Mechanical or Hydraulic? (vote)

[307 Regal]

I can’t decide! I’m doing a manual transmission swap and I can’t decide between a hydraulic throw out or a factory type mechanical setup. I would prefer to do an external slave cylinder style but that seems like it will take some skilled fabrication out of good metal. This is a Buick V8, a Firebird bellhousing, and a Camaro V6 T5. Is a mechanical setup really that hard on your leg? Are internal hydraulics really that prone to failure? What’s your experience?

 

[fleming442]

I'm on my 3rd hydraulic throwout, and they all leak. Make sure to get one with a stop, so you don't explode it.

 

[81cutlass]

I have a hydraulic howe T5 TOB on my t56 2+2. 3rd gen F body master cylinder and S10 clutch pedal.

I've had good luck.

Mechanical linkages are unobtainable these days but they are reproduced.

 

[GuysMonteSS]

I use a mechanical linkage and I dont find it hard on the leg.
I believe that the clutch/pressure plate has more to do with that .
Guy

 

[olds307 and 403]

I have seen a lot of guys on here have multiple failures with the hydraulic stuff.

 

[39F]

I got howe throw out bearing about 8 years old ,been in 3 vehicles no leaks yet ,z28 master cyl. ,Only problem I've had is finding a good clutch lol rest couldn't be happier

 

[307 Regal]

I'm on my 3rd hydraulic throwout, and they all leak. Make sure to get one with a stop, so you don't explode it.

Which brands did you use?

 

[307 Regal]

I have a hydraulic howe T5 TOB on my t56 2+2. 3rd gen F body master cylinder and S10 clutch pedal.

I've had good luck.

Mechanical linkages are unobtainable these days but they are reproduced.

How do you like your 3rd gen TOB, and what did you need to make it work with the Howe unit?

 

[307 Regal]

I have seen a lot of guys on here have multiple failures with the hydraulic stuff.

That’s my main concern.

 

[81cutlass]

How do you like your 3rd gen TOB, and what did you need to make it work with the Howe unit?

I have had good luck. I was cheap and didn't want to pay the LS tax for a t56 so I got a $500 LT1 t56 and adapted it to the LS. I turned a small bushing to adapt the Howe T5 TOB conversion bearing onto the pull style clutch external slave LT1 style trans since the OD of the t5 input shaft sleeve was larger than the t5.

Since you have a t5 I assume that howe bearing just slips right in.