBronco

It was a pretty loud chirp in the video. A little obnoxious in the cab, but a bit
louder from underneath.

Lastly, what are the other parts pictured in the clutch kit? Is one of those a
throwout bearing? What are the two other parts? (Not the alignment tool).

My guess is: both a regular pilot bearing and a Kevlar pilot bearing?
Either way don't use 'em, use a 6003 sealed ball bearing. :)

Some of the better(?) kits have a 6003 sealed ball bearing included.

Guy at Centerforce told me over the phone that the Kevlar pilot bearings
kick butt -if- it ain't dusty. If it's dusty they wear out -fast- and told me
not to ever use one here in Arizona.

I use a 6003 in my 351w (300i6 too, right?) and 6303 in my 360FE.

Too bad they cheapened the old needle-bearing-type to the point of just
barely being able to do its job. :/ The one in the parts truck was already
looking bad and it had a relatively new looking clutch in it. It's the same
bearing Ford used in the rear of alternators. Used to it was a full
compliment of needle bearings now its -minimum-! They're now -short-
and -few-. As few as they could get away with and looks like Timken and
SKF etc are all on board with the new "more plastic spacer than needles"
way of making 'em too. :(

Alvin in AZ
ps- Too bad I couldn't hear the video, I'd've been all over you
to do something about it? :/ Everybody that knows me knows...
"new noises are bad! :/ ...look into 'em right away"
And...
"what's the dew point? :/" LOL :)

[AbandonedBronco]

Thanks for the input Alvin.

Where specifically would I find a 6003 series for the Bronco? (Done some net searches and haven't come up with anything yet). And yeah, it's a 300 with an NP435 and hydraulic clutch setup out of an '86.

Gets frustrating trying to dig and search through the parts to weed out the ones where they've cheapened out on quality in search of the good ones.

[AbandonedBronco]

Well, this answered the throwout bearing question:






(The coolant is just some that splashed while removing the engine.)

[j. r. Nice]

Did it damage the pressure plate?

[AbandonedBronco]

I don't think so, but I'm just replacing the whole clutch anyway. The flywheel had cracks over an inch long in it and the clutch was nearly down to the rivets. So, probably a good thing I took it all apart again.

[Alvin in AZ]

Good job on that bearing, AB. ;)

And thanks for the pictures.
I like "process" pictures.
"look at this destruction..."
"look at what I found inside..."
"this is how -I- went about doing it... "
They're fun to post and fun to check out, IMO. :)

-----------------------------

6003 and bearings in general are cheapest to get at a bearing shop.
Auto parts and hardware stores tend to be the most expensive, IME.
I dab a little bit of red wheel bearing grease behind the ball bearing
(when it's being used as a clutch pilot bearing). Don't get carried
away with that, ok? ;)

Alvin in AZ
ps- Diaphragm-spring-ed pressure plate! :)

[Alvin in AZ]

Oooo... just remembered a "destruction ;)" picture that's relevant...

The '90 parts truck I bought for the ZF was a "company truck 8/ LOL" with
188k miles on it. This is what the pushrod and its clutch lever stud looked
like...


I swapped it out using the gold colored brake pushrod and welded on a stud.
Seems like I used a {1/2"} bolt for the new stud? Drilled a little hole through
it for the hairpin-clip. Installed new nylon bearings and washers on the sides
to minimize side to side play etc. <--you know, the usual tinkering-fool stuff ;)

{measured the size of the pushrod eye holes, 1/2"=clutch and 5/8"=brake}

Had to shorten the brake rod tho then re-round the end, used a de-burring
wheel to finish it off...

Alvin in AZ

[Handy_andy_cv64]

Damn. Too bad your trans doesn't have the newer hydraulic setup; I have about five or six new throwout bearings, from clutch jobs where we replaced the slave cylinder that had a bearing already installed. That made the bearing in the clutch kit unneeded.

[AbandonedBronco]

Thanks for the offer. It's actually converted to a newer hydraulic setup, so one of those would have worked. It's okay though, the clutch was just about toast so I got the whole kit anyway.

[AbandonedBronco]

That's pretty cool Alvin. :)
When I was rummaging through the junk yard looking for parts for my hydraulic setup, I saw quite a few of those that were worn through. Speaking of which, I still need to find a new bushing for mine before it crumbles and mine starts doing the same thing.