TheSamba.com :: View topic - Clutches - what pressure plate with what throwout bearing

Sat Dec 24, 2005 2:11 pm

There's been alot of confusion and problems with the 2 different styles of pressure plate / throwout bearing combos.

There's the "early" style, 1970 and older, which required a "centering ring" on the pressure plate.

There's the "late" style, 1971-1979, which has a sleeve on the tranny and no centering ring on the pressure plate.

Early:
Throwout bearing

Pressure plate (note centering ring)

Late:
Throwout bearing (note sleeve around the input shaft)

Pressure plate (note NO centering ring)

Don't rely on the year of the car. As we all know many times the engine and tranny have been swapped so you need to visually inspect the parts.

If you take the centering ring off and have a early throwout bearing, it will quickly fail.

If you leave the centering ring on and have a late throwout bearing you wan't be able to get the engine all the way on the input shaft when reinstalling the engine.

Here's a early throwout bearing:

Here's a late throwout bearing:

Also note that most pressure plates come with the centering ring already on it. If you have a late throwout bearing you can remove the ring. This allows the vendors to carry one part from all years.

This is the centering ring and the late model sleeve. They do not work together.

Any questions?

Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:04 am

must i install the sleeve if i have a late throwout bearing?

Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:07 pm

Glenn, do you just happen to have all these photos laying around, or do you run out to your shop with the camera as questions arise??
Whatever, a great response to the question. 8)

Sun Jan 08, 2006 4:08 pm

66 Vert wrote: must i install the sleeve if i have a late throwout bearing?

Yes. The sleeve prevents the throwout bearing from tilting and keeps it in full contact with the pressure plate. If you leave it off, it will most likely fail in a short time.

iowegian wrote: Glenn, do you just happen to have all these photos laying around, or do you run out to your shop with the camera as questions arise??
Whatever, a great response to the question. 8)

Some are pictures of my engine and others were taken from the gallery right here on The Samba.

Sun Jan 22, 2006 6:53 pm

I bought my car without a motor or clutch. The title says its a 70. I bought a motor thats a 71. How can I tell what clutch to use???

Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:55 pm

Look at the tranny pictures. You most likely need a early pressure plate and TO Bearing, but the tranny could of been changed. Look for the guide sleeve. If it's not there, you need a early setup.

Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:18 pm

Can you tell me what happed here:

Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:26 pm

Looks like the centering ring gave up.

Those 9 springs pressure plates are really old. And old parts fail.

Mon Jan 30, 2006 7:32 pm

it was put in not too long ago.
if that is a pressure plate,then it looks crazy. The one i just purchased from DAP looks nothing like that.
Glenn wrote: Looks like the centering ring gave up.

Those 9 springs pressure plates are really old. And old parts fail.

Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:36 am

ok i just bought an engine with the centering ring installed(with a brand new clutch) and my tranny also has the sleeve. so which one should i take off? please let me know.
thanks jay

Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:43 am

You take off the centering ring to match the tranny.

Mon Feb 06, 2006 10:47 am

i have to take the clutch off to take off that centering ring. right?

thanks jay

Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:53 pm

ok i just removed the pressure plate and the centering ring on the plate is diffrent than the one you show. it does not have the simple retaining ring. mine seems to have a sleeve pressed on to hold it on. is there any way to remove this type of ring. should i just buy a new pressure plate?
thanks jay

Tue Mar 07, 2006 6:38 pm

If the adjustment nut does not move, is there another way to adjust the clutch? :?:

Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:00 pm

DUB-LUV wrote: If the adjustment nut does not move, is there another way to adjust the clutch? :?:

Not really.

Time to cut the cable and install a new one.

Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:20 pm

UUUuuugghh! There has to be another trick.

Glenn wrote: DUB-LUV wrote: If the adjustment nut does not move, is there another way to adjust the clutch? :?:

Not really.

Time to cut the cable and install a new one.

Wed Mar 08, 2006 4:00 am

DUB-LUV wrote: UUUuuugghh! There has to be another trick.

Glenn wrote: DUB-LUV wrote: If the adjustment nut does not move, is there another way to adjust the clutch? :?:

Not really.

Time to cut the cable and install a new one.

If it's rusted and can't be freed....... try praying.

Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:16 am

lol. It's not rusted. It's just stuck. I'm gonna try to lube it today.

Glenn wrote: DUB-LUV wrote: UUUuuugghh! There has to be another trick.

Glenn wrote: DUB-LUV wrote: If the adjustment nut does not move, is there another way to adjust the clutch? :?:

Not really.

Time to cut the cable and install a new one.

If it's rusted and can't be freed....... try praying.

Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:06 pm

I have an older model plate on my car that takes the collar (centering ring).

I separated the engine and tranny the other day and several of the "teeth" had broken off the collar, and the spring that is usually held in by the teeth was sprung and wound up in the pressure plate.

I guess the collar was installed wrong.

What is the correct way to install it? Do you just press it in, or do you press it in then twist it?

Also, anyone have a leftover unneeded centering ring they'd like to send me (postage due of course!)?

Fri Jul 28, 2006 1:09 am

I just put my engine from my old wrecked car into my new (to me) 66 beetle. Before I read this post I had just used the sleeve type clutch from my old 69 on the '66's tranny that has the sleeveless bearing. I drove it around the block and I heard the problem. Haven't had time to remove the engine again yet but don't worry, I haven't driven the car again yet. Should I change the whole flywheel from the '66 engine (It's got a 12V/200mm flywheel on it with the ring on the clutch)? My concern is will I have to reset the crankshaft endplay to match the flywheel? Also it seems to me that the clutches might "know" their flywheels. Let me know what you think.