Chris Fowler

If discovering a coolant leak wasn't bad enough...

I had my throw-out bearing replaced a little over a month ago because of a huge squeal.

Now I've got a new noise. It's happening at the same time as the throw-out bearing problem, but it is very different sounding (and feeling).

This one is a definite grinding sound. I can actually feel it through the clutch when it happens. It still only happens at idle with the clutch in, though, but not all the time. Just randomly.

For some reason I feel like I've had this problem a long time, but it's suddenly gotten worse and audible. I could swear every once in a while my clutch felt a little funny at idle. A slight vibration that would come and go every once in a while.

Is it possible this is the throw-out bearing again? If so, why would it go out less than two months after being replaced?

73 LS-4

That's what my throw out bearing sounded and felt like before replacemament. Don't know what would cause one to go out so soon unless it got misalighned somehow.

:cheers:
Pat Kunz

yellow 72

Could be a dry pilot bushing, they can act as you describe. :smash:

73Ken73

Is your clutch linkage hitting the body? Sometimes my clutch fork hits the firewall and the pedal vibrates.

Turbo-Jet

put my vote down for pilot bearing

fireball

Put the tranny in neutral, then note the difference with the clutch engaged vs disengaged. If it only happens when the clutch is engaged (pedal out), that eliminates the throw out bearing. I had this scenario and it was a chipped tooth on a gear on the input shaft side of the tranny.

R. Bruno

YELLOW 72 - What kind of wheels are those? They look great.

Chris Fowler

It only happens when the pedal is in. Does not happen in neutral with the pedal out...

Chris Fowler

ok...novice here...what's a dry pilot bushing (and is it the same as the pilot bearing that's mentioned a bit later)?

Turbo-Jet

pilot bushing/bearing is located in the end of the crankshaft. the tip of the input shaft of the trans is supported here. everything has to be removed in order to change it out. :(

Barry's70LT1

Chris,
Two things:
1. Last month when you had the throw-out bearing replaced, they may not
have given the throw-out bearing enough gap and caused the bearing to
run continuously. This could have caused an early failure.

2. If you grease the pilot bushing/bearing, don't put too much on. it will
spin out on the flywheel clutch surface.

Barry

yellow 72

R.Bruno...American Racing CP 200............

71roadster

it sounds like the throw out bearing to me. Most likely it is a self centering bearing. They have a tendency to do that. Does it continue if you rev it up? Usually a little rpm will help the thing center and the noise will go away. Also crucial is that you have A) the correct height bearing(or it may spin continously and wear early or take excessive pedal extension and the fork will ride the bearing as it spins) or B) and adjustable pivot ball. The centerforce website may have instructions detailing the height measurements. I went with an adjustable pivot ball to get the correct dimensions rather than an extra tall bushing. This is a bear of a problem and I feel you pain!

Chris

Golden80

Had the exact same thing in my Mustang a few years ago. It was nothing a brand new Centerforce clutch couldn't fix!

Matt

R. Bruno

Thanks Yellow. I am going to look into those.