just replaced clutch, throwout bearing going out already?

[khartley]

I just replaced my stock clutch with another stock clutch (stupid I know, but I didn't have the money to upgrade at the time)
It probably has about 1,500 miles on it, with maybe two launches on low boost.

Now the clutch started to feel spongy again, so I tried to bleed it out which seemed to help a bit. I'm having a hard time shifting at high RPMS, whether its under load or not. No grinding, just have to pop it out and into the next gear. I replaced my tranny fluid with some really thick Lucas stuff, seemed to help shifting a bit, but not much.

The clutch also chatters/squeals when the pedal is fully depresses. I'm guessing this is the throwout bearing, but how is that possible?

Did I do something wrong at install that might cause this to fail so soon?

 

[eagle_talon90]

Hmm, it could be something simple like adjusting the clutch rod on the master cylinder. I'd try that out first and see if it helps.

 

[Imback]

Are you using the OEM throw out bearing?

 

[khartley]

Yeah, OEM clutch and throwout bearing...is that bad to be using OEM throwout bearing?

 

[snowborder714]

Nope. The OEM tob is the one everyone should use. When you replaced the clutch, did you replace anything else other than the clutch and the tob? Did you check to see if your master/slave cylinders are leaking? Did you get your flywheel resurfaced and stepped?

I'm not sure if the thick tranny fluid would have an effect or not. I can't say I've ever heard of anyone using the Lucas stuff though.

 

[khartley]

Yeah, all I replaced was the clutch and tob, neither cylinders are leaking, and the flywheel was resurfaced, but not stepped.

 

[snowborder714]

As eagle_talon said - have you tried adjusting the clutch?

 

[khartley]

I can try that today, but I'm not really sure how to do it.

 

[snowborder714]

Clutch Adjustment

 

[khartley]

I should have known, !

Ok, so I adjusted it, and no difference...actually a little worse if anything. The pedal itself feels a little better, but it now pops harder in and out of gear, at lower rpms. Is it possible I over adjusted? I turned the adjustment rod 3 times towards the cylinder and retightened the nut.

Feedback, please! I gotta get this figured out.

 

[khartley]

Well whatever was wrong officially went out today. It snowed so I had to drive it, it was shifting hard into all the gears. Then it went into gear and stayed. The shifter is in neutral, but I can't get into any gears, it wants to go without me pushing on the clutch, like the clutch is not disengaging.
What would this be? It sounds like master cylinder, but I have no leaking fluid inside the car. Any ideas?

 

[eagle_talon90]

Put the car up on jackstands and get a buddy to push in your clutch while you look at the clutch fork and see if it is moving at all when he pushes the clutch in. I'm not sure exactly how much it is supposed to move but i would say at least an inch or so. If it is not moving when he pushes the clutch then it is either the master or the slave cylinder most likely, if it is moving then it could be a bent clutch fork or you may just need a new pivot ball (or you can shim the old one).

 

[khartley]

It was the throw out bearing as I initially expected. Go figure.

 

[snowborder714]

Glad to hear you figured it out!

 

[400HP1GT]

I ll post this for information only. My sons 91 TSI AWD was having a TOB issue. The TOB was failing between 5000 to 7500 miles. This last time we pulled engine and trans. Head needed new valve guides and seals. Sent trans to shop in Cumberland Md. Had it dismantled and everything checked out Fine. The tech found the input shaft sleeve had a dip in the side of the tube. When the TOB moved it was tilting sideways against the pressure plate fingers. Putting uneven pressure on the bearing face. That was causing a scratching sound when the car was idling. They repaired the sleeve tube. We started the car today and everything is good. No scratching sounds from transmission. Just something to look at when replacing clutches.

 

[Rob10_99]

Just got a car in the shop today, been here before.
Problem was that the clutch wasn't disengaging. The car drove here fine, I went to drive it and it would not go into gear at all(grinding).
Got it apart today and its the sleeve for the TOB that got loose and was about 1" into the clutch disc, keeping the disc from disengaging.
Never seen this before but I guess it was from the TOB going bad?