MG-B Throwout bearings

[M3 Mitch]

Awhile back, at least here in the states, you could get a roller-type throwout bearing with your clutch kit for the B, now it seems no one offers any alternative to the carbon-type bearing.

Anybody have any insights on this? Was the roller-type bearing unsatisfactory, or just not many people buying them?

I guess the carbon bearings will last long enough for someone who does not sit at lights with the clutch in, in gear, or worse, ride the clutch, but I would have been inclined to go with the roller-type on the next clutch job, thinking it's more durable.

I don't know what's in my car at the moment, is there a handy way to determine? I treat it as if it was the more fragile carbon type, ie keep the clutch depressed for as short a time as practical...(which I think is good form anyway, but...)

(please forgive the double post but no replies in several days on MG forum)

[Church of Noise]

After some research, it seemed that roller throwout bearings are not really better than the 'ordinary' carbon ones, I've heard their lifetime is about the same as well.

[Pigeon]

M3 Mitch said:

I don't know what's in my car at the moment, is there a handy way to determine?

A carbon bearing has more friction than a roller one, so you get a significant drop in revs if you're sat idling in neutral and press the clutch.

ISTR it's not too hard to convert it to use a roller bearing out of a Cortina (possibly using the entire clutch out of a Cortina) but I might be wrong on that.