When you press the clutch pedal, your clutch fork engages with a thrust bearing, also known as release bearing or throw bearing, in the pressure plate. These rather rudimentary bearings take a lot of time over time and can develop wear over a long period of time due to wear. Given the low cost of replacing thrust bearings, it is a good time to change them before you replace your clutches or brake discs.
You can accept a cheap repair and trust that the printing plate will hold up even at the second attempt – round, but trust me, that won't happen.
At Grimmer Motors, our trusted mechanics are the experts for the repair and maintenance of clutch bearings and for the repair of ball bearings. This enables us to quickly identify and diagnose clutch problems in your vehicle.
You probably already know that clutch release bearings are a concern that you have to deal with when you drive a manual gearbox. Clutch bearings, the connection between the engine and the wheels of your vehicle, trigger the clutch. The bearing must be ejected or replaced in order for the stick-shift gearbox to work properly.
If your vehicle has a manual transmission, which is a rarity these days, you must be able to operate the clutch pedal in addition to the brake and accelerator pedals. When you press the clutch pedal, cut the connection between the engine and the wheels, and let them roll freely. The clutch can be useful if you are approaching a stop sign and want to switch on the engine continuously.
From the engine to the vehicle, the wheels are connected by the clutch unit, which consists of a series of bearings that are flung into the center of the wheel in the same position as the steering wheel and brake pedal.
This is the clutch thrust bearing, also known as release bearing or throw bearing. The clutch pedal provides the power to temporarily disconnect the wheels from the engine, which is necessary when shifting gears. These thrust bearings, sometimes called clutch release bearings, are a simple but important component that is only used when the clutch pedal is pressed.
The clutch housing is mounted on the top of a clutch release bearing, usually in the center of the shaft, and the thrust bearing at the bottom.
The bearing puts pressure on the spring pressure plate, releases the clutch disc from the flywheel, and interrupts the transmission. A clutch fork is attached to this clutch bearing, which moves it with the help of hydraulic rope pressure. With the clutch pedal on the floor, the load it releases directs the crankshaft forward.
The pressure plate is used to explain why it is always good to start the engine with the crank that rotates forward under load. A cold engine starts when most of the oil is drained from the area and the pressure plates cause the crankshaft to spin.
The best way to avoid starting the engine is with the neutral gearbox, so the clutch intervenes and triggers the drive and gearbox so you can pull off gently, stop the car, and change gears without having to switch on the engine.
The clutch consists of a push plate that pushes the friction plate against the engine flywheel. The clutch disc is attached to the clutch shaft and controlled by thrust bearings. It is then unscrewed and the clutch disc removed.
If you drive an Audi A6 with a manual gearbox, you must operate the clutch pedal in addition to the brake and accelerator pedal. The clutch slave cylinder is replaced by a clutch controlled by a cable connected to a clutch pedal. If you are restricted by the thrust bearings of the engine flywheel and the pressure plate, the elements can be modified to consist of the thrust plate and spring thrust by the coupling unit together with pushers, plates, springs, and pressure carriers.
The clutch pedal gives you the option of temporarily decoupling the wheel from the engine when you change gears. The clutch unit, consisting of the plain bearings, is connected to the wheels via the motors in the vehicle and connected to them by a rope.
If the bearings are not lubricated correctly, the clutch cannot be released, which leads to difficulties in shifting. The thrust-through bearing sometimes referred to as the "clutch release bearing," is a simple but important component that is only used with the clutch pedal pressed. The incorrect clutch can shorten the time between the start of the bearing and the start of a gear change or even a gear change.
The clutch pedal vibration can generate the thrust – by means of bearings that cause thrust through the bearing and a change in torque distribution.
In manual transmissions, the clutch release bearings are also checked for correct settings. If the release bearing shows signs of extreme wear or overheating, drivers who routinely drive will show signs of slipping clutches. A worn bearing could not even distribute the pressure on the clutch plate, which resulted in uneven contact with the pressure plate.