Did I just break my clutch/throwout bearing bar thingy??

[s13_240_rb20]

Ok...I was trying to replace the throwout bearing while I was replacing the clutch on my RB20DET transmission. When I pulled on the old throwout bearing, it came free from the transmission shaft but it was mounted onto a "sleeve" along with a retainer pin (that holds the sleeve to the bar which runs to the outside of the transmission).

While reinstalling the sleeve, I was pulling the bar forward to engage the retaining clip and I accidently "popped" my bar thingy all the way inside the transmission. I have replaced the dust cover, reinstalled the throwout bearing, retainer clip, and bar as they appear they should be installed.

But looking at the bar sticking out of the dust cover (on the outside in the pic below), IS IT SUPPOSED TO BE WELDED OR CONNECTED to the clutch thingy???? and what is that part of the clutch system called (mounted to the transmission in the pic below?

My index and middle finger are holding the two parts that I fear are supposed to be solidly connected. Are they supposed to be connected at all times, or does that clutch thingy apply pressure and only touch the bar as needed??????

I need to know this info before I can reinstall the transmission and then reinstall the motor/transmission set so I can fix it if need be....

Thanks,

--TJ

[s13_240_rb20]

Nevermind. It was way past dark when I was out there freaking out. I felt it POP because the bar has "spring-type retainers" that hold it to the "pivot ball" that it is held to and it indeed "POPPED" off and came right out. I crawled under my other D21 5 speed and felt the same mechanism (still don't know what it is called) mounted right outside the transmission and it was not connected either. It is only pushed against by the pressure from the mechanism.

Assuming I put it all back together right, I put the transmission back together. Now I am moving on to the other issues of this swap and I just hope that all is working right when I eventually get it in there.

--TJ

[JC87HB]

That mechanism is your slave cylinder for the clutch. Or thats what it looked like from the photo.

[s13_240_rb20]

That mechanism is your slave cylinder for the clutch. Or thats what it looked like from the photo.

Ok...now it's time for a really silly (and possibly embarassing) question:

How much stuff is supposed to be in the clutch line? Please please please correct me if I have learned wrong. I paid a mechanic to do the 240 install and I am winging it on my own for this install.

Did I have too many cylinders hooked up??

My 240 ALWAYS suffered from super-weak clutch pressure at the pedal. So this time, I have already started with the hardest part (the stage 2 XTD clutch & pressure plate) and I am swapping in the Master cylinder -> clutch line -> thingy (???) with the bleeder valve mounted on the Pass-frame rail -> more clutch line -> slave cylinder (EBAY CONFIRMED...LOL see pic below) mounted on the transmission....all from a D21 junkyard 5speed hardbody except for the OEM slave cylinder mounted onto the RB transmission.



I am going to feel reaaaalllly stupid whichever way the answer turns out, but ESPECIALLY if that inline thingy is an unnecessary slave cylinder in addition to the RB slave cylinder on the transmission......

Please someone tell me what that inline thingy with the bleeder valve is that is mounted on the frame rail!!! Is its sole purpose for bleeding the clutch??

--TJ

Modified by s13_240_rb20 at 5:55 AM 3/21/2009
Modified by s13_240_rb20 at 6:01 AM 3/21/2009