throw-out bearing

[Benson]

Maybe the idiots are making BOGUS Timken and Federal Mogul/National boxes?

[1955cj5]

It appears that they still exist, and still located on Sesame Street!

https://www.aetnabearing.com/product.../aetna-clutch/


.

[wmws]

Can you still get a throwout bearing with a grease zerk on it. One shot every 500 miles it would probably last forever.

[Synchro909]

I have never heard of Aetna bearings! Reading between the lines in these posts, am I correct in saying they are American made and used to be good quality but not so now or someone is impersonating them?

[Benson]

deleted

[KR500]

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Since Aetna seems to be close to my home I am going to venture a visit. I still have a supply of Aetna bearings for various autos from 30s and 40s for even such vehicles as the Chrysler product fluid drives. I sold my Auburn and Cord bearings about 15 years ago to a friend who I did work for and he sold Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg parts which he made.

[juke joint johnny]

I have one of those throwout bearings .It has Made in USA & Aetna stamped on the back
it is new in it's plain white box but bought several years ago .

I was just thinking of useing it but maybe that is not a good idea . I would hate to do the job over

[old31]

Now I am worried. I am going to change it for a Federal Mogul bearing.

I just ordered a NAPA N1087 Tbearing. The box says SKF. The bearing says A-2256 Aetna USA.

[old31]

Which way is the throw-out bearing suppose face in the bearing collar? Round side in to the collar, or larger flat side in towards the collar?

[Y-Blockhead]

I have never used Aetna bearings that I know of (dang it, now I am going to have to check my stash...) but I have to wonder how they have remained in business all these years if their bearings are so bad?? Their website states they opened in 1916, over 100 years ago??

[katy]

Round side to the rear, flat side to the front, like in your 2nd picture.

[Benson]

I have seen 10 or 12 noisy Aetna bearings in different cars (ie not all in one car) in the last 15 years.

Every bad bearing was stamped "AETNA" just one word. so maybe these are the junk "INDIA" bearings.

Recently I found a used throw out bearing which looks very old and is greasy.

It was in an engine that had not been running in years.

It is stamped:

"Aetna Ball Bearing Manufacturing Co. A-7580-B 3"

NOT just "AETNA"

NOTE: Unlike the new T. O. Bearings, this bearing is open on the ID so grease can get inside bearing when the Zerk on the "bearing carrier" is used to apply grease.

Maybe this is a genuine Aetna bearing?

[ryanheacox]

Originally Posted by Benson

I have seen 10 or 12 noisy Aetna bearings in the last 15 years.

Every bad bearing was stamped "AETNA" just one word. so maybe these are the junk "INDIA" bearings.

Recently I found a used throw out bearing which looks very old and is greasy.

It was in an engine that had not been running in years.

It is stamped:

"Aetna Ball Bearing Manufacturing Co. A-7580-B 3"

NOT just "AETNA"

NOTE: Unlike the new T Bearings, this bearing is open on the ID so grease can get inside bearing when the Zerk is used to apply grease.

Maybe this is a genuine Aetna bearing?

That's like the one that was in my car, same stamping. Never gave any problems. I almost reused it since it felt better than the new FM bearing.

[Benson]

Originally Posted by KR500

Tom Endy, Back about 20 years ago a friend of mine known for installing BW overdrives planned a trip to the National. He decided he wanted to replace his clutch disc and since he also had a brand new throwout bearing from Macs he decided to replace it as well. Well when the job was completed the new throwout bearing squealed worse than the old one. Aetna was in Chicago on the near northside. He took the bearing which was marked Aetna and they placed it on a lathlike machine which clamped the inner portion and applied pressure to the area which contacts the pressure plate fingers. It screamed. The Aetna employee did state that it indeed was marked Aetna, but was not their bearing. He asked my friend if he minded him cutting the bearing open and since my friend had no objection, it was cut open. Result; Inferior junk for materials. Bearings were being made in India and other third world countries and going so far as even copying Aetna's logo. Spend the money and buy the better throwout bearings.

As KR500 mentioned in post 17 above He took a noisy bearing to the Aetna plant and they found it was a junk made in India bearing.

[old31]

Originally Posted by katy

Round side to the rear, flat side to the front, like in your 2nd picture.

Thanks Katy.

[old31]

The bottom line is, why would we test our luck with Aetna when there are good manufactures out there.

[old31]

Please don't tell me I have to tear everything apart again. What are your thoughts.

I installed a new National BCA 2065 bearing and a new centerforce clutch disk, similar to my old disk. Except this disk was improved because it had caged springs, the old one did not.

Clutch has 1 to 1-1/2 " play. When the car is not running I can easily spin the bearing with my fingers, so it is not touching the clutch fingers. As you can see in the video I have some noise at idle but as soon as I slowly press the clutch it gets very screechy.

https://youtu.be/elGFs-P9GFg

[Bob C]

Have you checked the starter bolts to long, ring gear moved and/or to much crank end play.

[old31]

The starter bolts are the same as I had before.

But, I would think that if I had to long a bolt the noise would be the same all the time, and not just get louder when you press in the clutch.

I checked the ring gear earlier and it was good.

I used a centering tool to install the pressure plate. All of the bolts were torqued.

[Nosetime]

After a premature TO bearing fail I had purchased from Snyders along with PP and Clutch. I called Mac and he patiently explained the problems as described here.,they hand picked a bearing and yoke and shipped promptly. I highly recommend Vanpelt.