Uh Oh...

[Rusty]

Got a bit of a nasty grinding noise... not too loud but can be heard best from the front footwell so is at the rear of the engine / front of the gearbox. Either flywheel centre bearing or something a little more serious and engine related. Was hoping it's just the clutch overheating a tad but I can't help but fear it's a bit more serious as the noise is still there after leaving it to cool. Bit gutted today what with needing a new cat too

[K Simmonds]

Clutch release baring? Though very hard to say without hearing it.

[Rusty]

Doesn't change when the clutch is depressed or not. The bearing is fairly new, if that matters.

No tapping noise, just grinding / whirring. Oil pressure is normal. There are no particles on the dip stick but I'm going to drop the oil and check. You.can't hear the noise from the engine bay, only the footwell.

I'm in Cardiff a week Monday, pop down and have a listen if you like

[K Simmonds]

Hmmm,

Oh dear, that sounds more like the input shaft baring.

[Rusty]

The one on the flywheel? That is my prime candidate too

If it is that one then it's a pain but not as bad as a main bearing. Will need to get it on a ramp and see what's what... Boo hoo I was just starting to enjoy RS2 spec too.

[K Simmonds]

Yeah, the one in the flywheel. The ones in the box would probably be silent when stationary.

[Error404]

input shaft baring.

That'd be my first guess too

[Rusty]

Bet it went in dry and has gradually worn over the last 4 years... I didn't fit the box on so don't know.

Still engine or gearbox out and that means clutch & fw as well as rods, mains, rings etc. etc. Oh, and that Basset Down touch. Last time I checked, that was a couple of grand.

[Error404]

or spend a day taking the box off / engine out and spend £25 on a new bearing

[Rusty]

Yeah, it's a heck of a job...

[SteveH]

Yeah, it's a heck of a job...

It's not too bad to do, especially if you have a few mates who can help. I've done it by myself twice in one day because the clutchnet pressure plate I received was the wrong part

[Rusty]

That's dedication for sure...

Need to think about this as I want to make sure I do enough to make it a necessary exercise but not too expensive. Shame the clutch needs uprating, as a 3B clutch with RS2+ power. Could get a lighter flywheel on there too but don't want to get the bottom end balanced at the moment

I think the minimum is going to be a new bearing and a darned good inspection of the clutch. Will look into engine mounts and I want to rebuild the front subframe with some new bits too.

Steve, do you have an engine crane?

[mcandmar]

If it makes the noise with the clutch out its not the flywheel bearing. Sounds like clutch release bearing or gearbox input shaft bearing to me.

[driftin jo]

If it makes the noise with the clutch out its not the flywheel bearing. Sounds like clutch release bearing or gearbox input shaft bearing to me.

With the clutch out the shaft and bearing are rotating as one, i.e. the bearings inner and outer race are moving together, thus the would be no noise from the bearing in this situation.
The bearing would make a noise if you were in gear (holding the input shaft still) with your foot on the clutch (rotating the flywheel/bearing about the shaft).

[Rusty]

No noise today extended emissions test at 3k rpm must have over heated it. Will keep my ears peeled and plan some serious work in the future.