This is the first time I ever disassembled one of these (1998 2.0 Neon w/5spd) and I'm confused by the TOB (throw-out bearing) design. I'm better acquanited with V-8 Fords and Chevys which have a TOB design that utilizes "clips" to attach the bearing to the "clutch fork". The Neon design appears to only have very very small plastic nubs and seems totally inadequate,,,,,,,,,,,or am I missing something??? What attaches the TOB to the fork??? This design (as I see it) appears to simply allow the bearing to "float" and relys on the small nubs to disengage it from the pressure plate fingers. In other words, when you take your foot off the clutch pedal, the fork containing the TOB moves away from the pressure plate and the little plastic nubs are the only thing attaching the TOB to the fork thus it relys on the nubs to disengage the bearing??? Seems weak and problematic yet the car has nearly 200,000 miles on it.

If your familiar with 1st Gen. Neon manual transmissions and understand my concern, please help! Maybe I am missing parts?

 

what your saying is exactly true....
the whole throw out bearing does basically just float there...last i checked the little tabs that hold the bearing to the fork though were thin metal....
ive actually used throwout bearings in some of my neons with no tabs on them before to hold them to the fork (since the tabs break off almost everytime you remove the bearing) it may seem cheap and unreliable, but problematic, not really. even with the chincy design, they still seem to work great.
only problem people really come across with them is that the bearing with make a chattering sound in the cold monthes....but after a few minuites of warming up, the chattering sound will go away. but new throw out bearing usually dont make the chattery noise.