I've been a long time lurker here on TGO, love this place.

I've installed a Camaro T56 trans in my C4 Vette. I've had a funny vibration since the swap in ALL gears including neutral and de-clutched. So I've got the tranny out again and I'm looking for answers. I suspected the pressure plate (china knock off) even though I see drilled balancing holes. The pressure plate is a used but great condition Camaro unit.

So I'm getting read to test for vibes and I noticed the throw out bearing wobbles, as in it's off center. I can't see how this would be my problem unless it only vibrated with the clutch in, but it sure don't look right.

Has anyone seen this before?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duziRkOvaGM&feature=plcp

As you can see the mount in the fingers seems solid, the center hole in the bearing itself is off centered.
Any advise appreciated

 

Some bearings have a bit of lateral play such as self-aligning types.
Don't recall if the one for the Valeo pressure plate is like that.


Fire it up without the pressure plate or disc.
Vibration there?
Bolt up the disc and pressure plate without the bearing.
Vibration there?
If no, replace the bearing.

 

The throwout bearing only appears to "wobble" with no trans in there, because there's nothing holding it in place.

The clutch gear bearing retainer of the trans fits tight inside the TOB when the trans is installed, and positively locates it.

You don't have "throw out bearing wobble". It's simply not possible.

 

First, thank you both for your input.

That's my plan today. I'm still not convinced about the wobble. I understand that there is normally some play as it mounts on the fingers (although this seams pretty solid). But the hole is definitely appears off center. I'll see if I can put a dial indicator on it to see if I'm not hallucinating.

 

Don't bother.

LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION. Observe the long round thing sticking out the front of it right in the middle. Note that its outer diameter (the stationary part, right behind the clutch splines) is SUSPICIOUSLY SIMILAR TO the inner diameter of the throwout bearing. Furthermore, notice the nice clear and obvious wear pattern where the TOB has been sliding along it during operation. Imagine how much wobble the TOB will have once you stick that other piece back up inside of it.

Your TOB doesn't "wobble" when the car is fully assembled. Blee dat. Whatever problem you may or may not have, THAT AIN'T IT.

 

Hold on here. I'm not a ****ing idiot. I know the TO bearing rides on the input sleeve. Yes, obviously both the flywheel and clutch assembly have been swapped out (C4s don't come with T56s). My initial guess, on the vibration, was that of flywheel or pressure plate imbalance.

There's always some play on the fingers for bearing movement,there is very little here. Look closely at the video: THE BEARING IS NOT MOVING ON THE FINGERS. When spun by hand the center on the bearing has run out.

Here's another video, at no time is the outside of the TO bearing moving on the fingers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeQEZW-pp0c&feature=plcp

It looks like the bearing was stamped together incorrectly. And to answer my question, guess you haven't seen anything like that before.

 

OK, fair enough. Just get another TO bearing. I've seen a lot of odd stuff in my days and nights of working on cars.

RBob.

 

Ok, I found another TO bearing at a parts store today. The inner bore floated rather easy on that one, "self centering". I didn't buy, as it was rather dear $158

So I took a brass drift to mine, and sure enough the inner bore popped loose. Or looser, than it was. I few more taps back and forth and it seems to loosing up some. Hopefully enough so it doesn't jam on one side again.

 

Video was removed.
Thats the way they are
My brand new Centerforce bearing felt "sloppy" from the get go. Its normal

Your problem lies somewhere else.
Guessing balance or the correct orientation between the position of the FW and pressure plate.

Dont worry threw me off to when I first saw it. Thought wtf. lol