Should a new bearing be hand packed with grease before installing?

 

No, it is a sealed unit and should be installed as is right out of the box. Put a little bit of grease on the slide area of the transmission it rides on.

 

That is what I have always heard but a friend has been having a certified mechanic replace the throwout bearing. This is the third one in less than a year, and the "certified mechanic" has been packing them before installing.

 

The most common reason a throw out bearing will go bad besides a factory defect is if it has a constant load on it whether by riding the clutch pedal with your foot or an improper adjustment.

 

And you never ever wash them in solvent.