I recently had my clutch changed because i had noise with my throw out bearing (had noise with clutch disengaged in all gears including neutral gear), when the shop finished the job, i still notice that almost grinding sound still there....however much LESS apparent then with the throw out bearing itself. When i go underneath the car I DO NOTICE that there is some play with the drivers side half shaft...around 1/2 inch or so...could this be the source of my problems? does anyone knoe where else this noise would come from if it wasn't that? and if I had been driving the car like this for an extended amount of time...is there anything serious that could have been damaged with the car, or maybe I would just be looking at a new half shaft on that side (and seal)?

thanks for any and all input.

-Ross

 

any ideas out there? I REALLY dont want to take this to a transmission shop and get taken for a lot of money if there is something the local mechanic can do....my dad said maybe synchros could be doing this?

 

hard to believe not one person in here even has one idea about what is going on? dont be shy, i see the number going up for the amount of times this post is being read...please help!

 

If there's play, then they didn't set the shaft in completely. It's supposd to click in, and difficult to pull out. I would ask them to check to be sure the shaft is in. Take a rubber mallet to it if necessary.
Jae

 

Play in either driveshaft should not contribute to grinding noise which is affected by pressing/releasing the cutch. Driveshaft related noise will be relative to road speed.


Did the shop change the pilot bushing when they did the clutch? Did they replace the full clutch assembly? (pressure plate, resurface flywheel)

So let me get some details...

1) When you release the clutch pedal does the sound get worse or go away completely?

2) When you press the clutch pedal does the sound get worse or go away completely?

3) Is the sound louder when you first start the car in the morning? (ie cold)

4) Does the sound get louder or go away when the vehicle is moving?

5) Does the sound get louder or go away when the vehicle is standing still?


Try this... When you are driving down an empty road at 25mph with radio/wipers and A/C off (so you can hear) and the front widows open, if it's safe, try putting the car in each gear with the clutch pedal held down, and then releasing the clutch pedal. Listen for the grinding sound and try to figure out when it is worst. In specific gears? Only when the clutch pedal is up/down or all the time etc.

Finally, being very careful here, pop the hood with the engine running and loate the throwout arm on the tranny (near the lowest part of the factory snorkel) and ben very careful to avoid any hot or moving parts, touch the throwout arm and feel for vibrations or pulsations. Try blipping the throttle with our other hand (only slightly) and feel if the virbrations/pulsations get worse or better. Also see if there is any play in the throwout arm and whether or not moving the throwout arm within this play affects the virbation/pulsation. (you will not be able to actuate the clutch by hand)

If you reports back the answers to these questions then I or another of the tranny guys here will be able to give you a better answer to your problems.

 

Also, next time you go through a drive-thru (or just find a wall and park with your driver's side to it)listen to the sounds reflected off the wall next to you - if there is any unusual noises you will hear them much more clearly. Try releasing/pressing the pedal to see if the noise changes.


Oh, and BTW - if the play in your driver's side driveaxle is side-to-side, (and is right where the shaft enters the tranny), then your differential bearings may be shot - rebuild time. Especially of you're leaking oil from that seal.

If the play is in and out (and is right where the shaft enters the tranny), then +1 on ThurzNite - that shaft is probably not correctly seated.

Normal play on the driveshaft is about 1/16" in the central part of the saft (between the inner and outer CV joints) and the inner CV joint (tranny side) should have only just noticeable play - like 1/32". There should be no noticalbe side-to-side play anywhere, but that's difficult to tell because pushing the central part of the shaft side-to-side will usually cause it to move in or out. Try holding the shaft with inward pressure (towards tranny) to take up the in/out play, and as you mide it side-to-side keep the inward pressure on so you don't mistake outwards play for side-to-side.

if the play is really 1/2", then something is deifnitely wrong, no matter where the play is.

 

ok after i looked in the general forums i found a topic which said "4th gen manual transmission problems.....I read the thread and found that my problem most closely resembles that of the differential bearing problem. the play i have with the half axle is probabily because originally it may not have been put on past the point where the cir-clip fits....anyone know where i can get a new tranny in the NY area??

by the way, this is the way i feel after having someone fix the clutch and not realize that there IS another problem with the car....someone is trying to make their money off me.....

 

>Did the shop change the pilot bushing when they did the clutch? Did >they replace the full clutch assembly? (pressure plate, resurface >flywheel)

as far as i know I gave them the full clutch assembly to change...nothing more.

So let me get some details...

1) When you release the clutch pedal does the sound get worse or go away completely?

the sound occurs when the clutch is disengaged or NOT pushed in, in any gear and neutral

2) When you press the clutch pedal does the sound get worse or go away completely?

goes away completely....sounds like a dream....

3) Is the sound louder when you first start the car in the morning? (ie cold)

not noticebly in the summer here, it makes a sound constantly regardless of engine temperature.

4) Does the sound get louder or go away when the vehicle is moving?

the sound goes away but i think that is because other sounds come into play including tire noise from the road.


5) Does the sound get louder or go away when the vehicle is standing still?

most noticeable when the car stands still, especially hitting the gas...


>Try this... When you are driving down an empty road at 25mph with >radio/wipers and A/C off (so you can hear) and the front widows open, >if it's safe, try putting the car in each gear with the clutch pedal held >down, and then releasing the clutch pedal. Listen for the grinding >sound and try to figure out when it is worst. In specific gears? Only >when the clutch pedal is up/down or all the time etc.

I can hear the most noise when the car is slowing down, I put the gear into 1st, I hear a very high pitched sound and then when I release the clutch i get an EXTREMELY loud winding noise, along with the grinding.


>Finally, being very careful here, pop the hood with the engine running >and loate the throwout arm on the tranny (near the lowest part of the >factory snorkel) and ben very careful to avoid any hot or moving parts, >touch the throwout arm and feel for vibrations or pulsations. Try >blipping the throttle with our other hand (only slightly) and feel if the >virbrations/pulsations get worse or better. Also see if there is any >play in the throwout arm and whether or not moving the throwout arm >within this play affects the virbation/pulsation. (you will not be able to >actuate the clutch by hand)


I actually did this, this morning. It vibrates pretty badly....it vibrates the entire engine for that matter...when the gas is hit it only gets worse....


>If you reports back the answers to these questions then I or another >of the tranny guys here will be able to give you a better answer to> your problems.

thanks for taking the time out to help me out...something tells me major money is goign to be spent for this repair.....I just need it done good and quickly...

 

wow, some real gurus here!
just for the heck of it, i'll run thru the "flow chart" tomorrow and see if i get any similar problems.
Jae