T-5 Hydraulic Throwout Bearing 82876 GM Borg-Warner

This is a concentric hydraulic release bearing for GM-style Borg-Warner T-5 five-speeds. It slides over the 1.379 in bearing retainer collar on the front of the case and pushes directly on the pressure plate fingers, so the clutch fork, Z-bar, and mechanical linkage come out of the car entirely. It replaces OEM part 82876 (T-5 collar) and 82870 (standard collar). It does not fit the Ford version of the T-5 - the retainer diameter is different, so check the collar with a caliper before you order.

The kit is a complete assembly, not just the bearing. You get a 1/8 in NPT male bleeder, a -4 AN male to 1/8 in NPT female adapter fitting, a 12 in -4 AN stainless steel line, the air gap shims, and both 3/8 in-16 and 5/16 in-18 threaded retainer studs so the bearing cannot rotate under load. Run it off a 3/4 in bore clutch master cylinder - a smaller bore will not move enough fluid to fully release a stock diaphragm pressure plate.

Set the air gap on the bench with the trans out, before it goes back under the car. Measure from the bearing face to the pressure plate fingers with the bellhousing mocked up and stack shims until you have roughly 0.150 to 0.200 in of gap. Too little gap and the bearing rides the fingers constantly, which cooks the bearing and burns the release surface. Too much and you run out of throw and the clutch drags in gear. Bleed the line with the bleeder at the high point and gravity-feed it first - these are slow to purge if you only pump the pedal.