Meh, there are turbo miatas with more power/torque out there with success running the 6spd. The first trans always had a loud 3rd and shifted a bit clunky, we still aren't sure if that was normal or not. If the 2nd trans goes, well we now have more than just an isolated case. We will actually have a very open case, with gear teeth everywhere.

T5 swap is on the horizon though. All the off the shelf bellhousing are less than ideal though (Not a big fan of hydraulic-annular throw out bearings).

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Robert Culbertson
(Not a big fan of hydraulic-annular throw out bearings).

Why is that?

My only experience is with the Ford truck TO bearings. When they start leaking, you have to pull the trans to replace them. One of the replacements I installed leaked immediately, so trans back out again.
They can also be a pain to bleed (mainly access to the bleeder). Slaves on the outside of the bellhousing... so much easier to replace if they fail.

bleeding can be resolved. But a regular old slave would be easier to replace. I didn't think they were particularly failure prone.

Quote
aj_johnson
bleeding can be resolved. But a regular old slave would be easier to replace. I didn't think they were particularly failure prone.

New ones probably are not failure prone (my experiences were with 80s/90s Ford trucks), but if they do fail... it really sucks.

The clutch fork and pivot are a regular failure point for me on the older 5 speeds. That requires removing the trans to fix too. Reinforcing only makes them last a bit longer, not really a permanent fix.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

Quote
Pete
The clutch fork and pivot are a regular failure point for me on the older 5 speeds. That requires removing the trans to fix too. Reinforcing only makes them last a bit longer, not really a permanent fix.

So what is the solution? Break clutch forks or risk a leaking hydro-TO bearing?
Maybe the Tilton ones are actually nice...?

I'll take a hydraulic throwout bearing any day. Millions of cars out there have them and they aren't major failure items. Basically every front drive GM/SAAB since the Ecotec era started uses one, and even a little before that. Every front drive Volvo. Buncha others, too.

The aftermarket ones are also very nice. No more linkage flex taking away pedal travel. I think I have it bad with clutch fork flex and pivor ball flex, the American iron guys have Z-bars that twist and frame mounts that flex too, in addition to the flexy stamped forks, and then they also have relative motion between the frame and engine to worry about too. Hydraulic throwout bearings solve ALL of that. The first time I experienced one (a GTO with a Richmond 6 speed) I was utterly shocked - it was a 60s car with a clutch pedal that didn't feel like complete shit despite the typical oh-too-stiff pressure plate!

Haven't seen one of the aftermarket ones fail, ever. They're all metal instead of half plastic like the OEM ones.

---

Pete Remner
Cleveland, Ohio

1984 RX-7 (rallycross thing)
1978
Silence is golden, but duct tape is silver.

Quote
Pete
I'll take a hydraulic throwout bearing any day. Millions of cars out there have them and they aren't major failure items. Basically every front drive GM/SAAB since the Ecotec era started uses one, and even a little before that. Every front drive Volvo. Buncha others, too.

The aftermarket ones are also very nice. No more linkage flex taking away pedal travel. I think I have it bad with clutch fork flex and pivor ball flex, the American iron guys have Z-bars that twist and frame mounts that flex too, in addition to the flexy stamped forks, and then they also have relative motion between the frame and engine to worry about too. Hydraulic throwout bearings solve ALL of that. The first time I experienced one (a GTO with a Richmond 6 speed) I was utterly shocked - it was a 60s car with a clutch pedal that didn't feel like complete shit despite the typical oh-too-stiff pressure plate!

Haven't seen one of the aftermarket ones fail, ever. They're all metal instead of half plastic like the OEM ones.

Just for the record, the earliest annular slave set up I know of and have worked with is from MY75 Saab 99....Very reliable if correct brake fluid was used--DOT4---
Near immediate failure if DOT3 was used...
At least on Saabs with the clutch quickly accessible under a platic cover, swapping was quick like max 30 minutes from switch off to switch on..



Bleed screw easily reachable

The earliest of the aftermarket ones used Saab dimension seals and O rings. And Saab release bearing too.


I like 'em BUT..
I like swapping an external one with one bolt more...

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Rebuilds are easy on the Saab:


Thats it.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
Pete
The clutch fork and pivot are a regular failure point for me on the older 5 speeds. That requires removing the trans to fix too. Reinforcing only makes them last a bit longer, not really a permanent fix.

Seen two of these type failures in the last 6 months. Not on my car, and I dont frequent shops. This was on buddies wifes cars. One involved replacing the trans that would no longer hold fluid (a saturn that was allegedly poorly maintained but the failure is common enough). I don't think there is an end all be all, but I wouldn't write off a nice hydraulic throwout based on 80's ford stuff.

John is just a cheater



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 05/21/2015 08:38PM by aj_johnson.

And you can trust me! I'm a Professional Moderator!

Quote
aj_johnson
And you can trust me! I'm a Professional Moderator!

Oh yeah? says who? I see "Mod moderator."
I's a mega moderator so I's outranking youse.

---

John Vanlandingham
Sleezattle, WA, USA

Vive le Prole-le-ralliat

www.rallyrace.net/jvab
CALL +1 206 431-9696
Remember! Pacific Standard Time
is 3 hours behind Eastern Standard Time.

Quote
aj_johnson
I wouldn't write off a nice hydraulic throwout based on 80's ford stuff.

John is just a cheater

If we switch to a hydro TO and it leaks, I'm holding you personally responsible.

Installer error. But if the trans is the weak point, and the only thing holding you up from strong stuff is the slave cyl... Reinvent the bellhousing this winter.

There is prize money to be had from idaho!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 05/22/2015 10:00AM by aj_johnson.