T56 Concentric Slave Cylinder Hydraulic Release Bearing

This is the GM factory hydraulic release bearing, part number 24264182, for the Tremec T56 six-speed. It is a concentric slave cylinder: the slave and the throwout bearing are one unit that slides over the input shaft bearing retainer and bolts to the front of the transmission, so there is no external slave, no fork pivot and no linkage to adjust. Some GM Genuine Parts under this number were previously sold as ACDelco GM Original Equipment.

On the bench it goes on before the transmission does. Set the unit over the bearing retainer, torque it down, and connect the hydraulic line before you mate the transmission to the bellhousing - once the trans is up against the block you cannot reach the fitting. Bleed the system with the line at its highest point and cycle the pedal slowly; a hard high pedal that will not push the bearing out is almost always air still trapped in the cylinder.

The failure it fixes is the one every T56 owner knows: clutch pedal goes soft or sinks to the floor, the trans will not go into gear with the engine running, and there is fluid weeping down the bellhousing or dripping out of the inspection cover. That is the seal in the slave letting go. Because the unit lives inside the bellhousing, replacing it means pulling the transmission, so it is worth changing while a clutch or a rear main seal is already out rather than doing the job twice.