A couple days ago I noticed I couldn't shift into reverse with out it grinding (unless I go from 1st to reverse). Even if I held in the clutch. Its also a bit harder to shift into other gears than it used it. To top it all off, when I do get it into gear and let off the clutch I sometimes hear a low 'squealing' noise coming from the tranny. I'm pretty sure its the throwout bearing on its last legs? How long do you think it will last before giving out completly? I really don't feel like dropping the tranny to replace it, but I will if I have to.

This is a '83 12a.

Matt

 

Bump for some advice, possibly?

 

If it is the TO bearing failing, there is no way to know how long it will last. I have seen some noisy TO bearing that worked for years, and others that only made noise a couple times, before locking up.
The way you describe difficulty in shifting leads me to believe it more likely the pilot bearing, vs the TO bearing.
When the TO bearing goes bad, it usually just makes noise while the clutch is depressed, and hard shifting is only an issue after it has gotten to it's last legs. This is when the "fingers" on the pressure plate are almost totally worn off. When they are gone, you can no longer disengage the clutch.
A pilot bearing allows the input shaft to spin freely in the back of the crank, or E-shaft in this case, so the gears can be engaged easier. When this goes bad, it will usually make noise only with the clutch depressed AND the tranny is in gear, with the RMPs not matching. When in nuetral, the input shaft will spin as if the clutch was still engaged.
Either one of these conditions can be nursed for a while, but there are no promises as to how long. Both also require dropping the tranny to replace. This is why it is advisable to replace both anytime you drop the tranny for a clutch replacement.
There is one other bearing that can also cause this type of hard shifting. Inside the tranny. This is usually accompanied with noise in all gears, except 4th. The bearing inside the rear of the input shaft is the suspect, when this occurs. This requires disassembling the tranny.

 

Nope.. its definetly not the tranny. The description of the Pilot bearing failing sounds almost exactly like what's happening to me. I'll try and drive it as long as I can, so when I put it away for the winter i'll have something to work on.

 

mines been squealing like a pig for a year now. Its on the list, and it'll prob stay there for a while. don't sweat it unless you don't want to buy a new tranny and clutch.

 

Push clutch in, move lever to 1st gear position, THEN to reverse. This will help in any Japanese car, I believe it has something to do with reverse not having synchros. I do it out of habit now, in any car I drive. Hope this helps.