Shopping for aftermarket clutch release bearing
 

Welp.. After having my original bearing go out at around 27K miles, I can hear the bearing making some telltale noises of imminent failure now at 75Kish miles.

I'm aware of an updated OEM part from subaru, but I wanted to see if anyone has experience with aftermarket bearings that may be more durable.

I found various different brands being offered on Partsgeek, including this one made by SACHS.

Anyone have experience with them or any of the other brands?

Interested in info as well. Does this bearing come with its own fork? Seems like the retention clips are different than OEM

Not sure about aftermarket ones, never looked into it.
$55 from Subaru was all the convincing I needed.

If you want to never worry about TOB again, some dude here made a hydraulic TOB, but is pricy but not too pricy. http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showt...=Hydraulic+TOB

Where was the price on that? I never found it

following

Odd? I remember reading when the thread was posted. If I recall it was like $200? Ultramarron might know. Give him a buzz.

@Ultramaroon buzz buzz

Thread with a nod on the NTN and SKF. Though solely based off brand reputation and not first hand experience with the parts: http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=117205

I cannot imagine the factory sourcing "low quality" bearings to replace the original one. But who knows?

i re-read, found it buried. $600. but i don't like the elitist facebook mentality. that was what set me off last time i read.

Wow was it that much?
I guess... dude needs to make a profit, but dam. Oh wells.

i know a few machinists, and that's reasonable for the work and prep involved. i just don't like his attitude.

Based off some of the people's comments in threads relating to this issue. They seem to believe that one of the causes of premature failure, besides 'riding the clutch', is the bearing lubricant. Though, I cannot imagine the manufacture using a different lube on this particular part vs bearings designed to fit in all other applications that do not have this same problem.

I'll likely try out the Sachs throw out bearing base off the fact that its a different part to the ones used by the OE and the brand name. I'll also see if I can manage to inject some additional "high quality" high heat bearing lube to the part. Also, I just realized that when the clutch was serviced the first time round they did not replace the "output shaft" front cover, as they should have, contributing to the pre-mature wear of the second bearing.

I guess I just got to do it myself if I want it to be sure it's done right. I dont know much about grease or lubes designed for this app. Any suggestions on what lube to use and where to purchase?

Yep. Well to their defense or lack of, they just used what they had in stock which was the old revision part. That's my guess anyway.

As for working on it your self, it's pretty straightforward. I did it with basic hand tools. Only thing I did buy was a harbor freight tranny jack.
As for the lube, either look any auto part store or buy what Subaru recommends which is Nichimoly N-130 item number K0879Y0501

If you don't have tall jack stands I recommend Harbor Freight SUV jack stands. Those can raise your car pretty high safely.
Also a buddy sure helps. At lest to hand you sockets or beer.
And buy new tranny fluid. Drain it before so you won't make a mess.

Oh Ultramarroon has a tip to strap down the engine so it won't rock back and forth when you take the tranny out, had I known that trick it would have made my tranny removal so much easier and quicker.

Appreciate the input. I keep seeing the UREA grease that Honda uses for the throwout bearings being mentioned after doing some search for information on lubrication for this. Seems a lot of guys out there use this stuff on non-Honda cars and recommend it.

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Honda.../dp/B00BFDFYKW

As far as the release bearing not being the updated version, I'm certain it is not. The clutch and the bearing were replaced before this updated part was available. I'm not sure if I trust the OE part even if it is an updated version to address the problem.. Sachs or OE... hmm

Now its just a matter of ordering parts and seeing when I'll have time to work on the thing.


Edit: Just saw this post on where they got the idea that the grease was the main culprit and different. Thanks to @VerusEric with the comparo of an older bearing with the new part number. Just for that, I'm throwing the forged fork and billet pivot to the shopping list.

You're welcome!

The Sachs unit definitely looks to be made different from the product photo. Metal inner sleeve, different overall build. Nice find.

just received the first two items, including the Sachs release bearing:

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...fRMibNkqyAMjrI

The Sachs part is different but the inner sleeve is still a plastic:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...1Ti1J0uDu911Lo

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...oz1_xw_KJiy_a0

Does the OEM fork still fit?

Sent from a potato

I’ll find out as soon as I get all my parts and oil. I will test fit on the versus fork when it comes in the mail.

Don't know why it posted several times. I guess the few clicks did work after all!

Got the "retainer, bearing" or "input shaft" or whatever they seem to call it, and some metal retaining clips. Again partsgeek sent me the wrong mfkn parts! This release bearing is several mm's too big for the bearing that it's supposed to slide on.

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...TiZfnOwqzogjhA

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...GMjBydNBzxl-6A

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...dTpdvlzMKMqTXg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...4gtqAtmZNF7-Yk


I ordered some Raybestos rotors from Partsgeek.com the previous time I tried to purchase from that site and they were the wrong part as well. The part number on the box was correct but the item inside was not the correct part.

That. Sux.

OE revised bearing (w/white dot) vs Sachs incorrect part from partsgeek.com

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...A0Gg5mpXZh2bxI

OE
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...N1a4wxVnpEBK78

The Sachs is heavier duty in every way. Thicker plastic material construction on the inner sleeve. The pressed metal body is thicker gauge as well. Too bad it wont fit right. I wonder what the correct Sachs part would look like. Maybe same heavy duty construction in the correct sizing?

Just an update. It's been a couple of weeks since I replaced my throwout bearing with the updated factory part. The forged fork and pivot from VerusEric went in as well along with all the other stuff in the pictures. It's a shame partsgeek let me down again with the wrong throwout bearing. At least we know this Sachs brand part exists and is likely a bit beefier construction than the oe part.

The throwout bearing that came out actually did not look very beat up at all, although it makes noises like a baby rattle. Glad I was able to get it out when I did. It was a matter of time before that thing destroys the transmission like it almost did with the one installed from the factory.

I know it's probably placebo, but my car actually feels a 'lil quicker aside from the smoothed out clutch and shifting action. lmao Not sure if this could be from the new parts and fluids, or more likely the 5-7.5whp gained from the Verus Engineering sticker that I stuck on the topside of the skid plate.