Recently, the gear whine from the transmission has gotten louder, particularily at low speeds. I know trannies don't last forever, and mine has over 200K on it, but it still works fine. Does the whining getting louder indicate significant gear wear? Should I start budgeting for a new tranny? (I would like a VLSD model, anyway.)I don't really see how gear whine would get noticeably louder over such a short period of time. Any thoughts?

 

Input bearing is very common. When does it whine? Clutch in, out, rolling not rolling.

 

I thought the ISB makes more of a grinding noise when it goes. Doesn't matter what gear it is in or if the clutch is in or out. Car must be in motion. Less noticeable when you get on the gas.

 

They're just loud as$ transmissions. A bad input shaft bearing doesn't make anything i'd call a "whining" sound. You might change the gear oil and see if it quiets down. Did you ever get around to fixing that leak at the axle? At the very least check and see if you have enough oil to begin with. I also think old oil is a major player in the ISB going out. Changing every 30k miles is probably a good idea.

 

My transmission does the same thing at low gear (1st and 2nd) its makes a whine sound but I always thought that was the nature of a manual...

 

Sounds like a wheel or diff bearing going bad.

ISB's can be heard at idle with the tranny in neutral and your foot off the clutch. Both my cars have bad ISB's :cry: When you push the clutch in it'll go away. So its definitely bad...

Todd not yours too?? I don't think I heard it but I wasn't looking for it.

~Alex

 

No, he said it doesn't matter if it's in or out. I doubt his input shaft bearing is toast, he would be complaining about grinding/rumbling sounds, not whining sounds.

 

The oil in it has been there for about a year and about 18,000 miles. Never pulled the axle again to d!ck around with it to see if it will stop leaking. The leak isn't bad enough to cause huge concern, I just have to top it off once a month or so.

And a wheel bearing on its way out makes more of a grinding noise than a whining...Oh well, just an old tranny I guess...

 

My 91 tranny sounds as if it going to explode. By the way, is there any danger of this happening? I think it is a burnt 5th gear though may be the input bearing. It is much louder in the lower gears and just about silent in 5th. It is bad enough that you can feel it suck power some times. Is this thing going to lock the front wheels doing 80 down the highway or will it let go more gently? I am scared

 

maxitech, I'm going to put my lunch money on it being ISB problems. I've seen many symptoms from whines to growls to crunches.

gottavtr, that sounds like ISB (input shaft bearing) as well. usually it's worse in the lower gears and goes away at higher speeds and higher gears.
the transmission won't lock up at 80, but it will eventually much itself from the inside out.
repairing it before it breaks other things will make the rebuild much cheaper.
If you're handy with tools and aren't afraid of doing a clutch job yourself, you've got the skills necessary to tear down the tranny and replace the bearings.

worst case scenario is you run the shaft too long this way and have to replace lots of internals- gears and the shaft. the shaft itself is about $300 and each gearset is about $200.... so that's the last thing you want to do. input shaft bearings are about $50 each, so you can replace them both for a about $150 with new shaft and axle seals, bearings, and oil.
(take it to a shop and they'll charge you about $1000 for the same thing).

 

The guy says it's a worn bearing, didn't specify what kind.

 

ISB most likely. my 240 has had it since at least 170K and I'm at 180K now. I would have replaced it by now but I'm getting a different tranny. I'm debating whether or not on the max's or just get a VE tranny and replace the ISB on it.

~Alex

 

Damn, I wonder if it is too late. This thing is loud!

 

Just be happy you don't have straight cut gears

you'd kill yourself after a day of driving.