Release bearing assembly

A release bearing assembly for a clutch selectively connecting an engine with a transmission comprising:

• a bearing housing having a front circular opening and a rear opening for receipt of an input shaft of a transmission, said bearing housing having a body mounting at least one grease fitting, and said bearing housing having a generally radially inward extending flange intersected by said front circular opening and said bearing housing having a step with a diameter greater than a diameter of said front circular opening;
• a bearing with radially spaced apart inner and outer races for placement within said bearing housing, said outer race being engaged by said housing in a non-rotative manner and said outer race having an outer diameter greater than said bearing housing step diameter;
• a front slinger having a main body portion bordering a periphery of said bearing housing front circular opening and a planar radial extension covering a major portion of an annular spacing between said bearing inner and outer races, said slinger having a stud contacting said inner race to axially space said planar radial extension, said planar radial extension having a diameter less than said step diameter;
• a rear slinger contacting said outer race and forming an annular groove portion adjacent said annular spacing of said inner and outer races, said rear slinger having at least one reservoir in said groove portion for storage of grease and adjacent said grease fitting, said groove portion having a diverter directing grease toward said reservoir;
• and
• a backer plate separate from said rear slinger for enclosing said rear slinger within said bearing housing.

A rear slinger for a release bearing assembly for a clutch selectively connecting an engine with a transmission, said bearing assembly including:

• a bearing housing having a front circular opening and a rear opening for receipt of an input shaft of a transmission, said bearing housing having a body mounting at least one grease fitting, and said bearing housing having a generally radially inward extending flange;
• a bearing with radially spaced apart inner and outer races for placement within said bearing housing, said outer race being engaged by said housing in a non-rotative manner;
• said a rear slinger comprising:
• an annular rim portion for contacting said bearing outer race;
• and
• an annular groove connected with said annular rim portion adjacent said annular spacing of said inner and outer races, said slinger having at least one reservoir in said groove portion for storage of grease.

A front slinger for a release bearing assembly for a clutch selectively connecting an engine with a transmission, said bearing assembly including:

• a bearing housing having a frontal circular opening and a rear opening for receipt of an input shaft of a transmission, said bearing housing having a body mounting at least one grease fitting, and said bearing housing having a generally radially inward extending flange intercepted by said front circular opening, and said bearing housing also having a step with a diameter greater than a diameter of said frontal circular opening;
• a bearing with radially spaced apart inner and outer races placed within said bearing housing, said outer race being engaged by said housing in a non-rotative manner, and said outer race having an outer diameter greater than a diameter of said step;
• a front slider comprising a main body portion bordering said front opening and contacting said inner race of said bearing;
• and
• a generally planar extension for covering a major portion of the annular spacing between said bearing inner and outer races.