Throw-Out Bearing

The release lever operating mechanism of the clutch is known as the throw-out bearing. This is a ball bearing, mounted on a sleeve or collar, and it slides back ad forth on a hub. The hub is part of the transmission front bearing retainer. The factory fills the throw-out bearing with grease, so it doesn't usually need service. Some cars use a graphite type, which is a ring of graphite that presses against a plate attached to the clutch levers. The sleeve with the throw-out bearing moves in and out by means of a throw-out fork; it rotates on a ball pivot stud. When you disengage the clutch, the clutch pedal is all of the way down. The throw-out fork forces the throw-out bearing into contact with the pressure plate release levers, which pull the pressure plate from the clutch disc to release it. Once released, the flywheel and pressure plate continue to turn.