Shift into Neutral to save TO Bearing?

[DGraber460 at aol.com]

In a message dated 12/30/2007 12:19:56 P.M. Mountain Standard Time,  
david.ullrich at gmail.com writes:

I've  never had to replace a TO bearing before a car needed a
full clutch job,  but Ive only had one car that ever needed a new clutch and
that car had  over 225,000 miles. All of my other cars have gone over 150,000
on the  original clutch.



I think you might have answered your own question, but the truth is that  
every mechanical device has x-number of cycles before it wears out or fails  
completely.
Another issue is that shifting to neutral cycles the system twice,  including 
the master and slave cylinder components. Leaving in gear puts  prolonged 
pressure on the bearing. Maybe a catch 22?
Then there is the matter of numbers (the following numbers for  discussion 
only). If 300k miles of "normal" car life equal 1 million clutch  cycles, and 
the TO is designed to handle 2 million cycles and "holdings", then  it is a moot 
point. If, however,  you have one that will not yield it's  designed life 
span, letting it have an easier life can at the very least do the  bearing no 
harm.
It would be very difficult to prove the benefit or lack thereof, but I do  it 
at longer lights for the sake of my left leg. My left knee only has so many  
pressure holding cycles built in as well.
 
Dennis
Denver



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