Pilot or throwout bearing? What else to do while its all opened up?

[Bob98SR5]

Gents,

181K miles. My vehicle is getting up there in age...

I believe either my pilot and/or throwout bearing (believe thats what they're called) are wearing out. Over the past few months, it's becoming increasingly difficult to put this bitch into first gear. Sometimes I have to row from 3rd to 2nd to first just to get this shizzle in gear.

Over the past week or so, at the red light, when I let out the clutch I hear this awful barking/grinding sound. It seems to be most noticeable when I am going from 1st to second. I also hear it when I downshift to a stop in 2nd going into first gear.

So do these sound like symptoms of the pilot and/or throwout bearing going south? If yes, how can you tell the difference between one or the other? Also, what if anything else needs to be done while the transmission is pulled off? For example, is it worth buying a new flywheel or just have it machined?

...anyone have this done and not died of sticker shock? If so, what was the cost?

[mastacox]

Unfortunately, this doesn't sounds like a pilot or throwout bearing to me, it sounds like 1st gear sychros...

If the throwout bearing is going bad, usually symptoms will include squeaking when the clutch is pressed in, and/or squeaking when the clutch is let out. It shouldn't affect your ability to shift into first gear, unless it's preventing the clutch from fully disengaging. One way or another it shoudl be constant, it shouldn't only happen when shifting into/from 1st.

[YotaFun]

Brian hit the nail on the head there Bob.
That sounds like you first gear synchro taking a dump.

Usually with a Throwout or pilot bearing you would here a squeak or whine.

[corax]

Could still be the pilot bearing causing the shift problem. If the pilot bearing isn't spinning freely, when you step on the clutch petal it will try to keep the transmission input shaft spinning at the same speed as the flywheel which will make the synchros work harder than they want to. Plus, I've never heard a synchro make noise


Clutch & pressure plate, pilot & throwout bearings and machine the flywheel . . . are you doing the work yourself or paying someone?

[Bob98SR5]

guys,

i'm having the work done, i dont have the space, time or patience to do something like this. i'm going to take it to a local shop or two to see what they think it is + cost.

...holding onto my wallet, i'll let you konw what the diagnosis is

[Bob98SR5]

well folks it was the pilot bearing, he saved it for me and showed me how it was completely frozen. clutch has about 50% wear and was still good. amazing. anyways, it shifts like butter, its like driving a brand new vehicle. i dont have to do the usual shift in 2nd before 1st nonsense. this will take some getting used to!