Toploader bearing retainer
 

Is it normal for the bearing retainer to look like this?

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/5504/toploader.jpg

On pictures I only saw them without the grooves, and I don't completely understand why they should be where the throwout bearing sits. Should I replace the part?

Simon

yes, that one is bad from a bad throwout bearing spinning on it.

Alright, looks like I need a new one...

Simon,

Are you running a cable or a hydraulic system?
Doe’s you throw out bearing have pre-load at clutch rest?

Interesting.... I would guess the throw out bearing was in constant contact with the pressure plate and thus spinning 100% of the time. Which led to throw out bearing failure. Surely it would have been making a LOT of noise when it first started to go out, but nothing was done. It must have eventually "locked up" from the overheated bearings and then the entire assembly started to spin? Ripping off the retaining ears that secure the bearing to the throw out arm. The noise must have been very loud and terrible.

It is controversial whether a throw out bearing should or shouldn't remain in constant contact with the pressure plate. The problem is, there is no "one" answer to the question. Some setups, some throw out bearings, are designed to run with constant contact to the pressure plate, some aren't. This throw out bearing and setup appears to be the later style. As for me, I setup ALL throw out bearings for clearance so they DON'T constantly spin with the pressure plate. Some folks think it's to much work, to complicated or not needed. They could be right, but this top loader says there not! :)

It might be that you need to make SURE you get a throw out bearing specifically designed for constant contact. Some are, some aren't. If you don't get the right one, you may well suffer the same problem again. Or, do what you gotta do to make sure there IS clearance. But do one or the other, the right bearing or enough clearance, it's the only way to be sure the problem is solved.

Like the others said, throw out bearing went bye-bye.

Good news is that I have the retainers and they're not that expensive at all...

Brent, many thanks for the kind offer, but I already ordered one yesterday.

This must have happened to one of the previous owners of the transmission, I have a hydraulic setup with a spring on the clutch fork that keeps the bearing away from the clutch surface. The throwout bearing is in like new condition as I replaced it when I rebuilt the transmission some years ago.

What I don't understand is why I overlooked this one back then...