Are new throwout bearings available?

[WARP TEN]

Originally Posted by Paul Workman

Couple pointers:

1. There are two types of pilot bearings; the roller bearing unit and the bronze saturated bearing. IIRC, Marc Haibeck recommends the bronze bearing over the roller bearing.
   
2. That said, my roller* type prolly has 20k miles on it. I'm (a little) paranoid about clutch bearing; no doubt from having changes so many in my lifetime (NOT ZR-1s, however!! But, a clutch is a clutch!) So! I never sit, for example, at a red light or whatever and hold the clutch pedal down while in gear. I just imagine that bearing getting hot while I'm pressing the clutch pedal and how much fun it would be to pull the tranny to change (either) of those bearings. So far in ~ 20k miles, so good!

NOTE: I took the opportunity to change the clutch bearings when I changed flywheels "while I was in there", NOT because either had failed. Just sayin!

Paul is right that it is good practice to pop the trans into neutral when coming to a stop, rather than hold the clutch pedal down. As a matter of habit I have always done that on stick shift cars pretty much all my life. I have never had a clutch problem (not counting a Saab 99 whose clutch fork broke in the middle of a downtown intersection). I even popped into neutral when driving in bumper to bumper traffic and had to stop. Really not a problem to do that and it will save your clutch and throwout bearing. --Bob

[Vetman]

Additionally, I have always, when slowing down to a light using rpm match, sliped it into neutral without using the clutch.

[ram_g]

For clarification - since this thread seems to be drifting from my original question - I've been driving sticks for ~40 years and never once have had to replace a clutch or any clutch components, so I'm pretty comfortable with my competence in this area. Since my ZR-1 is new to me though and is making some pretty obvious pilot bushing/bearing noises, I thought I'd ask about the TO bearing if I was going to be in there anyway. I think the question has been answered.

[ZWILD1]

I have a new GM part in the package. I think when I did the replacement tranny in my first 91 Z I used the one that came with the new clutch kit. The GM one is clearly marked made in China and I bought it back in 2005 or 06.