Slave cylinder upgrade question for LS2 swap

[Gentleman Jimmy]

Hey guys,

First post here... first off, I have gathered a lot of good info from the wealth of knowledge here and it’s much appreciated!
I am getting close to dropping in the LS2 I built for my 89 K5. I am mating it to my SM 465 and NP241C. The current setup for the clutch is the factory style hydraulic slave cylinder bolted to the bell housing which actuates the throw out bearing with the clutch fork.
I would like to start fresh with a new slave cylinder and hoses and am curious if a hydraulic throw out bearing would be an upgrade to the old fork style? If so, can anyone suggest a kit that would work for my application? Or would I be better off sticking with the fork style and just replacing the hydraulics? Thanks

 

[dyeager535]

Generally I don't think the hydraulic throwout bearing is considered an upgrade. If it fails, it destroys your clutch. I want to say the OEM's went to those, and then got away from them again. Years back I heard a fair number of people saying they had failures.

 

[Gentleman Jimmy]

Generally I don't think the hydraulic throwout bearing is considered an upgrade. If it fails, it destroys your clutch. I want to say the OEM's went to those, and then got away from them again. Years back I heard a fair number of people saying they had failures.

Good to know. I haven’t had any trucks/ jeeps etc.. that have had one. Curious to hear if anyone else has had experience with these good or bad.

 

[Fastereddie]

I would avoid the hydraulic throwout. Beautiful engine btw. Reminds me of a black widow!

 

[diesel4me]

Judging by how many Jeeps and other vehicles that use hydraulic throwout bearings in my friends shop getting them replaced (along with the clutch in most cases),I'd say they suck..seen some Ford ones that have a nylon tube molded into the bearing that sometimes breaks just trying to install the p-o-s..S-10's used them some years too,probably a lot of other vehicles..seen some brand new ones fail a short time after installing them too,leak all over the clutch..

I'd much rather replace an externally mounted slave cylinder than pull the transmission off to replace the throwout bearing..
I consider the old style throwout bearing overall better than the hydraulic type,they were a clever idea,having it act as the slave too,but its no picnic to replace one..plus it'll leak on the clutch and take that out with it..

 

[Gentleman Jimmy]

Excellent info. Thank you guys for the input!...sounds like I’ll be sticking with the external setup. Got the tbi out this morning, going to go through trans and tcase this week and start prepping the Jimmy for a corvette heart! Anyone in northern Idaho need a good running tbi let me know.

 

[imiceman44]

Hey guys,

First post here... first off, I have gathered a lot of good info from the wealth of knowledge here and it’s much appreciated!
I am getting close to dropping in the LS2 I built for my 89 K5. I am mating it to my SM 465 and NP241C. The current setup for the clutch is the factory style hydraulic slave cylinder bolted to the bell housing which actuates the throw out bearing with the clutch fork.
I would like to start fresh with a new slave cylinder and hoses and am curious if a hydraulic throw out bearing would be an upgrade to the old fork style? If so, can anyone suggest a kit that would work for my application? Or would I be better off sticking with the fork style and just replacing the hydraulics? Thanks

View attachment 330808

I am going to be the other side.
All big rigs use a throw out bearing if it's that bad it wouldn't last 600k miles or more, almost a million miles on mine.
Granted I don't use it on every shift but it's still being used at least on every take off for more than 10 years and hundreds of thousands of miles

 

[Gentleman Jimmy]

You definitely can’t beat the big rigs when it comes to severe duty. Maybe I’ll put an Eaton 18 speed behind it one day. Lol. Going to be sticking with the external for now though...Got it all mocked up today and bearing clearance was good to go with the 1.5” bearing and fork adjusted most of the way out. One step closer.