Last weekend i put in stock resurfaced flywheel, unknown "Chinese OEM style" clutch, PP, pilot and throwout bearings that came with the car, new slave.
First problem was it didn't make it the 3 to 5 miles home before it smelled awful and wouldn't go into gear without turning it off. Fluid was black in reservoir so i swapped in new master and bled. Better, but upon pressing clutch i get a squeal and 200 rpm drop, goes into gear but a little difficult, like worn synchros but rev matching doesn't help. PO (Duster/Mike) said it was a pain to bleed for him. Sooooo, the squeal sounds like throw out bearing right? Really just checking with ya'll before i take the trans back out, something a guy like me, with now 6 herniated discs in my neck and back, does NOT want to do. As in, i may just borrow money and take it to a shop. Any way to confirm input shaft bearing quality without a dial gauge thing? Advice or a way to avoid R&R of trans AGAIN?
Oof. Any way i see it, trans is coming back out.
The only time i had something similar happen was when i put the clutch disc in backwards.
Hopefully someone else has better news/ideas.
Several thoughts...
It's possible to put the disc in backwards. Symptoms are a dragging clutch that also slips, if memory serves.
Squeal and drag does sound like a bearing problem, either pilot or throwout. You can do a rough check by seeing how easily the bearing spins - it should have drag and not spin freely.
I think you have to go back in there. It's the squeal and engine rpm drop. If it was just a disengagement problem, I'd suggest more time with the hydraulics. But they're not going to give you that noise and drag.
The clutch disc has the words “faces flywheel” on it and since I take medical equipment apart for a living I feel pretty good about getting that right. Either way, symptoms and the 3 of us agree it’s getting pulled.
Youd be amazed how easy that sticker is to miss at 3 am....
But, yeah, trans is coming back out. If i was closer id volunteer a strong back and weak mind.
After some fiddling, it seems like one claw is not hooked to the throw out bearing. Anyway to fix that without pulling the trans? I haven't messed with it until today because I'm on call and don't have time to take it to my buddy's shop 40 min away.
Sorry, sounds like the trans has to come out. Sucks man.
Update: I am amassing parts to redo the whole thing with good stuff. If I can sell my failed/abandoned Challenge wagon and associated parts I'll order up a happy meal to go with the shifter rebuild (over $30 for a rubber boot?) With brass bushing from 5x and in the mean time I am prepping for spraying it with single stage tractor paint in Ford red. Yup, Ford tractors used to be red apparently. My Miata will be gloss red with satin black accents
Good luck jim. Sorry you have to pull the trans again.
