Thrust bearing?

[97ldmorgan]

Hi all,

New to the forums.

I have a 1.4 16v vauxhall astra J 2011

Recently had gearbox replaced with new one after a failure, new clutch kit and thrust bearing.

A noise appears when I put the clutch pedal to the floor, kind of like a whiring noise noise and happens when in neutral at idle, when I let of the clutch pedal the noise goes away but only appears after I've drove for about 10 miles and goes after I haven't used the car for a few hours which is baffling me.

If I'm idle when car is started from cold and put in 1st gear and lift the clutch to biting point with handbrake on can hear a quite but fast crackling which goes quite when clutch to floor.

I've got the noise the clutch makes after a good journey on video and will put YouTube link below.

Could my new thrust bearing be faulty and making the the noise when hot, possibly poor lubrication the bearing?

I plan to pull the box out myself in the next couple of days to have a look inside, the work was originally done by a mechanic but will be doing myself this time.

Any help is greatly appreciated and sorry for the long post but wanted to add as much detail as possible.

https://youtu.be/Ipe9o_clO8k


Best regards
Lee

[Super Sonic]

Hi, welcome to PH! Not an expert, but could also b gbox bearing.

[paintman]

'New' gearbox as in brand new item, or reconditioned or used as in from a breaker/ebay?

Supplied by you or by the mechanic?

[VanDiesel99]

Doesn't sound like a Thrust Bearing to me, those that I've had be noisy have always 'Whirred' with the clutch up in Neutral engine hot or cold.

Your noise sounds like more a whistle to me. Certainly not a Gearbox / clutch noise I've heard before.

(also once had a broken spring in a friction plate, that was a 'Whirr' too)

Would be inclined to drain the Gearbox oil and take a look at it (and ensure the mechanic put some in... anything's possible) before you have the box off. Make sure you know what oil you need for your car if you're going to refill with new.

[97ldmorgan]

Hi,

Sorry for late reply haven't been able reply for 24hrs because I'm new member.

Gear box is reconditioned from the gearbox centre in faversham, my mate ( also the mechanic) been using them for years and always been to high standard of workmanship.

It's not normally a noise I'd expect to hear from that area either. I just got back from a 100 mile trip motorway and city, and rural driving to get the clutch going, the noise is there again.

I just put a stephascope on the box but the sound is travelling right through the body of the car so unable to identify which part of the box its coming from, but when my Mrs started to lift the clutch the pitch of the noise changed higher and got quiter the more the clutch pedal came up untill nothing when she let of the clutch pedal conpletley. Also with a bit of acceleration it's pitched changed.

When the pedal was up I couldn't hear nothing I wouldn't expect to hear on gear part of the box but on the bell housing side a light grinding sound.

I've check for oil It's good with no sighn of iron filings.

It's turning out to be a bit of a brain teaser.

Thanks for your reply
Best regards
Lee

[GreenV8S]

Could be the pilot bearing - was that replaced?

[97ldmorgan]

Just been stripping everything down, gearbox oil was good.

It's all ready to separate the gearbox from engine tommorow.

I'm not sure if the pilot bearing was changed, apart from looking sort of clean is there
Another was to assess weather the pilot bearing is an issue?

Thanks for all advice so far
Lee

[julianm]

Will you have a go at the `Bread method` for the pilot bearing? I've always wanted to!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00OlG5E8vLk

[GreenV8S]

97ldmorgan said:

n is there Another was to assess weather the pilot bearing is an issue?

If it's failed to the extent you're getting those symptoms it will be immediately obvious. It can be damaged while joining the 'box and engine so even if it seemed fine when things were apart, there's no guarantee it's still fine.

[97ldmorgan]

After separating the box from engine everything looks good no visible damage to pressure plate, clutch plate in good nick pilot bearing looks good, no contamination inside the bell housing or on any of the parts. The thrust bearing is spinning freely.

It's a hydrolic thrust bearing but have noticed a bit of lateral play in the bearing casing which comes into contact with the forks, is this normal in this part?

Regards lee

[VanDiesel99]

I thought this guy did a really good job of demonstrating play, but the video doesn't include reference to the Thrust Bearing IIRC

https://youtu.be/XMdBdWeGFMY

[Boosted LS1]

Everytime the OP says thrust bearing I can't help but think of the crank thrust bearing. Isn't the more normal term 'clutch release bearing' in this situation? Not that it really matters but it was confusing me. :-)

Is there play on the input shaft to the gearbox, axial ie lengthways?

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Friday 3rd June 17:48

[97ldmorgan]

Boosted LS1 said:

Everytime the OP says thrust bearing I can't help but think of the crank thrust bearing. Isn't the more normal term 'clutch release bearing' in this situation? Not that it really matters but it was confusing me. :-)

Is there play on the input shaft to the gearbox, axial ie lengthways?

Edited by Boosted LS1 on Friday 3rd June 17:48

The was no play anywhere on the input shaft, everything seemed fine. I didn't like the feel or sound when I spun the clutch release bearing ( was just about to type thrust bearing, bad habit) so took a gamble fitted new one put it back together.

Took it for a 30mile run which was way more than what was setting it of and so far so good.

We got to take our pet to vets down Bridgend on Monday which is 84mile round trip and will come back via Newport upto valleys which will make it a 100 mile trip to put some pressure on it if if it doesn't make a sound after that my gamble will have paid of.

Thanks for advice from everybody upto now it's really appreciated.

Regards
Lee