RMAX54

I'm getting loud whine noises from my 5 speed - gets to pretty high volume at highway speeds. Sound goes away when clutch is pushed in - My Mechanic (along with Tranmission place Guy) thinks it's in the transmission NOT throwout bearing.

1990 SE at 85,000 miles with immaculate maintence; I have a hard time springing for the Full Tranny Rebuild and clutch job (it will need that soon) at about $2,400 plus other repairs/maintence needed that will bring the total to around $3,600 on a 12 year old Car worth under $3,000. You want weird? Trasmission operates flawlessly - shifts like new. Just making noise. If failure immiment? Or will it go awhile this way?

What do you think Guys? Any of you guys had luck getting transmission shops to replace just a bearing without doing the full rebuild? How do you tell which one? Dump the car, buy newer?

avusblue92se

hey i had the exact same problem. i had 6 bearings in my tranny replaced this winter for 750 and the sound has not reappeared. the sound on my car went away when the clutch was pressed to the floor. good luck finding a cheap qoute.

RMAX54

Thanks for the input! It's appreciated.

I toured a couple transmission shops today, and they confirm that it's a bearing problem. I'm getting quotes from $1,500 to $2,000 including new clutch parts. All are amazed at a Maxima manual transmission failure at this low a mileage - especially since I've changed the trans lube twice and checked it many times - never been low on lube; no leaks. I've even bought the lube myself ahead of time to make dead certain the right stuff was used. The last time (just weeks ago after I noticed the noise) added Slick 50 along with it. Hwy noise level dropped 30-50%, but not at lower speeds. Shifts like a slick dream, though!!!

I'm curious to know how you got off for only $750 (looks to me like you got off easy). Noone here wants to touch 'just bearings', only full rebuild of mine or a rebuilt (or used) tranmission. One indepedendant was really down on rebuilts (wanted to go used). They claim that as as bearings start failing, shafts drop and you get different gear contact pattern that wears in. New bearings put gears back in original wear pattern which then causes lots of gear noise.

Was that "full service" or did you pull the tranny and take it in yourself?

avusblue92se

well my mechanic is a friend of my dad's mechanic. he does side work for me while he works at a dealership. he gets the parts at cost, and since it is side work he can keep everything nice and low. i had a couple of my syncros replaced as well. i have not noticed more noise like one of your mechanics said would happen. again good luck to you.