Ceramic Throw-Out-Bearing

[sperold]

I need to know a little more about this thing. What part is ceramic? Does it last longer? Is there a disadvantage in using one?

 

[SuperHO]

there's actually no reason why not to run the ceramic one. the two reasons off the top of my head to not run a regular one are your clutch fingers and the input shaft (or whatever it's called)...ask me how i know.

 

[Phoenix]

The balls inside the bearing are made of ceramic instead of metal , thus lighter and less stress on it when it spins @ high rpms (centrifuge force) , it also saves your PP fingers (dont ask me how , but they do)

 

[Project Prophet]

Ceramic is nice for a couple reasons
1. they are lighter
2. they are stronger
3. Ceramic can take a lot of heat, it also will keep the heat in the balls without dispersing it to the steal casing making them LAST WAY LONGER.
4. they need less lubrication since ceramic does not expand under heat and if it does its only by a couple tenths of a inch.

The only draw back is they are brittle, in a throw out bearing this wont effect anything since they will not be taking impact but if you where to have a ceramic bearing that is conditions where it could be shocked they could shatter, or if something gets in the bearing they could shatter.

All in all though they are probably worth the little extra money.

 

[sperold]

I have kept my old clutch that has been changed in the past. The fingers are all worn down on the center of the pressure plate where the release bearing pushes on them. In mine, 4 of the fingers broke the tip off. When I look at the release bearing, there are a few of the balls missing, and it doesn't spin anymore. The disc still has some wear left on it (not much) and the pressure plate looks good, except for the damage to the diaphram fingers.
Does the Ceramic TOB have a big advantage in stopping this finger wear, or is it just more reliable in the ball bearing part not loosing ball bearings?
And SuperHO, how do you know?

 

[Phoenix]

I have kept my old clutch that has been changed in the past. The fingers are all worn down on the center of the pressure plate where the release bearing pushes on them. In mine, 4 of the fingers broke the tip off. When I look at the release bearing, there are a few of the balls missing, and it doesn't spin anymore. The disc still has some wear left on it (not much) and the pressure plate looks good, except for the damage to the diaphram fingers.
Does the Ceramic TOB have a big advantage in stopping this finger wear, or is it just more reliable in the ball bearing part not loosing ball bearings?
And SuperHO, how do you know?

Yes it prevents finger wear , dont ask me how , it just does.

 

[jon93]

I have seen bad finger wear with a ceramic tob after 60k miles of highway commuting.

 

[zak]

Back on the SHOtimes list during the late 90s there were a three of four reports of finger wear taking out clutches in less than 20 K miles, and many at 30 to 35 K miles. I bought my SHO new and it wore through the fingers at 31 K miles, despite being factory equipped with the "Rev B" throwout bearing (3 months after the warranty ran out thanks Ford).

The second clutch got a ceramic TOB and lasted ~ 70 K miles and wore down to the rivits with only some finger wear (this 70 K miles included 300+ autocross runs)

Here is some info from the SHOnut site:
http://shonutperformance.com/ceramic.htm

Does not claim to be a cure all, just reduces rate of wear.

And here is some good general info about ceramic hybrid ball bearing advantages:
http://www.skf.com/portal/skf_us/home/products?contentId=683731