Help.. with throwout bearing question

[Pflugerman]

I have a 69 c10 inline-6 250 4.1 w/three on the tree. Had what appeared to be a throw-out bearing (clutch thrust bearing) issue. Pulled the clutch and ready to replace the bearing. O'Reily's ordered one in yet it is a self aligning bearing vs thrust. Why two types of bearings for a c10 inline-6 250 4.1 w/three on the tree? Are they interchangeable? Which is recommended? Non of the auto parts people in any of the stores have a clue. Not a clue!

Your help is appreciated.

[jocko]

Technically it is a release bearing. As long as they the new one is the same distance front to back as what you are replacing and the same inside diameter and the clutch fork fits it correctly, you are good to go. Make sure to install it in the correct orientation - spinning surface forward.

[Pflugerman]

Thanks. So is self aligning a desirable feature?

[NobleSix]

im actually curious about this too. im sure some more folks will chime in. another place i use for info about my inlines is inliners.org

click on bulletin board, third one up from the numbers, and theres tons of helpful inline info there.

when i go to autozone or oreilys, now i just take the part with me. i dont like having to hassle with driving home and finding it isnt the right one, or it wont fit, and your self aligning vs. thrust is a mystery to me tho.

[Pflugerman]

Thanks Noble6

Ill try out the forum

[Pflugerman]

I took the part with me too. Yet they had to order it.

[RANDY COX]

I remember a few yrs back having an issue with throw out bearing in my K-5 Blazer, It was a 3 OTT and the book called for short and it need to be long, They gave me the short so I installed it and drove prolly 15 miles and it started slipping really bad, so I had to pull it out again and get the right one. What a pain. I remember my dad going through the same thing with his K-10 3 OTT. Sometimes them ole books are wrong...

[Wrenchbender Ret]

There are 2 different type clutches used in these trucks. The TO brg length must match the old one. When replaceing a clutch be sure & get the kit with a matching TO brg. The old style clutch that used the long brg. is generally replaced with the newer style.
The floating feature is on some with the short brg. The surface that contacts the fingers mooves around a little to center itself.

[geezer#99]

Easiest way to tell which tob to use is look at the pressure plate fingers. Long tob with flat finger, short tob with raised finger.

[dznucks]

I'll throw this out there for what it's worth, I ran into a similar issue when I had a 3 speed.

There are two types of 3 speeds. I believe the Saginaw is what I had, I don't think it was stock. The long bearing was to long and the short was to short. After researching, they do not make the throw out bearing for the Saginaw anymore. I had to measure the old bearing and buy a machine shim from grainger or MSC to make up the difference between the Saginaw bearing and the shorter throw out bearing.

You can tell the difference between 3 speed type by the bolts in the shift lever cover.