Here's my problem, when i go to engage the clutch in first, sometimes second and reverse I get a heinous grinding and i can feel the vibration in the clutch pedal. It used to be sporadic but it's recently become pretty constant. The clutch has no problem engaging or staying engaged and after second gear the problem isn't there. The severity of the grindage is lessened if the car is already in motion, even slightly. I think it may be the pilot bearing but i'm not entirely sure so wanted to get some other opinions from the guys that know a whole lot more than i do.

 

I don't think is the pilot bearing.The pilot bearing just sits in the eccentric shaft and the only function it has is to just keep the transmission shaft in place and steady with out movement other than spinning.I have a brand new pilot bearing in my car and i get some of that vibration you are talking about.For me i am thinking is the a combination of the rear end mounts and engine mounts that are shot and can`t absorb any vibration the clutch makes.But then again i am not so sure as this is just my opinion.

 

Do you have the symptoms when you partially depress the clutch but not far enough to disengage it? If you do it's most likely the throwout bearing, since the pilot does not have to do anything until the flywheel and the input shaft are at different speeds.

 

for the most part it's only when i'm engaging the clutch. in neutral, engaging and disengaging i can barely make out any vibration whatsoever. in gear i haven't noticed it to be a problem, but it could also be a very slight one as well.

 

In other words, it only happens when you start to put load on the clutch? That sounds like the disk and/or flywheel/pressure plate surface are trashed, and you are hearing metal on metal grinding as you engage.

Dave

 

i have a bad feeling that you're right dave. It is only when there's load on it for the most part, i did have the clutch disengaged this afternoon while the car was in gear and i still got the griding. that just furthered my confusion. i was hoping, best case scenario, it would be a bearing.

 

forgot to add, if the car is in motion or i've used the clutch multiple times it diminishes the problem and/or eliminates it. Odds are i'm just going to have to take it apart to find the problem then do it again to fix it.

 

If the disc is warped, it could be dragging somewhat even when disengaged. Is it still trying to drive the car a little even fully disengaged? If so, it has to be either the clutch surfaces dragging or the pilot brg. However, the pilot brg, being so small, won't generate much noise, even if it is junk.

Dave

 

That sounds like some sort of build-up or corrosion on the PP or flywheel. What kind of clutch disk/material is it?

Dave