Congratulations on your purchase of a RAM Hydraulic Release Bearing.  It is CRITICAL that you review these installation procedures completely prior to installing this product.  Please read completely, then read again!

Installation instructions are broken down between torque tube, removable bellhousing, and non-removable bellhousing.  Select the instructions that match your installation.

IMPORTANT RAM HYDRAULIC BEARING NOTES

BELLHOUSING ALIGNMENT

• This is a floating cylinder assembly.  Misalignment of the transmission input shaft will cause o-ring failure in the cylinder.
• Aftermarket bellhousings must be dial indicated to the engine.  These housings are notorious for not being aligned center hole to pilot bearing, and/or squareness top to bottom and side to side.  Follow the manufacturers instructions to align the bellhousing properly.  Good links for this procedure are http://www.camaros.org/bellhousings.shtml or http://www.mr-gasket.com/pdf/bellhousing_align_procedure.pdf.  Failure to properly align the bellhousing will cause the bearing to be side loaded and leak, voiding warranty.

HYDRAULIC FLUID

You MUST use a DOT 3 non-synthetic fluid with RAM hydraulic bearings or damage to the o-rings will occur.  If the hydraulics have had another type of fluid prior to installing this bearing, you MUST thoroughly flush the system before installing the RAM bearing.  Old, dirty, or contaminated fluid MUST BE CHANGED.

POTENTIAL CONTACT OF SNAP ON CLUTCH FINGERS

• The RAM hydraulic bearing is designed to work with any RAM Clutch system.  We cannot be responsible for installation with other brand clutches.
• If using a clutch other than a RAM, bolt the clutch assembly to the flywheel with the disc.  Measure the center hole opening.  The bearing base with the snap ring in place will measure 1.690” – 1.710”.  Make sure your center hole is larger than this dimension to avoid contact between the snap ring and clutch fingers.
• If removal of the travel limiting snap ring is required with your clutch system, special attention must be paid to the possibility of over travel, which will result in leakage and seal damage.  A pedal stop should be used to limit travel, however excessive ‘pumping’ of the pedal may also cause over travel damage.

PROPERLY SEALED FITTINGS

Fittings in the hydraulic system must be properly sealed to prevent leakage.

• Use Teflon tape on all fittings.  Make sure the tape extends all the way to the end of the threads, but does not extend over in a way that will cause Teflon to enter the system.
• Make sure the fittings are tightened sufficiently.

SETUP HEIGHTS/CLEARANCES

Proper setup height is critical to allow for clutch wear and to achieve proper clutch release. 

• Measurements must be made using a precision dial caliper.

• The proper setup gap is .125-.200”.  This is measured with the bearing in its fully retracted position.  Follow the shimming directions in the instruction sheet.

GUIDE STUD LENGTH

Once you have measured and fitted the bearing, you must verify that the stud length is correct by extending the bearing to full travel, and making sure it will not run off the end of the drive stud.

HARD PEDAL AT BOTTOM OF STROKE

If you set up the bearing with more than .200” gap, the bearing will bottom on the snap ring.  Continuing to push on the pedal past this point will cause the o-ring to blow out of the bearing.  Use a pedal stop if necessary.

POTENTIAL CONTACT WITH WEIGHTS ON CENTERFORCE CLUTCHES

• If you plan to use your RAM bearing with a Centerforce clutch, you are responsible for checking clearances between the locating stud and the clutch components.  You must also insure that the bearing housing will not contact the weights on the clutch fingers when the clutch is disengaged.  There is no warranty or returns on a RAM bearing used and damaged with a Centerforce clutch.

ALUMINUM BEARING SPACERS

Your RAM Hydraulic Bearing may have shipped with an aluminum collar spacer in ½ or ¾ inch thickness.  We have determined that many applications similar to yours require this spacer for proper bearing gap.  If you received this spacer, you should install it prior to taking your setup measurements.  All applications may not require this depending on your clutch choice.

For custom applications, these spacer part numbers are 78513 – ¾ inch, 78511 – ½ inch.

TROUBLESHOOTING LEAKS

• If you should develop a leak with your bearing, it is imperative to determine where the leak is occurring and why prior to removal.
• Check your fluid.  Contaminated fluid can cause deterioration of o-rings, which will lead to failure or leakage.  The fluid should be clear and free of any debris or water, and should not smell burnt.
• Should the fluid appear burnt or have debris, make sure all hydraulic lines are routed away from headers and exhaust that can heat the fluid.
• Remove or pull back the transmission so you have sight access to the release bearing, or allow the bearing to hang and manually push the bearing all the way back into the base.
• Have someone actuate the clutch pedal while you watch.  Identify the location of the leak.  Make sure it is not coming from any of the fittings, connections, or lines.
• Once you have determined the nature of the leak:
• Leaking fittings – remove fittings and re-tape.  Make sure tape extends to the end of the fitting but does not overlap the bottom.  Securely tighten the feed and bleed lines to the bearing.
• O-rings – after noting the position of the leak, examine the top and bottom o-rings for damage.  If damaged, order the proper replacement set for your part number bearing. Some bearing kits include a spare set of o-rings.
• Change out the o-ring(s) using the instructions listed below under ‘Bearing Disassembly’.

BEARING DISASSEMBLY/O-RING REPLACEMENT

If you must disassemble your RAM bearing for any reason, extreme care must be taken when reinserting the base into the cylinder so as not to damage the o-rings.

• Carefully remove the snap ring on the font of the bearing base.
• When installing new o-rings or re-assembling the bearing, liberally coat o-rings and piston with DOT 3 fluid or with approved o-ring lubricant*.
• Rotate the piston into the housing to avoid pinching the o-rings.  Pushing it straight on can easily cut the o-rings.
• Carefully re-install the snap ring.

SPARE O-RINGS

• Your RAM hydraulic bearing is supplied with a spare set of o-rings, should some damage occur to the originals during your install.
• Use instructions above for replacement.

*RAM recommends using Parker ‘O-Lube’ o-ring lubricant for assembly of the bearing.  Do not use any petroleum based lubricant as these will damage and deteriorate the o-rings.

EXPLODED VIEWS WITH DESCRIPTIONS OF ALL COMPONENTS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE RAM WEBSITE IN THE TECH AREA.

RAMCLUTCHES.COM

803.788.6034