[DeTomaso] McLeod hydraulic throw out

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 9/16/16 12 10 0, cmccann1972 at gmail.com writes:


Good afternoon!

Has anyone installed the McLeod hydraulic throwout bearing that they say is
Pantera specific for the ZF, and what was your experience? I've had a
fantastic experience with them on another performance car application.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mcl-1402-22


>>>I have had a McLeod hyd throw out bearing in my Pantera since 1993. In 
2013, a seal failed and it started drooling fluid. I pulled the gearbox and 
removed it, and called McLeod.

They told me they had performed two design revisions (improvements) since 
mine was made, and arranged to take mine in for a rebuild.

I got it back two weeks later. Besides installing the new hydraulics, they 
went ahead and replaced the actual bearing, even though the old one only had 
5000 miles or so and was still in fine shape. So they essentially gave me 
an entirely new setup, and shipped it back to me...

For FREE!

I called them and asked about payment when it arrived and they told me not 
to worry about it!   This despite the fact that the one I sent them was 
TWENTY years old!!!

Now, I can't guarantee they would treat you exactly the same way, but that 
gives a clear indication about how they feel about their customers 
generally.

BUT.

Having said that, knowing what I know now, I would never convert from a 
functioning stock system to an internal throwout bearing.   The advantages are 
minimal, and disadvantages great, not the least of which is the high cost.   
>From a maintenance perspective, they are a nightmare, as whenever the 
slightly thing goes wrong you have to pull your gearbox.   (My Pantera has been 
all but sidelined for the better part of a year due to my own laziness, 
because when I installed my rebuilt unit I stupidly failed to consider that they 
would not respect my precise measurements when they reassembled it, and thus 
it was put together with insufficient clearance so that as the disc wore, 
now it's slipping).

If I hadn't already made the conversion, I would never do it.   Having done 
it, and gotten rid of all the (expensive) parts that are removed when doing 
so, it is cost-prohibitive to change back, so I will just grit my teeth and 
(someday, maybe Monday) pull it apart to adjust it properly and then put it 
back together.

FWIW….

Mike
-------------- next part --------------
   In a message dated 9/16/16 12 10 0, cmccann1972 at gmail.com writes:
   Good afternoon!
   Has anyone installed the McLeod hydraulic throwout bearing that they
   say is
   Pantera specific for the ZF, and what was your experience? I've had a
   fantastic experience with them on another performance car application.
   https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mcl-1402-22
   >>>I have had a McLeod hyd throw out bearing in my Pantera since 1993.
   In 2013, a seal failed and it started drooling fluid. I pulled the
   gearbox and removed it, and called McLeod.
   They told me they had performed two design revisions (improvements)
   since mine was made, and arranged to take mine in for a rebuild.
   I got it back two weeks later. Besides installing the new hydraulics,
   they went ahead and replaced the actual bearing, even though the old
   one only had 5000 miles or so and was still in fine shape. So they
   essentially gave me an entirely new setup, and shipped it back to me...
   For FREE!
   I called them and asked about payment when it arrived and they told me
   not to worry about it!  This despite the fact that the one I sent them
   was TWENTY years old!!!
   Now, I can't guarantee they would treat you exactly the same way, but
   that gives a clear indication about how they feel about their customers
   generally.
   BUT.
   Having said that, knowing what I know now, I would never convert from a
   functioning stock system to an internal throwout bearing.  The
   advantages are minimal, and disadvantages great, not the least of which
   is the high cost.  From a maintenance perspective, they are a
   nightmare, as whenever the slightly thing goes wrong you have to pull
   your gearbox.  (My Pantera has been all but sidelined for the better
   part of a year due to my own laziness, because when I installed my
   rebuilt unit I stupidly failed to consider that they would not respect
   my precise measurements when they reassembled it, and thus it was put
   together with insufficient clearance so that as the disc wore, now it's
   slipping).
   If I hadn't already made the conversion, I would never do it.  Having
   done it, and gotten rid of all the (expensive) parts that are removed
   when doing so, it is cost-prohibitive to change back, so I will just
   grit my teeth and (someday, maybe Monday) pull it apart to adjust it
   properly and then put it back together.
   FWIWa|.
   Mike