Bushings instead of bearings in slipper clutch assembly?

[Group B]

I was looking at replacement parts for the slipper clutch on my 10T, and I saw that a bushing is now recommended to be used in place of the bearing that goes in the outer clutch hub (the spur gear screws onto).

I also saw that a bushing is now recommended to be used instead of the retained thrust bearing before the spring and the locknut.

Has anyone noticed any difference between using the above components and and the old setup?

[adam lancia]

Making that change makes the slipper more consistent.

[Bugle]

There's no way the bushes are going to be better than ball bearings.. It's just a cost saving exercise and AE made up some excuse for it to make people think it was an improvement.

[adam lancia]

Bugle: when I made the change from the thrust bearing to the bushing I noticed a more progressive slipper engagement. At least I thought I did You *could* be on to something about Associated cheaping out but I doubt it. I always used a bearing in the outer hub though.

[templeofspeed]

AE cutting costs?



Seriously, that is one place a bearing maybe was overkill. That being said I still put them in the older Stealths, if appropriate to the car.

[Bugle]

Yeah it was a bit of an overkill. I guess one advantage of the bush is that it won't get dirt in it.

[carloco8]

From what I remember, using the original bearing and thrust bearing allowed the slipper to "slip" smoothly when the threshold was reached. When using a hotter motor, the slipper had to be cranked down tighter. With one or two bushings replacing the bearings, there is a little more friction creating a little more holding power right before the slipper slips as compared with the same setting using the bearings. Its really barely noticeable, and probably more so a cost effective tactic as was previously mentioned.

[MONSTER]

Sorta like a Stall Converter on a 1:1, right?