Cool, I appreciate the help everyone thanks very much.

 

I think your Dad is wrong in this case The FD has a pull type clutch so the throwout bearing is ALWAYS touching the pressure plate because it is actually attached to it. The clutch disengages by actually pulling on the pressure plate; this is the opposite of most other vehicles. On an FD the throwout bearing is spinning as long as the engine is running. It is only heavly loaded however when the clutch is depressed.

Fact is you have to pull the tranny to replace either the pilot bearing or the throwout bearing. Don't worry about which one it is, just replace both of them as that's the smart thing to do.

 

Thanks damon. I appreciate it. oh and did you see my sexy heatshield I made off of your template? I always give you credit :P

 

I have a similar problem, but a little different. I hear the noise whenever the clutch is engaged (foot off the pedal), and the second i step on the clutch (clutch disengaged) the noise goes away completely. I just replaced my clutch and the pilot and throw bearings while i was at it, and the noise is still there. It sounds exactly the same as before, so it has to be something else. I've had a couple people tell me that it is most likely the inputshaft bearing inside the transmission which makes a lot of sense. Would this require a full trann tear down, or is this something that can be be replaced easily once the bell housing is off?

This noise is just one of those things that really drives me nuts. Since the noise is there whenever the clutch is engaged (foot off the pedal), it's there all the time while driving, but just not as noticable. It just adds a lot of noise to the car that makes the FD a little more less tolerable everyday.

 

You would not need to do a complete tear-down of the tranny to replace any of the bearings. The problem is deciding which one. If you look up at the tranny as situated on the car you will see a bolted on plate. The box the plate is attached to houses the main gearbox. On each end of that box is where you find the principal bearings. The bell housing will need to be removed to access the bearings at the front of the transmission and the shifter housing will need to be removed to access the rear bearings. Removing the shifter housing is more complicated than the bell housing, however, it is not beyond anyone with good, basic mechanical skills. The main point is, you will not need to get into the more complicated gearbox assembly in just replacing the bearings.

You will need to rig-up a long-*** puller to pull the bearing on the rear shaft. Most people are able to devise their own, however.

 

thanks for the help. My 5th gear syncro is bad, so will probably replace that wihle i have things apart.