Well first off my car has 114k miles on stock engine, tranny and clutch. for the past few months i have known that the throw out bearing is basically shot (it makes a whisting noise when i let out the clutch. But last nite i noticed that when i shift into 4th i get a noise and vibration like the clutch isnt in all the way. Any guesses for what it could be??? any help is appreciated
Thanks
Brett

 

If the throwout bearing is shot, it will affect the ability if the clutch to engage and disengage fully. Your problem is going to get progressively worse until the throwout bearing grenades, at which point the car would be undriveable.

 

I had the same whistling problem as you have. I ignored it for a few months, but I was sent on an errand for work and when I tried to start my car to get back to work, it wouldn't shift into any gears. I had to get it towed back to work and got a bunch of crap replaced. New clutch kit w/ T/O bearing installed, plus new axle seals = $800 w/ cash discount.It still made the noise after the new bearing was in, so they took it apart again and said that my input shaft bearing was shot, because so much of my tranny fluid had been leaking over time with the leaking axle seals. So, I had the input shaft bearing replaced, and since they were already inside the tranny, I had them replace a couple other worn bearings. One of my gears had a tooth missing too so I had that replaced also. Total for this job came to $1200 w/ cash discount.

 

Grenade huh? thats a nice way of describing it. So if it is the T/O bearing could it just be starting to fail completely but only grind a tad in 4th gear??? Should i get the clutch replaced ASAP?
Thanks again
Brett

 

If the throwout bearing is starting to go, you're going to have to get in there relatively soon anyway to fix it. I would think it would be better to fix it on your time table rather than have it break on you and disable the car. 114k is pretty impressive mileage for that anyway.

I don't know why only 4th gear is affected for now, maybe it's particulary sensitive. I would think the other gears would start to give you trouble fairly quickly as well.

 

Yeah Im starting to think your right about that, ive noticed that if im in say 3rd gear if i push up lightly on the shifter i can hear a groan too... guess ill have to save up some cash really quick... and it figures that this happens when i have my exhaust in my room and my VI on order