Over Bearing

I am pretty sure I will have a brand-new car before I actually get to start modifying this thing. I took it out to get some logs for the tuner and pulled back into my driveway and was just letting the car idle in neutral with the clutch pedal released. I'm playing on my phone and notice that the car seems louder than normal, loud like a bad bearing. I push in the clutch pedal and the noise goes away. I release the pedal and the noise is back... Sounds like an input shaft bearing to me or at least from what I remember from when I used to do this stuff every day. This car is really starting to beat me up. First VVT, then a month later the PRV and now this... I am hiding in the basement contemplating my existence. I have only put 3000 miles on the car since I bought it mid-summer last year. It only has 72000 on it at this point but, it is 13 years old.

Just felt like I needed to vent a bit. Funny thing is when I bought this car my wife said she was fine with me "toying" around with it as long as it didn't sit in pieces all the time (past experience with me and toy cars). Looks like it wants to just live in the garage

I don't even wanna say this but I'm starting to think about selling it, please don't tell my car I said that. I really like the car but, holy shit is thing high maintenance. I get it, it's very lightly modded and thirteen years old, stuff is gonna break but come on, cut me some slack FoMoCo.

 

I feel your pain. Such is car life. With mine at 16 years old, not only am I running into issues regularly due to wear and age but availability too.
The sound you are hearing could be the clutch release bearing. Although pulling the transmission falls under "lying in pieces", it would be nicer than an input bearing. I too had a bad release bearing at about the same mileage.
Driving old, performance based cars usually requires a backup vehicle. All of my friends seem to have one too.

 

Took the car out to warm it up before doing a compression test and noticed the bearing noise is quite a bit quieter when it's not hot but, still there. Checked fluid and it seemed fine. Pretty sure it's the input shaft bearing.

 

I figured I should probably update this post although it's kind of a no new news update... Took car to transmission shop to see if they could pin point the noise and of course they couldn't, no fault on them, I understand how this stuff goes. They wanted to pull the transmission to further diagnosis the issue. I opted not to go further. I changed out the fluid in the transmission with the magical Ford synthetic stuff. Noise remains (wasn't really expecting it to resolve the issue) but it does shift noticably smoother and it was shifting nicely before.

Now I'm at the point of do I pull the transmission myself? Do I drive it until it gets worse and possibly easier to pin point? Do I stock out and sell? On the positive side, this gives me the opportunity to put a single mass flywheel in along with a more robust clutch.

It seems like it's one thing after the other with this thing. I think I've put maybe 4000 miles on it since I've owned it, mostly because it's in pieces having something fixed. I guess rant over?

 

It could be the pilot bearing or throw out bearing. If it goes away with clutch application then it most likely is the throw out bearing. However if you have to pull the trans you might as well change the pilot bearing at the same time. I cant remember if the pilot bearing is pressed into the crank or if it's part of the flywheel.

If it is pressed into the crank you can use the bread removal trick to get it out. Get a loaf of bread and literally pack the ever living crap out of the hole in the center of the bearing and just keep putting more in. Eventually it gets behind the bearing and pushes it away from the block.

 

That bread trick is awesome! I think I still have a pilot bearing puller? Maybe? I could be wrong but the reason I think it's input shaft is because the noise is there when not pressing the clutch and goes away when the clutch pedal is pressed in. Pedal out in neutral transmission main shaft rotates, pedal in main shaft doesn't rotate. I'm also a pessimist sooooo...

If I remember correctly if it's the throw out bearing it would be the opposite, clutch pedal in = noise and clutch pedal out = no bearing noise. But anything is possible with cars and they don't always like to follow the rules... If it was the pilot bearing I would think it would make the noise no matter clutch pedal position?

Again, this is just my reasoning and in all honesty I haven't had a transmission apart since like 2002ish. Since then I have filled the folds of my brain with exhaust gases, brake cleaner and bong resin.

That bread trick though! I love it! In the video they didn't mention if I should eat the bread afterwards? I'll assume that's the next step

Thank you again for your input, I'm still on the fence on my next move with this thing. I just got back from driving it. Still in the tuning process and the car always puts a smile on my face but, at the same time I'm worried that I'll get this sorted just in time for the next major repair. I'm also aware of the dwindling support for these things and concerns of finding parts in the future will become even harder. Like Natalie Imbruglia once said, "I'm torn"

 

The input shaft would always make noise regardless of being in neutral or clutch application.

I haven't seen an input shaft failure on a manual transmission car in a very long time. Unless it was ran dry without oil. Not to say it can't happen. I had a countershaft bearing grenade on my Starion due to increased torque and the transmission couldn't handle it.

I have seen throw out bearings squeak both clutch in/out. It really depends on if it's a push or pull style clutch.

 

Throw out on MS3/6 will make noise when your off the clutch because the clutch arm is not putting pressure on the bearing. When you push on the clutch, the slop in the bearing is taken up and the bearing will become silent.

This was my clutch before I did it. I actually had no noise, just engagement issues. However once apart at 80ooomi the bearing was noisy and the DM flywheel was at the limit according to the manual.
Mmmm...tasty bread, lol

 

This is good info! I just got done driving on some nicely paved, curvey back roads and I think I made my mind up to just fix whatever it is.

Fingers crossed that when I get the transmission out of the car the throw out bearing is all grindy. Also a really good way to justify doing a beefier clutch. Now I am gonna have to start researching clutches.

 

The ACT clutch and flywheel combo worked well for me.

 

Word! I'm literally just reading through a clutch thread on here now would you suggest doing the rear main while I'm at it, or if it's not broken don't fix it?

 

If you're there you should do it. Even if it isn't leaking I would. It's better to do it then and know you have a fresh seal than to do the clutch and within a year or less it starts to leak. Pretty much every time I do a transmission at work I suggest the rear main seal replacement if the vehicle is at least 5 years old or 100k plus miles.