Throwout bearing

[Bullerman]

Who makes a good throwout bearing for a 50 Ford with Flathead V8 239 cu in.

I got one from one of the parts houses and I didn't think too much of it.
The transmission is having to come out again and I am thinking about putting in a new one

[cas3]

VanPelts Sales.com

[tubman]

Just what I was going to suggest myself. I seem to remember, there was a discussion about this a few years back and Mac stepped in to fully explain the matter. A "Search" may reveal something.

[Shoebox]

I second Mac VanPelt as a source. I also got a nice NOS one off E pay.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by Shoebox

I second Mac VanPelt as a source. I also got a nice NOS one off E pay.

I prefer NOS or NORS. Way too many modern bearings are not of great quality.

[1948F-1Pickup]

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The originals were Aetna. Here’s one for my ‘48 truck. I checked when I was at NTN and Aetna still was making them, I believe, but they got acquired by an equity firm in 2016. Who knows what the story is these days.

[ford38v8]

I'll never forget nor forgive myself for the time, as a 17 year old kid, I did a great job in rebuilding my '49 Ford transmission, getting it reinstalled, all buttoned up, and tried to go for a joy ride. I'd gotten the throwout bearing on backwards. My mother admonished me for my blue language that evening at the supper table. Mt father, who never cussed at all, did not raise his eyes from his dinner plate.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 1948F-1Pickup

The originals were Aetna. Here’s one for my ‘48 truck. I checked when I was at NTN and Aetna still was making them, I believe, but they got acquired by an equity firm in 2016. Who knows what the story is these days.

[cas3]

Pete, your hogging the nos ones aren't you! you devil you!

[Mac VP]

The 49 and up passenger car bearing itself is smaller than the 78-7580 bearing pictured above. This smaller bearing has the 8A-7580 Ford part number. We stock this bearing and it’s a USA made part. The bigger problem is that many customers need the bearing AND the carrier hub as well. The 49-51 hub has not been reproduced in recent years. You can find them occasionally via auction sites etc but not through the normal vendor channels. We’ve got a supply of the spring that is riveted to the carrier hub (but not the rivets). Hopefully some vendor or manufacturer will be able to step up and produce this item again…..in the meantime, this is the current situation.

[Drbrown]

Order from the manufacturer when possible. My experience: Rock Auto sold me a wheel bearing. It had the name "Timken" on it ..... Timken now located in Canada. I Checked with Timken and found I could have bought it directly at half of Rock Auto's price. Complained to Rock Auto about their 100% mark-up and of course they just sort of said that's the cost of business.

[V8 Bob]

Originally Posted by Kube

I prefer NOS or NORS. Way too many modern bearings are not of great quality.

A couple friends and I bought early '50s NOS Ford throw-out bearings many years ago, and found the original grease had deteriorated so badly the bearings would need to be disassembled, cleaned, greased and re-assembled to be useful, something they are not designed to do.
New quality bearings were purchased from our local clutch rebuilder and assembled onto the OE carriers.

Sometimes , NOS is not the best option.

[V8 Bob]

Delete

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by V8 Bob

A couple friends and I bought early '50s NOS Ford throw-out bearings many years ago, and found the original grease had deteriorated so badly the bearings would need to be disassembled, cleaned, greased and re-assembled to be useful, something they are not designed to do.
New quality bearings were purchased from our local clutch rebuilder and assembled onto the OE carriers.

Sometimes , NOS is not the best option.

I was thinking the same. Think about it. That's close to 75 years that grease has been sitting around. VanPelt or Third Gen would be great places to start.

[Bullerman]

Will call Van Pelt Monday. Thanks.

[tubman]

You shouldn't be having all of these problems. With all the work and parts swapping, I am starting to wonder if there aren't some alignment issues somewhere in there.

About fifty years ago, I had a '50 Buick special with a stick shift. It was a real clean car, but cheap because the transmission made a terrible noise. I pulled it apart (a bigger job than I had first imagined because of the torque-tube driveline) and replaced some bearings. It was OK for about a year until it started making the same transmission noises. I kept driving it until the transmission failed completely. Later, I was able to source a rebuilt transmission from Sears. I figured that my jury-rigged repair had probably not been good enough, but a "professional rebuild" would solve my problems. It did; for about a year, when I started getting the same noises again. This time, I took it to see an older friend who was the senior mechanic at the local Chevy dealership. After listening to it and my tale of woe, he said that I probably had an alignment problem with the transmission and bellhousing etc. and that it would take time and money to find and fix it. I sold the car the next week, as I couldn't take dealing with the torque-tube a third time.

The next time you have it apart, get under there with a dial indicator and a steel rule.

[KiWinUS]

Originally Posted by V8 Bob

A couple friends and I bought early '50s NOS Ford throw-out bearings many years ago, and found the original grease had deteriorated so badly the bearings would need to be disassembled, cleaned, greased and re-assembled to be useful, something they are not designed to do.
New quality bearings were purchased from our local clutch rebuilder and assembled onto the OE carriers.

Sometimes , NOS is not the best option.

It is not too difficult to clean out the old grease and fill with fresh grease without taking bearings apart. We learned this in the early years of my apprenticeship. Just the same as a used throw out bearing.jeepers that was 55 ish years ago.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by KiWinUS

It is not too difficult to clean out the old grease and fill with fresh grease without taking bearings apart. We learned this in the early years of my apprenticeship. Just the same as a used throw out bearing.jeepers that was 55 ish years ago.

Tony,

Interesting. Could you share some Cliff Notes on how to do it? I'd be interested in giving it a try.

Thanks,

Tim

[Kube]

I have installed more clutch assemblies than I am able to recall. I have ALWAYS used NOS or NORS bearings. Not once was there an issue.

[Tim Ayers]

Originally Posted by Kube

I have installed more clutch assemblies than I am able to recall. I have ALWAYS used NOS or NORS bearings. Not once was there an issue.

Good to know.