The throw-out bearing, also known as a “clutch release bearing”, is an simply part of a clutch yet is vital when the clutch pedal is depressed in a manual transmission vehicle.
There are distinct symptoms of a bad throw-out bearing that you need to pay attention to when they happen. The part itself, when replaced, may be inexpensive, but the replacement of the part is anything but inexpensive. Continue reading to find out more information.
What is a throw-out bearing?
The throw-out bearing or clutch release bearing allows the engine to disengage from the wheels when the driver presses to disengage the clutch.
The throw-out bearing is the size of a small donut and cannot be seen from the outside of the vehicle. It is inside the bell housing of the transmission and is located with the clutch disc and pressure plate; two of the other components of the clutch system.
The throw-out bearing serves as a connection between the moving part, which is the clutch pressure plate that is spinning while the vehicle is moving, and the non-moving part, the hydraulic slave cylinder. Just like other bearings, a throw-out bearing allows moving and non-moving parts to connect.
How A Throw-out Bearing Works
A throw-out bearing is simply a part of the clutch that disengages a car’s engine from the transmission during shifting. This is achieved by pushing the clutch pedal with a foot, which brings the clutch release bearing closer to the flywheel.
Once the clutch release bearing is closer to the flywheel, the throw-out bearing engages the diaphragm spring fingers of the pressure plate against the diaphragm spring fingers and the pressure plate spring.
This operation disconnects the engine and makes the wheels free to shift without engaging power from the engine.
When the clutch pedal is released, the throw-out bearing disengages and reverts to its resting position. The clutch then engages and transfers the car’s engine power to the transmission and drive wheels.
Common Bad Throw-Out Bearing Symptoms
All of the components of the clutch and transmission system are important in keeping the vehicle safe and functional.
So if your throw-out bearing is not providing the correct functionality, you are going to experience some signs of it starting to go bad or total failure.
The throw-out bearing might go bad from years of wear and tear, or just naturally wear out, or maybe due to damage because of an accident. In any case, the clutch release bearing needs to be replaced as soon as you notice it is starting to have problems.
Here are the most common signs of a bad clutch release bearing:
#1. Strange Noises.
One of the most common signs of a bad throw-out bearing is listening for noises while you depress the clutch pedal. The rollers located inside the bearing have a very tight tolerance and should be close together.
So if the rollers have too much space in between them, then there will be different types of noises as you are depressing the clutch pedal. Some noises include grinding, rattling, squealing, growling, or whining noises.
This is simply because the rollers of the bearing are wearing out and turing to smaller amounts of material. You will mainly hear the noise coming from the transmission area.
The sound of the noise will be at its loudest while the clutch pedal is all the way down and will disappear when you take your foot off the pedal.
#2. Gear Shifting Issues.
If you can get the gear shifts in your vehicle to happen with no resistance, something is technically wrong. Presumably, if your transmission was functioning correctly, there should not be any movement or gear grinding.
As you will likely start getting gear shifting issues or problems, if your throw-out bearing has gone bad, the problem is your clutch is not fully engaging. However, it really shouldn’t be the first symptom of this problem.
Listening for the strange noises should have been the first symptom you heard as a warning. If you continue to ignore the strange sounds, you can likely expect gear-shifting issues to follow, or your clutch slipping.
#3. Clutch Pedal Vibrations.
Your clutch pedal should depress smoothly and not vibrate when you press down on it. So if you start to feel vibrations from the pedal, then you need to pay attention to this, because your clutch release bearing has likely gone bad or has possibly failed.
The vibrations are happening because the throw-out bearing is not correctly aligning with the pressure plate. You will feel pulsations when this is happening, and you might even feel the gear shift lever vibrate in some cases.
The vibrating pedal is similar to how a brake pedal would feel if the brake pads or disc brakes were unevenly worn.
#4. The clutch is too stiff.
Just like the rest of the transmission system, the clutch releasing bearing is designed with certain lubrication properties to maintain usability for a long time.
Sadly, the lubrication properties get used up like the bearing itself. The more worn down the bearing is, the more difficult the clutch pedal will become to depress.
Eventually, it will reach a point where you just cannot disengage the clutch. At that point, you will not be able to even drive your vehicle because you will not be able to shift.
#5. Increased Clutch Pedal Travel.
If you notice that you are having to push the clutch pedal further down than normal to disengage the clutch, it could be an indication that your throw-out bearing is failing.
As the bearing wears down, it may not come into contact with the pressure plate properly unless the clutch pedal is closer to the floor. This additional pedal travel could be an early indication of throw-out bearing wear.
You may also notice that the clutch engages closer to the floor while letting off the pedal.
Throw-Out Bearing Replacement Cost
Because a throw-out bearing is such a simple part, the bearing itself is actually very cheap. The downside is that it takes a considerable amount of labor to access because the transmission must be removed.
Because of this disadvantage, you are typically recommended to also replace the clutch (and sometimes flywheel) while you are there.
A throw out bearing will cost you $30 – $100. Clutch prices can vary considerably based on the vehicle, but most will cost $300 – $800.
A flywheel (if you need one) will set you back another $50 – $200, but often times, a flywheel can be machined for about $75.
As mentioned earlier, labour is typically where you will pay more for the replacement of the throw-out bearing.
You can expect your mechanic to take 4-6 hours to replace the throw out bearing and the clutch. At an average rate of $120/hr, you can expect to pay $480 – $720 in labour.
Overall, simply replacing your throw-out bearing will cost you somewhere between $500 – $800. But you will likely want to replace your clutch at the same time, so the total will be close to $800 – $1600.
Note: Keep in mind that these costs can vary significantly based on your vehicle make/model, who does the work, and almost every other regional factor, including labor.
Common Misconceptions About Throw-Out Bearings
Myth: Throw-out bearings require routine lubrication.
Fact: Some car owners think they have to periodically lubricate their throw-out bearings. Most throw-out bearings today are sealed and pre-lubricated. They are designed to last the entire lifespan of the clutch with no additional maintenance.
Myth: A noisy throw-out bearing can be repaired.
Fact: Some people think too that a noisy throw-out bearing can be repaired by lubricant or indexing of the pressure plate or clutch linkage or adjustment. This is usually not the case. When a throw-out bearing is making noise, it usually needs to be replaced.
Myth: Throw-out bearings will wear quickly.
Fact: While throw-out bearings do wear out with other components in the clutch, they are designed to last many years under normal service. Early failure is often due to improper usage of the clutch or poor design of other parts of the clutch system.
Myth: You can drive with a bad throw-out bearing forever.
Fact: While you may be able to drive with a bad throw-out bearing for a while, it can contribute to severe and costly failure of other clutch components.
Myth: Only replace the throw-out bearing.
Fact: When replacing a failed throw-out bearing or a functioning bearing on the same premise, it is usually best to replace the entire clutch because of the access time involved. Even though replacing just the bearing may appear to be cheaper, it may become a repeat repair and cost you much more in the long run.