Parts for your 2020 Holden Colorado-Thrust bearing

2020 Holden Colorado thrust-bearing

Based on technical documentation, a thrust-bearing is fitted to 2020 Holden Colorado models equipped with the 6‑speed manual transmission, but not to automatic variants. The Holden RG Colorado Owner’s Manual describes a hydraulic clutch system, and GM Service Information for the RG Colorado details a concentric slave cylinder (CSC) located inside the bellhousing that incorporates the clutch release (thrust) bearing. Genuine parts catalogues for the 2012–2020 RG Colorado manual further list a clutch release/thrust bearing as a service item. Automatic models use a torque converter and have no clutch release/thrust-bearing.

On manual 2020 Holden Colorado models, the thrust-bearing (often called the clutch release or throwout bearing) sits inside the bellhousing as part of the hydraulic concentric slave cylinder. Its job is to press smoothly against the clutch diaphragm spring when the pedal’s pushed, separating engine drive from the gearbox so gears can be selected without crunch or drag. Because the bearing rides and spins under axial load only when the pedal’s down, it needs to be quiet, low‑friction and well aligned—hence the integrated CSC design Holden/GM uses on the Colorado.

There’s no scheduled maintenance on the thrust-bearing itself—it’s sealed. However, the clutch hydraulic fluid shares the brake fluid reservoir on the Colorado, so clean, correct-spec fluid and timely brake/clutch fluid servicing help the system live a longer, quieter life. Good driving habits matter too: no resting a foot lightly on the clutch pedal, and no “holding” the ute on hills with the clutch. Both habits keep the bearing loaded and spinning unnecessarily.

Replacement is typically done whenever the clutch is out. It’s a gearbox-out job, so most workshops swap the bearing/CSC at the same time as the pressure plate, friction disc and pilot bearing to avoid doubling up on labour later. Smart servicing also includes checking the rear main seal, inspecting the flywheel (the Colorado diesel commonly uses a dual‑mass flywheel), and bleeding the clutch hydraulics correctly after reassembly.

• Signs it’s on the way out: squeal or chirp with the pedal depressed, a notchy or rough pedal feel, fluid weeping from the bellhousing, clutch drag or hard shifting.
• Best practice: replace the thrust-bearing/CSC whenever the clutch is replaced, use quality parts and follow the proper bleed procedure.

If the vehicle is an automatic Colorado, none of the above applies—there’s no clutch release/thrust-bearing in that driveline, so noises under load will be from other components (e.g., torque converter, front pump, or ancillary pulleys) and should be diagnosed accordingly.

Popular questions

Does every 2020 Holden Colorado have a thrust-bearing?
Manual models do—it's integrated with the concentric slave cylinder inside the bellhousing. Automatic models don’t use a clutch at all, so there’s no thrust/release bearing in those utes.

What are the common symptoms of a worn thrust-bearing on a Colorado?
A squeal, chirp or grinding noise only when the clutch pedal is pressed is classic. You might also feel a rough or pulsing pedal, notice clutch drag making gears hard to select, or see fluid weeping from the bellhousing if the CSC seal is failing.

Should the thrust-bearing be replaced with the clutch?
Yes. Because the gearbox has to come out to access it, most techs replace the bearing/CSC any time the clutch is renewed. It’s also a good time to inspect the flywheel, pilot bearing and rear main seal, then bleed the hydraulics properly.