850R chirping noise on clutch release?

[ArchieBrown]

Hi contributors,

Since I've owned it, my 97 R 5MT has chirped when releasing the clutch. It's worse when cold and usually only happens from neutral to first though occassionally it'll repeat in the shift from first to second.

Do describe the sound, chirped is a bit of a loose term. It sounds a little like a slipping fan belt, but lasts only for a second or less. I can avoid getting the sound altogether by adding a few extra revs and riding the clutch a little more - but that doesnt strike me as a sustainable workaround.

I've read that it may be the Release (AKA Throwout) bearing. If Im correct, is this something that a DIYer can do or should it be a garage fix?

Thanks as always,

Arch

[precopster]

Hi Arch, the throwout bearing is between the clutch plate and the gearbox. It actually sits on the input shaft of the manual transmission. It transfers rotational drive from the fingered splines on the pressure plate which are spinning at the same speed as the engine.

It involves separation of the trans/engine assembly due to the assembly having to be far enough apart to pull it off, which takes all of about 10 seconds once it's apart.

A throwout bearing should last the same distance as the clutch plate, but often fails earlier. Is there a hissing noise when the clutch is released, but disappears when the clutch is depressed?

[Ozark Lee]

Mine chirped like that for over 2 years until the throwout bearing finally shat itself and ate the fingers off of the pressure plate. On the last drive home from an out of town job (a couple of hundred miles or so) I did find that if you are careful and deliberate you can upshift without the clutch - it works best when you are off throttle on a downhill grade.

When I replaced everything the clutch itself was only about 1 mm off of the rivets so they all tend to die together. When you replace it obviously change out the RMS while you are there.

...Lee

[ArchieBrown]

Thanks gents.

Mike, I can't hear a hissing sound during gear changes. From what you've mentioned while the part itself is easy to replace, getting to it is something of an experience?
Which I guess segways me to Lee's comment about replacing the RMS while I'm there. If I recall correctly the RMS lives between the engine and the transmission, so it makes sense that I'd trash it when replacing the throwout bearing. So I ask this tentatively, is there a way to get do the bearing without the RMS?

Thanks again.

Arch

[Ozark Lee]

The entire transmission needs to come out to replace the throwout bearing and if it is going out then the clutch disk and pressure plate are not far behind it. Sachs actually sells the clutch, pressure plate, and throwout bearing as a "kit". The only additional labor to get to the RMS is removing the flywheel which I would do anyway to have it resurfaced.

Once the flywheel is off it is all of a 10 minute job to R&R the rear main seal but you are many, many hours into it yanking the transmission.

My RMS was just fine at 230 some-odd k miles but I just knew if I didn't replace it it would start to leak a week later. Murphy's Law.

The act of removing the transmission won't hurt the RMS but it is dirt cheap to replace while you are there.

...Lee

[ArchieBrown]

Thanks Lee,

OK, my mech says he will need 8 hours (at $100 an hour) to sort it all out, but the parts may be hard to get.

I'll make the assumption that one of these: http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/volvo-c ... -k70212-01 will do just fine?
Or should I roll with one of these: http://www.clutchcityonline.com/product ... O131.shtml

Regards

Arch

[Ozark Lee]

The Sachs is OEM and I would have no problem buying the kit from FCP. I actually bought my Sachs kit from a local auto parts store (O'reilly) for a few less dollars and had no freight but your conditions may be vastly different.

...Lee