Shims for throwout bearing retainer collar

[BlackGT89]

We're doing a clutch job on an 89 LX with stock T5. We ordered the steel throwout bearing retainer collar from Summit thinking it was a good thing to do while at it. Problem is, the stock shim is too tight and no shim is too loose. All the local Ford place has is the stock shim and the local speed shops are no help. Has anybody solved this problem and if so, where did you get the proper shims ? What is the general feeling on this replacement collar, is it that much of an improvement ? We may have to slap the old collar back on to get the car back together. A search turned up nothing.

 

[93 teal terror]

I didnt use a shim, nor did I see any type of shim when I took the stock retainer off. I didnt check the clearance, so I cant say if it was too loose or not, but it works fine and doesnt leak. Just make sure you use sealant on the retainer or it will leak all over the place.
I've since had a local mustang shop look at it and they didnt comment on it being too tight or too loose.

As for the improvement....well if yours is like mine was, theres a nice groove in the aluminum where the to bearing sits. This causes you to wear out TO bearings prematurely and can cause chattering or squealing. If you dont use the steel one, at the very least I would put a new aluminum one on.

 

[jrichker]

There may be a shim to preload the roller bearing for the input shaft. A machine shop may be able to make one for you. Or you can buy some sheet shim stock & make your own. That's what I did when I rebuilt my Tremec 3550.

See http://www.ttcautomotive.com/English/onlineorder/product.asp to download a FREE service manual for T5 or Tremec 3550
You will need the Adobe Acrobat viewer which is also a free download – http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Try See http://www.hanlonmotorsports.com/ or http://www.ddperformance.com/index2.htm for parts if you can spare the time to order a shim.

 

[BlackGT89]

Thanks for the replies.

93 teal - so yours didn't have a shim ? We did notice that there was a bit of orbital movement of the shaft with no shim in place (in other words, we could grab the shaft at the end and make slight round and round movements). But the end play (back and forth) didn't seem to be a problem I suppose when the input shaft engages the slight orbital movement would not be an issue since it would be captured so to speak, but it doesn't exactly give me a warm fuzzy to think about eliminating the shim entirely since the stock T5 has it.

jrichker - thanks for the links. I did download the T5 .pdf service manual, really great info to have ! The link to Hanlon Motorsports shows the shim kit for about $7, but we've run out of time for that this time I'm afraid. Need to get it back on the road for work / school, etc.

Any other comments from anyone ? Can the shim be eliminated safely if end play is not an issue ?

 

[93 teal terror]

Its been a few years since i replaced it but I dont recall ever seeing any kind of shim. Im not saying there shouldnt be one, but simply that mine didnt have one. When I replaced it all I did was reuse the old bearing and replaced the seal. I believe the new retainer has the race already pressed in. Thats all I didnt and I havnt had any problems for several years. Just make sure you put sealant on the ratainer, as mine leaked and I had to pull the trans again to get it sealed.

 

[93 teal terror]

The more I think about it, the more that Im not 100% positive there wasnt a shim. But I do know that if it was there I put it back on. I didnt remove a shim if it was present, and I didnt buy a shim kit. If you want to make sure everything is right, I would just order the shim kit.

 

[BlackGT89]

Thanks 93 teal. I think it would probably work okay without a shim but we will probably go back with the stock t.o.b. retainer setup for now and if we decide to use the Summit retainer in the future we will order the shims with it. Lesson learned I guess...