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Having got my car running again, I moved it out of the garage under it's own steam for the first time in over a year. The engine's running fine, however when I depress the clutch pedal theres a grinding type noise. It does this whether it's in gear or not. When I release the pedal the noise stops. I'm thinking it's the release bearing on the gearbox shaft. I have had the gearbox out earlier in the year & cleaned all the old grease & muck of the bearing & shaft, but I did renew it with plenty of new grease. Is it possible it's just sticking through lack of use or is it gearbox out again time & a new bearing?

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8

Hi Andy,

If its not one thing its another with classic cars! but we love them!
If you used any solvent to clean release bearing then poss washed lubricant out of the bearing itself [:(] Not a great beleiver in to much grease inside the bell housing, tends to attract dust of the clutch and lead further problems a smear is normaly enough.
Could there be a possible of corrosion on the clutch cover or release bearing .
There also 2 type of release bearing too, self and non self centering, IF you have replaced the clutch then you have to fit the correct type.

Cheers John

LIVE LIFE A QUARTER OF A MILE AT A TIME!
1979 3.5 FHC(STATUS PENDING!!)

1982 2.0 DHC NOW A 4.6,ON THE ROAD NOW KICKING AR5E !!!!

If the noise is only there with the clutch depressed, the clutch bearing looks like the most likely candidate indeed.

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it sounds like the clutch release (thrust) bearing to me, knackered bearings tend to make horrid noises when under load. Cleaning bearings is a dodgy game, it's way too easy to get grit in there unless the conditions are totally spotless. Is the thrust bearing the same on the 2.0 as the V8? i'm struggling to work out how you repacked it.

was it ok when you took it off the road?

I really hope it's something easier to fix though, any more suggestions?

Rob

I didn't replace the clutch or the bearing so they should be a matched pair, don't know what type though. Heres a photo of it before it went back in. I think I cleaned everything with a petrol soaked rag, maybe that's my downfall. According to the manual you need to have a press to fit the new bearing onto the carrier, is that correct? Looks like I've got another weekends work pulling the gearbox again. Oh well, After last weeks engine scare this doesn't seem so bad. [:)]

[img][IMG]http://i473.photobucket.com/albums/rr92/REPLIC8-2008/small_P3210369.jpg[/img][/img]

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8

You do not need a press to fit a new release bearing. They actually come off the carrier fairly easily (well mine did earlier this year). IIRC I just tapped the old one off hanging the unit through the vice jaws by the bearing using a drift on the inner part of the carrier, and pressed the new one on by hand. If it needs pressing just use a vice.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
Saab 9000 2.3 FPT Auto
'81 TR7 DHC

When I got my car it would do something similar: I'd get a loud whirring/rubbing noise when the car was cold and when I pushed in the clutch. Figured it was the throwout bearing and put it on the "to-do eventually" list.

Anyway, after driving it for a month or two the noise completely went away. Car hadn't been driven much for a while before I bought it, so I can only assume there was either some crap on the shaft that wore off or the grease needed some time to properly redistribute itself.

Usually I don't subscribe to the concept of things fixing themselves on their own, but at least in this case it worked for me. So no promises, but if it's been sitting for a while maybe drive it a bit and see if it gets better.


-----
Tom
'79 TR7
'87 Alfa 75
'91 Alfa Spider

That's the kind of noise my thrust bearing made, when it was about to fall out.

However there are a couple of other symptoms that should also appear as it fails.

There should be a bit if judder, you feel through the peddle, as the bearing "catches" & releases.

There should be some snatch in the take up of the clutch. Try taking off very gently, using low revs, on some loose gravel. If the bearing is failing the clutch should grab, & let go, a couple of times, spinning the wheels in the gravel, or stalling the engine.

If neither of the above is happening, it's probably something else. Drive for a while to let it develop, just not too far from home.

Hasbeen

Replaced the release bearing today. All seems to be silent now, clutch up or down, in or out of gear. [:D] It did make a bit of grinding noise in neutral when it was warming up but I ran it through the gears while up on axle stands & pushed the clutch in & out a few times & the noise stopped. Just been out & started it again and all is well. Finally think I'm making some progress towards actually driving it in the summer!! [:D]

Andy
1981 UK SPEC TR8