Clutch thrust bearing issue

[Bakergt40]

Hi all, having just had my 3.8 engine upgraded to fast road spec.
After 500 miles there’s a bad rattle from the clutch area that disappears when the clutch is depressed.
E type U.K. have recently built the engine and replaced the clutch and much more and they have the car. We believe the thrust bearing is the issue and there looking at a quality replacement.
Surely there are heavy duty bearing out there, they said they have had this issue before.
I know they will fix it but what say you
Thanks Keith

[cactusman]

The std bearing is a carbon release bearing....upgraded one's tend to be ball races....My local MG specialist who prepares MGC's for racing told me ages back to avoid the "uprated" roller bearings as, quite apart from the dubious quality of some updated bearings, the clutch release plate is designed for a carbon release bearing (unless you are using a fancy clutch of course). For road use with a std clutch his take was std bearing in MGB and C...and an E type clutch is very similar. So long as you don't ride the clutch or sit at the lights in first with the pedal depressed then the carbon release bearing will outlast the clutch anyway...your rattle may be the bearing tinkling against the clutch release plate or input shaft when the clutch is not depressed and the bearing is under no load....or it may be the death rattle of the bearing

[mgcjag]

Hi Keith...the standard bearing should be more than suitable.....however there have been bad batches in the past and E type UK should be up to providing suitable replacement....any type of upgraded or "heavy duty bearing"could leave you in a similar position as not many are useing them so we have no real feel for their reliability.....Steve

[Bakergt40]

Thanks for the replies so far.
Bad batches, does this mean cheap parts from somewhere like China ?
My original clutch was still good and it had run at least 12k
I’m hoping e type U.K. sort it quick while the suns still shining 🤪

[rfs1957]

I heard that a spate of recent problems were with the clutch cover, or rather the centre thrust pad (that is carried on the end of the spring-fingers) that takes the effort from the carbon release bearing.

As I've not closed mine up yet I shall be very interested to hear what the conclusion was.

You might want to read these exchanges from when I discovered a whole lot of wear on the clutch release fork and the bearing "ears".

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11948&p=106935&hilit=clutch#p106935

I still don't know what was at the origin of this, but the thrust surface on the clutch housing was not the issue.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with the standard carbon release principle, but doubtless it is possible to buy rubbish copies from the idiots in the trade that give them to their cents-to-the-pound suppliers and say "copy that".

With the gigantic margins that are available, any fool can give a guarantee and still be quids-in ; unfortunately, with a part like that, the price of the part is a drop in the ocean in comparison with the work required to replace it ............

[madjack4]

Hi its possible they forgot to fill the gearbox with oil if they drained it of course when the clutch is pressed the box stops spinning if the box has no oil in they rattle as the baulk rings and hubs rattle like mad with no oil to cushion them just a thought

Regards

[Bakergt40]

Again thankyou for replies
It should be back completed by end of next week and I’ll update then
Hopefully they’ll find a definite fault or it will always be in your mind .
It has had the same clutch for 23 years since rebuild and at least 16k miles with no issues so I would like at least the same now
Thanks all

[Bakergt40]

Hi all,
Have today been told the thrust bearing was faulty and by all accounts the front moss gearbox bearing is faulty.
I find it unusual for the bearing to be faulty after the initial inspection said the box was in good order 300 miles earlier
However this apparently is chargeable at a large amount especially as the box is out.
They said front bearing but there is one at the rear as well.
On a rebuild what should be replaced assuming the gears are ok which they were.
I like the moss box and this is the cheapest option but what would be a 5 speed conversion cost ?

[mgcjag]

Hi ....search 5 speed gearbox lots on the forum.....think you are in region of £5-6k viewtopic.php?f=9&t=7226&hilit=5+speed+gearbox+cost

[Bakergt40]

Thanks
What C type are you building ?

[mgcjag]

Hi..whats your name...please try to put it in the signature area....Im building a Realm.....Steve

[cactusman]

Hi Keith....probably won't help but I know a company that will rebuild the box properly....they currently do the boxes for all the Jaguar Landrover classic rebuilds and various racers too....if you want the details pm me....Julian

[PeterCrespin]

Hi all,
Have today been told the thrust bearing was faulty and by all accounts the front moss gearbox bearing is faulty.
I find it unusual for the bearing to be faulty after the initial inspection said the box was in good order 300 miles earlier
However this apparently is chargeable at a large amount especially as the box is out.
They said front bearing but there is one at the rear as well.
On a rebuild what should be replaced...?”

0h dear. I am clearly getting cynical in my old age. The probability of two separate, fitted, functioning, and durable components failing simultaneously has how many zeros between the decimal point and the number? How many extra zeroes when the cheaper one is known to be only perhaps 15% into its expected lifecycle?

Which is not to decry the entire ‘whilst we’re in here’ philosophy, but...

It’s probably just me

[rfs1957]

It’s me too.

They are swinging the lead, covering up one problem with another.

Or should I say, Swing That Lamp.

Both nautical heirlooms from my Birkenhead family’s vernacular, and a sop to Peter.

[madjack4]

As i said in my last post NO OIL in box that explains bearing failure easy done get broke off job and forget to fill it
Regards

[PeterCrespin]

Both nautical heirlooms from my Birkenhead family’s vernacular, and a sop to Peter.

I was at school with a lad called Simpson. Michael I *think* his name was. Fair hair, decent rugby player.