thrust bearing??? or...

[predator]

Did about 300km in my 33 the other day. Anyway, on the way back do some spirited 4k launches. Basically on one, coming into 2nd massive gearbox crunch and yes, normal clutch dump. So after that I kind of limp home (luckily its only a few km), changing into any gear results in grinding noise and its difficult to get into any gear, like clutch is not properly engaging when i let it out.

So anyhow, leave it sitting there, thinking major problems of some type, thinking probably stuffed clutch Its meant to be an Excedy heavy duty of some type, although it came with the car so not positive. So next day take it for a bit of a drive to figure out what is happening.

From this, discover there is no problem popping it *into* gear, its just when i let out the clutch it makes this grinding noise so this leads me away from thinking its a gearbox problem. But the clutch doesn't seem to be "slipping" as far as i understand it, once it engages its fine and can do 6k gear changes - its just making this grrrrrrrrrr metal-on-metal type sound when i let it out. That day its definitely audible on takeoff (soft or hard) from 1st, and it does similar going into 2nd (although its less pronounced), and 3rd and 4th seem fine. Reverse is same as 1st, very rough on let-out with similiar grinding noise. So leave it again.

So today i take it for a longish highway drive, 1st starts to do it for a bit, then seems to "settle" and all other gears are a-ok. By the end of the trip everything is fine, its almost as if its back to normal?? Today has been much cooler than the other days though.

So basically i'm at a loss as to what's going on! Does anybody know?

1. Is it the clutch giving way? As its a heavy duty clutch will it behave any differently to a dying stock clutch??

2. Is it the trust bearing?? This controls basically the clutch going in and out right?? Is this on its way out? I often do notice a bit of noise down there going into 1st or reversing out of a driveway, etc. But why doesn't it do it in other gears?

3. Could it be a gearbox related problem? Probably about time for a proper gearbox flush/re-oil, but seems more clutch related.

If it has truly gone "back" to normal, guess i'll keep driving it as is. If it starts to reappear consistently, guess i'll have to get it looked at. Just want some indication of what it might be.

[benm]

Yup i'd say its almost deffinetly your thurst bearing. I had exactly the same problem, i'd get a deep whirring sound.

I took it to my local clutch/gearbox mechanic and it turned out to be a $15 part but with many $100's in labour to do it all. He showed me that my clutch was badly warn (while the gearbox was out) so for no extra labour charges I got a new clutch put in at the same time.

If you have the extra money get the mechanic to installed a lightened flywheel while he has it all apart coz it won't cost you any extra in labour and will save you a good $200+ in labour if you wanted to put the flywheel in at a later date.

[predator]

yeah, i thought it was probably the trust bearing, but not knowing what a stuffed one sounds like makes it difficult. Thanks!

I was thinking that too - lightened flywheel could be useful but lack of $$$ at the moment means I might have to wait. Guess it will cost me a few hundred $ either way.

I have a feeling when they replaced the clutch they didn't do the trust bearing at the same time. Stupid - and a reminder to all to demand you get that done when you get a different clutch installed!