[DeTomaso] clutch squeal

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 3/25/07 7:07:59 PM, frb3 at comcast.net writes:

<< Would this be the throw out bearing, the actual clutch or maybe the pilot 
bearing?  Problem is only in first gear. >>

Not sure- long-distance diagnosis of "noises" is a crapshoot. In 1st gear, 
there's far more torque multiplication than in the other ratios and the power 
flow through the ZF is offset from the mainshaft to the countershaft very near 
that bearing, so it has very high leverage. I've had front bearing failures in 
trannys (not ZFs) that caused such noises (in one, the ball-cage failed). In 
any case it requires the ZF to be pulled SOON for correction. If its the 
throwout, removing it for a check will tell if there's a sticky spot when you rotate 
it in your fingers, and they're not expensive. If its the front trans 
bearing, the input shaft will move sideways & wobble, and eventually the front seal 
will fail. Note this bearing can be changed without a total trans tear-down. 
And I ALWAYS replace the cheap pilot bushings when the tranny is out since they 
have a short, nasty unlubricated life up behind the clutch anyway. FWIW, a 
5/8" tap wound into a bronze pilot bushing will jack it out with no sweat nor 
mess. If you run a ball bearing pilot and it goes bad, you're on your own as far 
as removing it. But if it fully seizes, it will tear up the ZF clutch input 
shaft nose- and you really DON'T want to know what those cost to replace! Good 
luck- J Deryke<BR><BR><BR>**************************************<BR> AOL now 
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