Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

[Jeffrey B.]

I replaced the throw out bearing, pilot shaft bushing and rebuilt the M20 transmission. The clutch and pressure plate were new with low miles and was never driven hard. I still get an intermittent squeal with the clutch fully depressed or just when I start to release the pedal. Not sure what to try next. Every time I think I have it fixed it eventually returns. My fun meter is tapped after pulling my transmission for the 3rd time. Could the new throw out bearing be bad out of the box?

[Terry M.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

I replaced the throw out bearing, pilot shaft bushing and rebuilt the M20 transmission. The clutch and pressure plate were new with low miles and was never driven hard. I still get an intermittent squeal with the clutch fully depressed or just when I start to release the pedal. Not sure what to try next. Every time I think I have it fixed it eventually returns. My fun meter is tapped after pulling my transmission for the 3rd time. Could the new throw out bearing be bad out of the box?

I believe h answer to your question is: Yes a new bearing could be bad out of the box. Be sure you purchase the bearing from a quality source as well.

When I took delivery of my 1970 (February 29, 1970. Yes it was a Leap Year) I garaged it for several months given the northern weather that time of year. When I took it out in the spring the throw out bearing made noise -- an embarrassingly loud noise. I ignored it until I began to show the car in NCRS, almost 2 decades later. I even initially lived with the Operations deduction, but my Chapter "friends" regaled me with stories of the bearing's catastrophic demise. I bit the painful bullet of transmission removal etc., only to find no apparent physical damage to the bearing. Of course by that time the bearing from the part's counter was installed.

[Jeffrey B.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

Terry, thanks for your feedback on my question. I believe I'll opt to replace the throwout bearing one more time. Hope that fixes it.

[Terry M.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

Terry, thanks for your feedback on my question. I believe I'll opt to replace the throwout bearing one more time. Hope that fixes it.

Get a quality bearing. Others will offer their recent purchase experience experience. I did mine a long, long time ago.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

Jeffrey,

If you take the transmission out check the clutch fork for wear around the fingers.

Sometimes these will wear between the bearing and fork at the point of contact between the spinning bearing and the fingers. The outside portion of the fork will contact the T/O bearing.

[Erich C.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

Jeffrey,

One other thing to consider. Did you check your new pilot bushing with a magnet before installing it? The original factory bushings were "oilite" bronze. Most of the replacements available today are made of "contaminated" bronze. That's bronze with steel and iron added to lower cost of manufacture. The question is does the amount of "contamination" vary depending on the manufacturer. Some members here and on other forums have used the "contaminated" bushings with no problems while others have reported noise, wear, etc.

[Rob M.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

(February 29, 1970. Yes it was a Leap Year)

1970 was not a leap year, at least not in Europe, only years devided by 4 with exception of years devidable by 100 if it is not devidable by 400 (so 2000 is but 1900 isn't)...

if year is divisible by 400 then
is_leap_year
else if year is divisible by 100 then
not_leap_year
else if year is divisible by 4 then
is_leap_year
else
not_leap_year

[Terry M.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

1970 was not a leap year, at least not in Europe, only years devided by 4 with exception of years devidable by 100 if it is not devidable by 400 (so 2000 is but 1900 isn't)...

if year is divisible by 400 then
is_leap_year
else if year is divisible by 100 then
not_leap_year
else if year is divisible by 4 then
is_leap_year
else
not_leap_year

I will go to the safety deposit box and look at the PoP for the delivery date, and let you know.
The throw-out bearing nois story still stands even if it spent one day more or less in the garage.

[Jim T.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

Terry, thanks for your feedback on my question. I believe I'll opt to replace the throwout bearing one more time. Hope that fixes it.

Do the new throwout bearings have a inside groove to apply grease as well as applying grease to the area where the clutch fork attaches?

[Edward J.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

Jeffrey,

One other thing to consider. Did you check your new pilot bushing with a magnet before installing it? The original factory bushings were "oilite" bronze. Most of the replacements available today are made of "contaminated" bronze. That's bronze with steel and iron added to lower cost of manufacture. The question is does the amount of "contamination" vary depending on the manufacturer. Some members here and on other forums have used the "contaminated" bushings with no problems while others have reported noise, wear, etc.

Jeff, as Erich is quoting on the pilot bearing this happened to me on a recent resto on my 63 and ended up replacing with the bronze pilot and cured the problem. a newT/O bearing failure would likely be a bit rare.

[Jeffrey B.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

I had replaced the pilot shaft bushing with one that is not magnetic. The clutch fork is almost new and looked fine when I had things apart, but would deserve another look the next time I pull the transmission. I appreciate the feedback from everybody on my issue.

[Jim S.]

Re: Noise like throw out bearing, but is it?

I replaced the throw out bearing, pilot shaft bushing and rebuilt the M20 transmission. The clutch and pressure plate were new with low miles and was never driven hard. I still get an intermittent squeal with the clutch fully depressed or just when I start to release the pedal. Not sure what to try next. Every time I think I have it fixed it eventually returns. My fun meter is tapped after pulling my transmission for the 3rd time. Could the new throw out bearing be bad out of the box?

I don't know if this is the problem you're experiencing but it is very easy and common to install a throwout bearing incorrectly. Take a look at these tips, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owcUNZmP8zI