I've mated a T-5 to a Mopar Poly 318 and I'm working on adapting a regular slave cylinder to the bell housing in order to actuate the stock clutch release arm. I started down this path given the problems I had heard and read about with the after market internal hydraulic bearings (the style that bolt to the front of the T-5). They do offer some serious advantages but I had read a few comments about fluid leaks and ruining clutches as well as serious premature failure. Certainly there are many OEM cars using this style of bearing but from those of you who have used these, what have you found regarding cost, performance and quality? Have you had any problems and if so what type and how bad? If you have recommendations on a brand, model and re-seller I would appreciate it. Cost is an issue but having a reliable slave cylinder is most important. I should clarify that this would be a 2nd option for me given that I have space constraints with the direction I've started with. Thanks much, - EM
I have seen factory internal slaves last 200,000 miles. I have also read a thread on Landracing.com where racers were removing them and going back to mechanical linkage. Years ago, I drove a gravel truck that had a hydraulic slave outside the bell housing. In the spring, before it got worked in to stop seeping, I had to double-double clutch with a load on to get it pumped up. After two days it cleared up. It was reliable for the four years I drove that truck. Double clutching a five and three give a few more moves than a passenger car would.
i have used a Howe internal TO bearing on a T5 more than once with great results. You just need to make sure that the fully compressed bearing (i.e., clutch pedal up, no pressure in line) is not making contact with the clutch fingers, zero to about .050" of free travel is good. I have made bellhousing to block and/or trans to bellhousing spacers to eliminate any preload on the clutch fingers. PM me if you need more detail on the Howe bearing, Speedway used to sell it and probably still does.
Same here. I think the majority of hydraulic throw out bearing problems (such as leakage) come from installations that allow for over extension of the bearing. Howe specifies the maximum extension and pedal travel should be designed, with a positive stop, so that limit is not exceeded. Bob
Great feedback fellas. I might add that most of the "prroblems" I heard about were with OEM pieces so it may be poor quality cylinders too. - EM
I used a RAM hydraulic throw-out bearing on the T5 in my roadster. The instructions with it absolutely sucked, so I did a bunch of reading and research online to figure out the proper shim/measure/install procedure. Got it installed correctly and it had to bleed it a few times. It's been trouble-free and works great. Malcolm
I checked with Speedway and did not find a Howe bearing but others carry that brand so I'll check around. Thanks Malcom, I'll check with Ram too. I've liked their product quality on other pieces so if I go with theirs I may contact you on what you found and how you corrected it. Deuces, is your issue mostly in cold weather?. Of course that sounds like the bearing itself and likely nothing to do with the hydraulic portion that pushes the bearing. - EM
I used this one from Speedway: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/GM-T-5-Stock-Clutch-Hydraulic-Throwout-Bearing,21395.html Bob
Thanks bobscogin. I have no idea why this didn't show up in my search on their site for Howe products! It seems I got everything but that! - EM
Due to very limited space for a clutch fork I'm looking into the Howe T5 throwout bearing myself. I have a Camaro T5 with the 26 spline. Does anyone here have experience with the Howe TO bearing and the 26 spline input shaft? My guess is that it could be too wide for the bearing to fit over? I have no idea though.
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