Tranny Noise, clutch out and only 1st-3rd gear
 

So I have had a loud tranny for a few years now, silent when clutch is in and little loud when clutch is out and you can hear it alot when driving, common noise that people talk about alot on here. I just noticed today it doesn't make the noise when driving in 4th and 5th gear, or if it does you can't really hear it, nothing like how loud it is in 1st-3rd gear which it is the same volume in each of those 3 gears.

Last year I tore apart the tranny completely and replaced the main input shaft bearings, on both end of the main shaft, and the big needle bearing where the input shaft connects to the main shaft(looks like a pilot bearing but bigger). The tranny noise was the exact same before and after replacing these bearings, I don't think it was any more quiet after. I've also replaced the clutch a couple times, new throwout bearings and new pilot bearings. So the sound is not from any of those bearings. I didn't change any of the countershaft bearings.

So I'm trying to figure out what else it could be, but I can't make a good guess looking at the service manual and knowing that it's quiet in 4th and 5th gear, not sure about reverse. Over the winter I may want to tear apart the tranny again or just replace the whole thing, but I'd rather save the money and replace what it needs. Any help would be great. thanks.

You could be hearing the differential as most people neglect that OLD part when upgrading other parts of the car.

Remember our cars are fairly old.

Another thing i think of is the clutch. But you said you replaced that.

I know people said some ACT clutches make a certain noise with the clutch out but when you clutch it, complete silence.

I have an ACT clutch and i get that subtle noise with the clutch out but i dont get noise when i drive.

No my differential was making a noise and just fixed that, well it's quiter now, needed new pinion bearings. This has to be tranny related. I've had spec clutches. thanks

I replaced my clutch about 5 years ago. Installed an ACT street/strip clutch including new T/O and pilot bearing. Got the same noise you are having. I never did anything about it. Its still there 5 years later. It isn't any worse, and everything still works fine. I suggest you ignore it. ;)

So you didn't have the noise until you put that clutch in? Weird. I don't really remember when or how my noise started, it's been there for a few years. I have learned to ignore it but still at the same time wish I could fix it, its not too horrible but a little annoying. Plus I don't have the carpet in right now or the sound dampening material so its extra loud.

Thats probably why you're thinking something is wrong because having no carpet amplifies sound by ALOT lol

When i was doing my tan to black interior, i didnt have any interior except for my driver seat and driving it around was like 10x louder than when i had full interior.

Like adam said. If you replaced everything and you said you had the sound for a while, just ignore it.

Going crazy for little things will make you even more crazy ;)

And if it aint broke, dont fix it. :D

No I know, I just removed the carpet about a year ago, but it was loud before that too. I don't mind the noise when sitting there during idle, but when you start driving in first gear it gets loud, a loud whining noise. I'm just a little tired of it and wouldn't mind fixing it over the winter if I get bored or need a project.

My noise was not there before I replaced the clutch. I don't notice it once the car is moving.

see my noise gets louder when the rpms increase when driving, up till around 4k rpms then the exhaust is loud enough that I dont hear the tranny as much. and when I am driving and push in the clutch the noise goes away, then when I pop it out of gear into neutral with the clutch in, it makes the noise again for a second or two. I would think someone who is an expert with these trannys and rebuilding them may know what exactly needs replaced based on all the descriptions of when the noise occurs. and If I remember correctly I tested it without the driveshaft in and it did not make any noise at all in neural.

Something else I just realized is the noise only occurs while driving during acceleration or cruising, it goes away and is quiet during deceleration. So it seems like it must be a noise from the actual gears maybe, not from a bearing.

I have exactly same problem,, its been like that since i purchased the car 4 years ago. Ive just purchased a replacement reconditioned tranny, because the noise gets on my nerves that much sounds like a dry rumble noise always in the same gears you mention and always when accelerating.

It still could be a bearing, if a stationary (outer) race was only damaged on one side that was not loaded during decel.

Switch to the jdm trans...they are supposed to shift better and have a better 5th gear ratio. It's I'm going to do this summer...

Jap2la has been selling them like crazy in the forsale section...also who I'll get mine from

anyone fix this exact problem or know what it likely is? maybe countershaft bearings? I will have to double check which ones I bought but i think those were the only bearings i did not replace.

let me know i have the same problem. pilot bearing perhaps?

You can get cheap low mileage JDM trannies all day, that's the way to go. They go for $300-400, just get one, put it in, and enjoy.

I had noise in my tranny a while back, put one in and was amazed at how tight and nice a low mileage transmission is.

For the price, you can't beat it. And, you can easily spend that kind of money and LOTS of time tracking down the problem on a high mileage transmission.

Dale

No not the pilot bearing. Where can they be found for 300-400? I would get one for that much, but japan2la wanted alot more for them or maybe its cause shipping was expensive. thanks

I've never seen one for $300-400. They are typically around $500 or so from Japan2LA before shipping iirc

Are you running redline synthetic gear oil?

I had the same noise and symptoms. Cause was front input bearing to the tranny. In 4th and 5th gears the torque path is closer to the centerline of the tranny hence less noise.

Noise in 1st through 3rd gears only while under load suggests a countershaft bearing or problem. Additionally, the FD tranny is known to have a noisy input shaft bearing.

Thanks. I changed like all the bearings except the countershaft bearings, I should have just done them all but they were not cheap.

My ACT clutch made the same described noise i just added some insulation over the shifter boot area and its alot quieter.

So does the redline synthetic gear oil significantly lessen the noise? I have some lucas gear oil in there.

any update on this thread, did anyone find out exactly what causes the noise