Release bearings are designed to pivot forward and compress the pressure plate levers, which disengages the clutch system. Although release bearings are all designed for the same basic function, they come in many shapes and sizes because they must work in conjunction with a variety of actuation systems.
For example, angular contact bearings are matched with hydraulic systems, and are designed to remain in “constant contact” with the clutch diaphragm spring fingers. As a result, these bearings utilize a self-centering feature that compensates for misalignment by centering the bearing equally on the diameter of the diaphragm spring fingers. This reduces noise, heat, vibration, and bearing wear while increasing the life of the clutch system.

For example, angular contact bearings are matched with hydraulic systems, and are designed to remain in “constant contact” with the clutch diaphragm spring fingers. As a result, these bearings utilize a self-centering feature that compensates for misalignment by centering the bearing equally on the diameter of the diaphragm spring fingers. This reduces noise, heat, vibration, and bearing wear while increasing the life of the clutch system.

Standard release bearings, by comparison, aren’t designed for constant contact applications. Instead, they are engineered to work in conjunction with mechanical actuation systems because the release bearing thrust face is in contact with the pressure plate fingers only during clutch actuation. Contact time is so short that slight misalignment isn’t a factor.

The most recent change in release bearing technology is to integrate the clutch actuation systems and released bearing into one component. This system is referred to as a CSC (concentric slave cylinder). It eliminates the need for several additional components including the fork, bearing retainer, pivot ball, and traditional style release bearing.

Because release bearing compatibility plays such an important role in the service life of the clutch system, we insist on using only the highest quality products, produced by O.E. manufacturers such as AP, BCA, Nachi, and NSK. While more and more clutch suppliers have cut costs by utilizing aftermarket bearings with a composite plastic assembly, we insist on the O.E.M. steel design. Although composite replacements meet dimensional requirements, they can’t withstand the temperatures commonly encountered under moderate to heavy use like snow removal, towing, hauling heavy loads, or street performance.

In instances, we may offer multiple manufacturer’s bearings for the same application, when two or more manufacturers have split O.E. production.

Replacing a more expensive self-centering bearing with a standard release bearing will dramatically shorten the operational life of a clutch system.

	Clutch Kits :	Homepage	Basic Clutch Information	Clutch Kit Information

Back to Clutch Kit Information Page