Clutch throw-out bearing improvement

A clutch throw-out bearing assembly including an antifriction bearing with a first annular race member containing a first annular raceway and an annular face adapted to contact clutch release fingers during axial shifting movement of said bearing assembly, a second annular race member containing a second annular raceway and a plurality of antifriction elements constrained between said first and said second raceways, said antifriction bearing being mounted upon and securely affixed to an annular bearing carrier adapted to engage a clutch actuation means for effecting axial shifting of said bearing assembly the improvement comprising,

• said bearing carrier formed from sheet metal and including a longitudinally extending seam defined by opposed abutting edges of said bearing carrier, and coacting means on said opposed edges disposed in interlockingly engaged relationship,
• means including a radial flange at one end portion of said bearing carrier adapted for engagement with a clutch actuation means,
• lubricant retention means on the inner circumferential surface of said bearing carrier for retention of lubricant and the distribution thereof during axial shifting of the bearing assembly, said lubricant retention means including a circumferentially extending groove of a depth less than (the thickness of said sheet metal) and extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said bearing, and
• bearing retention means for locating and securing said bearing on the carrier comprising at least one protrusion protruding from the outer circumferential surface of the carrier, said bearing being press fittingly mounted on the outer circumferential surface of said carrier and abutting against said at least one protrusion at one end of one of said race members, and said carrier being staked at the end therof opposite said radial flange into abutting engagement with the other end of said one of said race members.