well, I just bought a 91 N/A, and I already have clutch problems. I wanted to know if you think it's the throwout bearing, or if I need a new clutch. So ever since I bought it I'll be cruising along, and then I put the clutch in to downshift, and it rattles a lot. So then I get in my car to leave work a few days after buying it, and I start it up, and it's not letting me put it in any gear....there is the same resistance in pushing in the clutch, but I push it to the floor, and it just won't let me put in it gear, and it's not even grinding the gears, just not letting me at all. And then so I wait for it to warm up, turn it off, put it in first, and then start it up and it rattles a lot, but I drive it home anyway. So then there's a little bit more resistance shifting into second, and more rattling. Then I get to a stoplight, and I have the clutch fully depressed, and it dies, and then I start it back up and it's alright again. Then I get home, it's perfectly normal.

So then I'm driving it all today, and it's great, and normal, and awesome. Then I get home, and it starts acting up again, and rattling a lot, and not letting me put it in gear. Then I wait about 2 hours, and then it's better, but not the best it could be, and there is a lot of rattling when I put the clutch in to downshift....so I think it's just my throwout bearing, but the whole thing about me stalling it at that stoplight really makes me think it's slipping and I'll have to get a new one....what do you guys think?

 

...come on guys, help me out

 

It definitely sounds like the cluch is dragging or your throwout bearing is shot. To fix the problem you gotta pull the tranny, and you may as well replace all the clutch disc and pilot bearing as well while you're in there.

 

Before you pull the tranny, either try to inspect/test, or just go ahead and replace, both cylinders of the clutch hydraulic system (clutch slave and master). It won't cost you more than $150, and it'll eliminate anything *outside* the tranny as the problem. It is much more common to have failed hydraulics then clutches, and certainly throwout bearings almost never go out. Could be a pilot bearing, though.

 

ummm....I'm kind of on a tight budget, and I'm really hoping it's just the throwout bearing or the pilot bearing. But, what exactly does a pilot bearing and throwout bearing do? All I know is that the rattling is most likely from the throwout bearing...

 

and I'm also wondering if it's safe to drive it like this? Because it's my daily driver, but I don't want to screw up my transmission if it really is my clutch slipping. I'm going to get it checked out, and be optimistic and think it's just the throwout or pilot bearing, but riddle me this.......would you drive it like this??

 

bump....?

 

I dont think you understand. If it were the pilot bearing, or the throwout bearing, you still have to drop the tranny and basically you'd end up doing a clutch job. I'm saying to check and/or replace the external hydraulics (accessible with 2 12mm screws each outside the tranny) before doing all that work, which can be expensive.

Oh, and you're quickly going to find yourself not able to shift at all, so I wouldnt drive it if I could help. You can tear up the tranny driving it this way for long.