I have just had my Hills Engineering Release Bearing fail......major brake fluid leak from the flange weep hole in my 355. When I installed the HR release bearing I also installed the updated flange as specified by the retailer (so flange wear should not be an issue) ....in this case I purchased both items from Ricambi in the spring of 2009 (1000 klm ago) . There is another post in the general section about a 360 with a Hills Engineering Release bearing failure as well.....he also installed the HR release bearing in 2009 (9000 klm ago). here:http://ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=394866 My original ferrari OEM release bearing lasted 14 years and 33,000 klm and never leaked a drop of brake fluid. It was changed because I thought I could hear the start of release bearing noise. Has anyone else experienced a failure with the Hills Engineering Release bearing?
Heres the link at Ricambi to the Hills Engineering Release Bearing I purchased. http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=600_100033&products_id=261280
Heres a link to the flange I purchased at Ricambi. http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?cPath=600_100033&products_id=262597
If it is leaking at the flange weep hole that would be gear oil from the input shaft seal, not brake fluid from the TO bearing seal. Which is it? Show us some pictures. And I don't know about you but when I have trouble with a product I go to my source to find a solution, I don't go on the internet and make a pitiful attempt at throwing them under the bus. Now, pictures please.
Its leaking brake fluid not gear oil. There is brake fluid dripping from the release bearing area. I'm not 'throwing anyone under the bus'. I simply asked if anyone else had a failure with the hills engineering release bearing Rifledriver you have been off ferrari chat for a long while.......and you always show a lot of hostility towards the members here ....please keep OFF my posts. p.s I intend to send pictures to Daniel if he so requests but this is from 2009 so I have no expectations.
Did you lose the clutch or is it just leaking? Mine was leaking brake/clutch fluid also but it wasn't the TO bearing, it was just a $10 rubber seal. If the clutch is still working then I would bet it is just a rubber seal.
Brian is right, if it's coming from the "weep hole" it should be gear oil not brake fluid. Seals fail, nothing surprising there. How many guys do you think will see the thread title and assume that Hill sells crap without even reading more. There is a reason why some of us don't offer much help anymore. Without pictures it never happened.
There is still some clutch pressure but the brake fluid resevoir is down and the clutch feel is spongy (feels way too soft). There is brake fluid coming through the inspection cover on the floor. I won't try driving it as I'm sure it will leave me stranded.
Ok my description could have been better....but there is brake fluid is all over the release bearing.......and the weep hole is at the base ...so it gets covered as well.....seems some people just like to attack.
Please take pictures of the area where it is leaking, and a shot of the fluid itself...also how much do you think it has leaked? Check the fluid tank/reservior and let us know how low it is. *Edit - I just read your post about the reservior being low.
One way to narrow down the problem is to try the clutch, at least take it around the block...if the bearing is blown/broken then you won't have a clutch. If it is still working (albeit softer as you describe) then I would guess just a seal. As I mentioned, I had a leak but my clutch was still perfectly normal. I tore it down and found it was just a seal. Check my profile, under "all threads started" and look for the one "Leak underneath clutch" EDIT. - here is my thread. http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?p=139876613#post139876613
So you come on Fchat to not throw a vendor under a bus. That means you must be coming here for help asking questions. You tell one Pro who can help you to "butt out" in a pretty offense way. I think alot of people may butt out of this thread and you will be left flapping in the wind. Good luck!
I dont think I would of been that polite to someone like this. New, NOT subscribed and throwing out carp like this. IMHO Ricambi and Hill are both stand up companies with good people behind them. He was lucky that Rifledriver gave him the time of day, and again IMHO F the original poster.
Your entitled to your opinion. I have posted how-to posts including a full major engine out service...whose sole purpose was to help people who love the marque. Re 'the pro' ....It seems a few just attack with out asking any questions....because that is who they are.
I never said anything negative about ricambi. I only said they sold me the part...thats just the facts. I also only stated that I have a hr release bearing failure.....nothing more....just the facts. And as the part was from 2009....I have no expectation that there is any warranty (see my note in my post). I simply asked if anyone else has had a failure of the hr part ....such as the 360 owner (see link in orig post) who is also experiencing a failure at this time.
I hate to go against the grain here but I did not read that he was throwing anyone under the bus in his first post. I read that he was asking if anyone has had a failure of these components. With that said, I do think the title could have been worded differently to not reference the possibility that the equipment is poor or prone to failure. Lastly, it doesn't seem clear from then OP's responses that the specific issue/failure has been identified with certainty.
If you checked your facts you would have seen I am not new, was subscribed and posted many how-to tec posts including a full engine out. But the haters on this site convinced me to let my subscription lapse. End of story.
Thanks for the support but the problem with the release bearing has not been confirmed as seals.....this was another posters problem. He had an old oem bearing while I had replaced mine with the new design part from he.
