T5 or clutch noise?.. known problem or something new?

[TVR Beaver]

Been thinking all year that I must do the clutch release bearing this winter as it’s getting noisy.. but just thinking about it yesterday… It can’t be.

I’ve had the noise since owning the car… and the engine is running a bit rough now so although it appears to be getting worst it might not be.. just hacking around with the engine on idle….

The noise it a type of rattle but associated with rotation if you know what I mean… If I get the car out, take it to the top of the road and sit at the lights… I get it… Only with the car in neutral and the clutch out… put the clutch in and it’s gone… running it’s gone, sometimes when warm it’s not quite gone but better…. That’s why I though it was the clutch release bearing… But yesterday I noticed you could put some pressure on the clutch therefore compressing the clutch release bearing a bit… and it still does it… push the clutch fully in and it stop’s….

So whilst the gearbox input shaft is rotating in neutral it’s doing it!

The gearbox has 45K on it and is a sweat as a nut and sounds very tight in all other respects?....

Any thoughts on what this could be.. Obviously input shaft bearing springs to mind… but no oil leaks and is fine when driving?..

I can obviously sit at the lights with the clutch in.. but that's not the point... may as well get it sorted....... cheers

[Aussie John]

If the engine is idling roughly then sometimes you can get a rattle from the gearbox, maybe there is no problem.

[TVR Beaver]

May be... will see when it's running better... but always been a bit of something at tickover?.... but I would image the input bearing is a big unit... not sure a carefully driven 1 tonne car would cause it any problems in 45K...

[lewis_sharman]

Just replaced the input / spigot bearing on the Chim after it was making a horrible grinding noise with the clutch in. Had managed to wear the gearbox input shaft down to a lovely hourglass shape and looked as though it had never seen a drop of grease in its life!

Was'nt as bad a job as i would have thought to do, and the car feels so much better now.

ETA

I also had the grinding since ive had the car, and i believe you can check the release bearing through the little inspection hole at the bottom of the bell housing.

Edited by lewis_sharman on Monday 5th October 10:55

[TVR Beaver]

Hi.. no, it's not a grinding.. more a rattle... but thanks for the info anyway... did see a re-build kit for the box at $209 with orig Borg Warner parts including all the syncro rings etc... so not worried... But may also try the inspection window bit... but unless it's running I'm not sure I'll get anything (and don't want to be pushing my fingers in there when it's going!)... Cheers..

[Rob_the_Sparky]

Mine does something similar, sort of rumble/rattle. My first reaction was a rough gearbox but with only 55k miles I figured it was very early for that sort of wear. I mentioned it while I had the car at racing green for a service and was told not to worry and that it was not that unusual. Not really a sign of anything nasty about to happen.

Rob

[TVR Beaver]

Cheers Rob... See what's it's like when running better and then may be let someone who knows about the T5's have a listern?.. as you say... it may be normal?....

[rev-erend]

It probably won't be this but it's worth checking the engine mounting rubbers .. they are know to break occasionally.

Just someone push pull the engine side to side while you check the rubber.

[Rob_the_Sparky]

Noise from mine is input shaft of gearbox. With car out of gear: no noise when clutch pressed, rumble when released. I don't like it much but given the opinion of someone with MUCH more experience of TVRs than I then I'll take it, given that the other option is a significant bill!

[TVR Beaver]

So long as it's not causing damage it will be okay I guess... but don't want it to go pop one day... then that is a big bill..... But may be some are like that and stay that way for years?...I don't know... Will have to ask around....
If not it's a re-con kit from the US for under £200 delivered... Bargain!!....

[Argent]

Dave Batty explained this to me a few years back but I can't remember the details, give him a call, 01483 811995, he's a very helpful bloke and a TIV owner himself.

A.

[TVR Beaver]

Thanks.. will do... Does he re-build boxes as a business (I don'y know him).... and did he say it was a problem?... or something they do?...

[WOO5IE]

Has the gearbox oil been changed or level checked recently.

Trev

[TVR Beaver]

Trev,, yes.. I did it last year.. done 2.5K since.. used ATF from Opie oils... so should be fine...