My throwout bearing is bad...Already?!

[95 gsx]

Ive seriously put 120 miles on my new motor and clutch and already the tob is bad. If I leave the car in neutral with the engine running, I can hear this god-awful grinding noise from the transmission. As soon as I put pressure on the clutch pedal, it goes away. Am I right in diagnosing this as a bad tob? The tob still operates and the vehicle is still driveable, except for the noise whenever the clutch pedal isnt pressed

The tob is a metal sleeve type that came with my fidanza 4.3

I have a plastic sleeve tob to swap in.

 

[turboglenn]

i've never heard one "grind", are you sure teh clutch arm isn't popped off it's ball at the tanny case?

Usually they squeel when going bad and at only 120 miles i would think it's something else

 

[95 gsx]

Ah Glenn, we meet again. Anyway, the arm is still situated in the end of the fork. Im wondering if there is something wrong with my brand-stinkin' new clutch? We wont know til we get the motor out and investigate...What do you think would happen if the bolts on the pressure plate backed out? I dont think that is the case; I used loctite on them.

 

[turboglenn]

hmmm... They could rub against the arm and then when the arm is pushed it would back it away from those bolts... is this craigkrage? or what other board do we know each other from?

 

[93blueGS]

I'd recommend getting an OEM throw out bearing.. I've read quite a few threads about non-OEM tob's going bad.. Chances are it will solve your noise problem..

 

[95 gsx]

hmmm... They could rub against the arm and then when the arm is pushed it would back it away from those bolts... is this craigkrage? or what other board do we know each other from?

No, I just noticed that you were the first person to respond to this thread and the other one where I couldnt get my AFC working properly. You're very helpful.

 

[kmoore]

I had a bad TOB and mine was more of a squeal. Like a belt squeal

 

[turboglenn]

I had a bad TOB and mine was more of a squeal. Like a belt squeal

Yea, that's the most common sign of one going bad ( or one that wasn't greased on the install ). I Am using a Centerforce TOB on my car right now and it seems to be doing well, but i only have about 500 miles on it. I replaced it when i replaced teh clutch release arm adn fulcrum ball. And i have to say that made teh biggest difference in my shifting out of anything i've done to the car in the past, from bushings to adjusting the clutch.

 

[95 gsx]

Yea, that's the most common sign of one going bad ( or one that wasn't greased on the install ). I Am using a Centerforce TOB on my car right now and it seems to be doing well, but i only have about 500 miles on it. I replaced it when i replaced teh clutch release arm adn fulcrum ball. And i have to say that made teh biggest difference in my shifting out of anything i've done to the car in the past, from bushings to adjusting the clutch.

Where do they need to be greased? I thought it was a sealed bearing.

 

[snowborder714]

I put some grease on the inside of the tob just to make sure it slides fine.

 

[95 gsx]

That makes sense, I just read that in the vfaq. Good news, the motor comes out tomorrow.

 

[turboglenn]

Where do they need to be greased? I thought it was a sealed bearing.

Personally, i grease the inside so it slides easy like snowboarder said. Then i pretty much cover teh entire bearing in a light coat to help seal it up a little better ande give it a coating to prevent rust. I'm not sure it does anythign, but i take my fingers and try and cram grease into every little crack and crevice in teh TOB just for that added piece of mind. Some may say this is pointless, some people say it's a "must do"

BUt technicly the bearing is sealed, but IMO it never hurts to add a little more "protection/lube"

 

[95 gsx]

Well here's the big news: The throwout bearing was fine. The pivot ball however managed to work itself out and push the clutch fork into my brand new clutch. I'd rather not get into details on why, but rather assure you all that the car is back on the road.