Is it my Thrust bearing causing the noise?

[soulfly71]

Hi there,
I bought our T25 1.9 petrol 4 speed, 1984, about 4 months ago, coming back from a long trip we stopped off in Lanark to pick up some wheels we'd bought but, when we started back home for sunny Fife a whirring noise happened , its constant, when the clutch is engaged it disappears until the clutch is lifted.
I had thought it might be the gearbox is about to fall out but it didnt happen Lol, spoke to a local mech and he reckons its probably the Thrust bearing.
Now, is it a massive job i.e take the engine out ??
I have some mech ability having replaced the clutch, water pump etc on my mr2 but dropped the engine outta that bc it was easier than wrecking my hands in the limited space, never done any work on this van apart from the usual plugs change, oil & filter etc, done the g/box oil last week so i can do some things but need advice and if ANY hands on available would warrant a crate of beer at the least!!
Any advice welcome
Thanks, Steve.
p.s is it called a Clutch release bearing on GSF parts store as i wouldnt want to order the wrong thing, also if anyone knows where else i can get said parts info would be apreciated!!

[Ian Hulley]

also if anyone knows where else i can get said parts info would be apreciated!!

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/shop?page=s ... gory_id=48

When you put you foot down on the clutch the noise happens right ? If so yes it may be the release bearing BUT given the time/effort required to change it unless it's a quite recent clutch it's not really viable to just swap the release bearing.

Ian

[ermie571]

Hiya....I had something similar...clutch change sorted it.

If you have mechanical knowledge, it won't be too difficult - nuts and bolts and manhandling. plenty of info on here about clutch changes - was one in technical recently...have a read. advice is to remove the gear box.

Release bearing is part of the three piece clutch kit. And have a clutch aligning tool. Worst bit is the wiggle wiggle to get it back together. Also check you spigot bearing, and if you have access to a bearing puller its worth changing that as well. and the bush in the bellhousing as well.

Good luck,

Em
xx

[ermie571]

Ian - chap says its there all the time the engine is engaged...disengage it and the noise goes. Doesn't state whether the noise is present in neutral...

Em
xx

[soulfly71]

Thanks for the info guys, but, when stationary in Neutral the whirring noise is there, press the clutch, it disappears, lif it, it comes back, its constant when driving until i stop but only goes away IF i press the clutch in?? What tools would i need and would i have to change the clutch as it seems fine, i.e not slipping and no problem changing gears,

[Mocki]

Thanks for the info guys, but, when stationary in Neutral the whirring noise is there, press the clutch, it disappears, lif it, it comes back, its constant when driving until i stop but only goes away IF i press the clutch in?? What tools would i need and would i have to change the clutch as it seems fine, i.e not slipping and no problem changing gears,

You don't HAVE to change the clutch, but as you are maybe looking at 3hours to drop the box change it and refit the box ( if everything comes undone ok ) it would be a bit daft not to do the clutch at the same time , is what Ian is saying.

From memory ......
Tools
Allen or spline tool for drive shaft bolts
17mm,15mm ,13mm 12mm spanners
13mm 10mm socket
Two trolley jacks or one and a axle stand
Pair of car ramps or two bigger axle stands
Clutch alignment tool or alike
Zippy ties or alike to hold clutch slave out of way and support
Wire brush


Park van up car ramps or jack up and support on large axle stands
Disconnect battery
Remove wires from starter motor, remove starter
Unbolt and support out of the way the slave cylinder
Remove near side outer tinware to avoid damaging thermostat housing
Remove the gear linkage guide from gearbox ( taking not which side of the flange on the gearbox it was bolted to ) and drop linkage off selector and to one side out of the way
Remove all inner driveshaft bolts and disconnect driveshafts from box
Place a smaller axle stand under the front ( nearest gearbox) end of engine to support engine when box disconnected ( about 50mm down from height it is at as you do need to lower the box nose to drop off the engine )
Undo main bell housing bolts
Place jack under gearbox and undo nose mount and earth strap
Lower box down and out taking care not to let engine drop too much before it rests on axle stand

Replace clutch
Refit is, as the they say reverse of removal .

If I have forgot anything someone will pick me up on it !!

[ghost123uk]

when stationary in Neutral the whirring noise is there, press the clutch, it disappears, lift it, it comes back, its constant when driving until i stop but only goes away IF i press the clutch in??

Hang on folks, the way I read that, it makes the noise when the clutch is not being used, including when in neutral, but the noise goes away when the clutch is operated. Surely that is not a clutch release bearing ? (If it was, the symptoms should be the other way round).

[soulfly71]

Thanks Mocki for the info, will also read the 'wiki' as well, also have a Haynes to read in the meantime,
Ghost123 your correct, when the clutch isnt used in neutral, the whirring is there, press the clutch, noise goes away, release the clutch, whirring comes back, and the same applies when driving albeit when changing gear the whirring lessens slightly. i havent encountered this problem before and initially thought my g/box was becoming goosed!

[Ian Hulley]

Ok, can you feel it through the gearlever or clutch pedal ? Does it increase with revs ? I've heard metallic 'jingling' noises before from worn/loose clutch plate springs.

[herukano]

Possibly input shaft bearing on its way out ? Makes sense if the only time the noise stops is when the clutch is disengaged

[Ian Hulley]

Possibly input shaft bearing on its way out ? Makes sense if the only time the noise stops is when the clutch is disengaged

True.

[soulfly71]

Yeah, just spoke to a mate (he used to build vw campers) who also said its the input shaft bearing thats worn and makin the noise, sounds like a right pain in the arxe! bit nervous about doing this job but il take my time and probably do the clutch at the same time, be as well seeing as im gonna be getn dirty with it.

[CovKid]

You'll be fine. As you say, go slow. Remove gearbox (more awkward and heavy than actually complicated to do) and go from there. For a beginner I'd say get a mate to at least give you a hand getting box down and back up again. Can be done on your own but get it as balanced on the jack as possible and prepare to cuss a lot. Sympathetic bystanders that can make tea are a must.

[Mocki]

As opposed to sarcastic bystanders which I normally have making tea !

[California Dreamin]

Equally...the supporting spigot shaft bearing in the end of the crankshaft....

The input shaft obviously isn't driven with the clutch depressed.

Thinking about it......in a 'constant mesh' gearbox with the engine running, the input shaft is turning with the engine. So spigot shaft bearing, input shaft bearing, the main supporting gearshaft bearings and ANY of the freewheeling gear bearings (gears working in pairs, one is part of the shaft the other is free wheeling on spins on needle roller bearings)
Pressing the clutch down the centre plate/input shaft, effectively stops turning....so you know the fault is input shaft onwards....not really much help though as so many parts are turning (constant mesh).
However, as with all things, there will be a 'most likely' senario, Aidan Talbot (gearbox guru) will most likely tell you what that is.

Martin