Clutch fork woes

[91GT4free]

I had been putting off replacing my noisy throw out bearing. I started the car with the clutch in, and as soon as it started the car jumped and stalled. The clutch pedal went limp and the engine wouldn't turn over. I dropped the tranny to find broken fingers on the pressure plate and the throw out bearing sitting behind the clutch fork (not attached). I guess the bearing came loose and the clutch fork hit the pressure plate.

I'm trying to figure out why the throw out bearing came off the clutch fork. The fork is a little loose in its bearings and the fingers are a little worn. But i also found a small spring clip that was broken in half resting in the bellhousing. It looks like it snaps onto the fork finger and goes into the little hole on the throw out bearing.

Could this have broken first and caused the bearing to separate from the fork, or did the bearing come off because of clutch fork wear and the clip broke as a result?

I need to know what to replace, the clutch fork, the spring clip or both. Does anybody know where i can find this clip? It didn't come with the new throw out bearing or clutch.

Clutch fork:

Spring clip:

Pressure plate:

Throw out bearing:

[rweatherford]

You probably don't need the clip.  Your new bearing has tabs on it to keep it on the clutch fork.  Inspect the fork for any damage and if possible repair it.  If it still meets the throwout bearing correctly then don't worry about it.  You just don't want the fork bent.

Time for a new clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing  and have the flywheel machined.

[91GT4free]

Thanks for the reply. Does the throw out bearing keep in contact with the pressure plate all the time? When i push in the slave cylinder, it slowly extends back out, which would mean the slave cylinder would keep the throw out bearing touching the pressure plate.

I always thought the throw out bearing stays off the pressure plate untill you press the pedal, is there something wrong with my slave cylinder/master cylinder or is this normal?

[rweatherford]

Sounds normal to me.