Hi everyone --
2005 (post July) Cooper.

I am putting a new clutch in the car -- and have a question about the throw out bearing replacement.

The throw out bearing has 2 small tabs at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock on it to press and snap it into the fork lever. Does the bearing just press into the fork and these tabs on the bearing hold it in?

In the Haynes manual (Section 6 / Ill 6.4), it specifically shows a clip on this tab to remove/replace -- but when I pulled off the bearing off the fork lever, there was no clip(s); just the bearing snapped in.

Are the these clips needed -- if so where do you get them?
I don't see any parts suppliers that have these.

Anyway, after ripping the front end all this apart, I may be going mad -- but I wanted to check in case.

thanks everyone!
-Jon