S197 clutches and throw out bearings?

[Stephen06GT]

The throwout bearing on Ol Paint bit the dust today on my way home from work. SuperBlue fluid all over the road. I don't know if the clutch is salvageable until the good Doctor can get it apart, but unlikely and it has over 138,000km on it. Sooooooo, any of you fellow S197ers change your clutch. If so what did you go with and how do you like it?

[Intmdtr]

Definitely stick with an OEM TOB, sorry to hear ol paint is sick....I am sure you will be back on the go again soon. If you are happy with the clutch that was in the car you could go the OEM route with it too.

[Uncle Buck]

Poor Ol Paint

[Ray721]

Hear excellent reviews with Centerforce DF clutch.

[RedSN]

How long did the clutch and bearing last in Ol Paint I?

[Blackmare]

Would it make sense to stick with OEM with near stock power level?

[hsousa88]

Hear excellent reviews with Centerforce DF clutch.
Happy I dished out a lil extra coin vs. a ford racing clutch

[Stephen06GT]

How long did the clutch and bearing last in Ol Paint I?

The clutch was the original from 06, and the bearing was from '10. About 130000km on the bearing and 138000km on the clutch. The clutch might have lasted longer if the bearing hadn't puke its guts out all over it.

[Stephen06GT]

An FYI to anybody with an S197 and a squeaky throwout bearing, or wonky clutch, the replacement parts ain't cheap.

[Uncle Buck]

Which one did you go with?

[ZR]

Still debating.

[Slope]

Happy I dished out a lil extra coin vs. a ford racing clutch

Like.

[Stephen06GT]

Which one did you go with?

Right now, the Valeo setup has the nod. For the price and quality it seems hard to beat.

[ZR]

Decent stuff, OEM supplier to:

- BMW
- Citroen
- Chrysler
- Fiat
- Ford
- GM
- Mercedes
- Nissan
- Peugeot
- Renault
- VAG (Volkswagen Audi Gruppe)


https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/537492_4561411805647_88076745_n.jpg

[Mellow Yellow]

There has to be a better setup for the throwout bearing.

Mine went a few years back, fortunately I was going slow and the fluid went straight down and did not contaminate the clutch; I'm always nervous now.

[ZR]

Still hopefull the same scenario plays out for Stephen.
GM is having no better luck with a similar set up.

[Stephen06GT]

Well, the doctor got the ol' turd's t-bird off the operating table and Ol Paint was admitted for a pre-op examine. It appears the throwout bearing bought the farm and took out the slave cylinder. The clutch, while not affected by this was worn, so Ol Paint is getting a new clutch, throwout bearing w/ slave. While it's on the table, it is also going to get the vent mod for the diff. Oh well.

[Stephen06GT]

Well, the doctor got the ol' turd's t-bird off the operating table and Ol Paint was admitted for a pre-op examine. It appears the throwout bearing bought the farm and took out the slave cylinder. The clutch, while not affected by this was worn, so Ol Paint is getting a new clutch, throwout bearing w/ slave. While it's on the table, it is also going to get the vent mod for the diff. Oh well.

OP also needs new axle seals as the old ones have gone hard.

[Uncle Buck]

Some well priced full kits here but I don't know the quality of these

http://www.rockauto.com/m/mobilecatalog.php

[ZR]

Last minute change of plans due to stock Valeo not really standing the test of time. Yes, in spite of clearly light use (not so much as a burn or a heat mark on flywheel or pressure plate), premature failure. OEM style replacement from Exedy taking center stage. Cool part, comes with a release bearing from the folks that made the OEM Ford version.
Parts coming in + flywheel back from machine shop sometime tomorrow, Old Paint will be rockin on up the hwy very soon.

[Uncle Buck]

Is that what some call the Exedy 350?

[mazzon]

Id stick with the OEM clutch
i have a Centerforce DF, which is awesome..not sure how id deal with it for daily driving. it a completely different animal than the stock clutch.

[ZR]

It's their Pro Kit.
Comes with disc, pressure plate, pilot bearing and complete slave / release bearing combo.

[ZR]

Update.................clutch is smooth as silk with better than stock manners.

[Slope]

Update.................clutch is smooth as silk with better than stock manners.

Exedy, eh?

[ZR]

Yes Sir.

[Slope]

Heh...

Never would have thought.

[Stephen06GT]

Thanks Rick and Ross. The ride home was uneventful. The new clutch is gonna take a day or two to get use to. As mentioned above, the feel is smoooooooth.