anyone else with throw-out bearing problems?

[1low03gt]

Mine started after about 9 months worth of total use.(3 months after i pulled her out of storage,from last winter )So about 12,000 of good ol' Canadian kilometers.

 

[Ajax_02GT]

My TOB started squeeking at 37K miles; and continues squeeking at my current 84K miles. Get used to it or replace it.

I tried the lithium grease trick, but it didn't help any.

Did you try adjusting the stock quadrant or replacing it with an aftermarket one plus a firewall adjuster? Adjusting the stock unit worked for me, was incredibly easy to do and best of all NO MORE TOB NOISE.

Here's a link to the tech article on corral.net on how to adjust it:

http://www.corral.net/tech/drivetrain/clutcha.htm

 

[CanadaStang]

Hope you get 'er up and running!!

 

[Ajax_02GT]

The throw-out bearing, or clutch release bearing as it's sometimes called, is located between the clutch fork and the pressure plate fingers. The throw-out bearing only operates when the clutch pedal is depressed; the bearing is not designed for continuous use so DO NOT adjust your clutch quadrent to make it spin continuously.

When you step on the clutch pedal, the throw-out bearing applies force to the fingers of the spinning pressure plate to release the clutch. When the clutch pedal is released, the bearing sits idle and does not contact the pressure plate. The classic symptom of a worn throw-out bearing is a whirring or growling sound when applying the clutch pedal, which goes away when releasing the pedal. Premature wear of the throw-out bearing can occur when there is insufficient clutch play, resulting in a throw-out bearing that spins continuously. If the bearing fails, it may seize and quickly wear the fingers of the pressure plate. The throw-out bearing does not require routine maintenance, but should be replaced when clutch replacement becomes necessary.

I searched for a post where someone was saying that the Ford TOB's were supposed (as in designed) to make constant contact but couldn't find it. But I'm not gonna argue your point because I honestly don't know.

What I do know is that before I adjusted my quadrant my TOB sounded like a hundred angry crickets. Since I've been adjusting my quadrant (almost been a year now, ~10K miles) those crickets have been silenced. I took my GT in under warranty when it was making the noise and when I got it back it was quiet and they said that the tech "couldn't hear anything". I pretty much discovered later that all they did was adjust it.

I haven't had any other TOB problems since (knock on wood) either. You may be totally correct and I could be dooming my TOB to a shorter existence but I'll take my chances until it craps out on me because of my adjustments. It's worth it IMHO to not have that god-forsaken noise, LOL. I've also read numerous posts where people had the TOB replaced with OEM or aftermarket units (in attempts to silence the noise) only to have the noise return within 10K-20K miles. I would rather replace it with one that was noise-free but apparently that may not be possible.

 

[Tunez4523]

Bill9000,
Mine did exactly as you described. A loud noise that was kind of a chirping/squealing outside of the car and definitly audible. It was also ONLY with the clutch pushed in. Ford did a complete TOB replacement for me under warranty and as of yet, no more moise....

 

[CanadaStang]

Bill9000,
Mine did exactly as you described. A loud noise that was kind of a chirping/squealing outside of the car and definitly audible. It was also ONLY with the clutch pushed in. Ford did a complete TOB replacement for me under warranty and as of yet, no more moise....

Tunez4523, how many miles did you have on your car when it started making those noises?

 

[crazynorwegian]

mine went out about 6months ago. its squeaked for about 2 months then one day it blew up, producing the loudest high pitched squealing noise I've ever heard when I pressed the clutch. I drove it 2 miles home like that, and parked it in my garage. over the next two days I pulled my tranny. when I took it out the tranny all the bearings from the tob fell out of the bellhousing. I replaced it with a new tob from napa auto parts for 30bucks, and haven't had any problems since. I have a buddy with an 03 gt with only 25,000 miles on it and his is starting to squeak now.

 

[tomustang]

there's not a real positive time when they go out.

 

[stang9300]

If you own a mustang you will have problem with your throw out bearing. Just grease it like everyone else has said.

 

[00Pony]

interesting... I've got a fairly quiet noise than sort of sounds like a power steering pump growling, but only when I push in the clutch, minute I take the clutch our, it stops... I was thinking TOB... anyone else with a noise like that? or always a whine?

fairly soon my friend, you car will not run.
Unless you change your throughout bearing!!! because it is going out and will not engage when all the ball bearings fall out. its not covered under warrenty so itll cost you around $350 unless you do it yourself.

 

[CanadaStang]

mine went out about 6months ago. its squeaked for about 2 months then one day it blew up, producing the loudest high pitched squealing noise I've ever heard when I pressed the clutch. I drove it 2 miles home like that, and parked it in my garage. over the next two days I pulled my tranny. when I took it out the tranny all the bearings from the tob fell out of the bellhousing. I replaced it with a new tob from napa auto parts for 30bucks, and haven't had any problems since. I have a buddy with an 03 gt with only 25,000 miles on it and his is starting to squeak now.

Yipes, thats not many miles. I planning on keeping my Stang for awhile, I wonder if I could get a deal on a case of TOB

 

[69fb00GT]

Who pulled this thread out of the depths? I think i asked this question in June! It is a good thread with good info though...glad it got put back up. And as an update on my car.....it now has 62k on it...and the TB only squeels/chirps every once in a while. (never does it when the clutch is depressed..only at low rpms (cruising) or idle) I can usually get it to stop with a nice high rpm blast.

 

[L33T MinGrey GT]

i spray my TOB everytime i change my oil. i use white lithium grease and it hasn't made a noise since the first spray at 18k miles(car now has 47k with zero noise). the problem is that the bearing slings all the factory grease out at high rpm's. just grease it every few months if it is a problem.

I was wondering where to find the location of this picture. Is it behinf the firewall or in the bottom end of the car?

TIA!

 

[kennym01]

Is there any chance that the grease could seep into other parts of the clutch assembly and contaminate the clutch? That's why I haven't tried this with my 01' GT at this point. It is really annoying having to listen to the TOB noise so I'm open to trying something but I don't want to have to replace my clutch because of grease getting somewhere it shouldn't be...

 

[Premium Speed]

Is there any chance that the grease could seep into other parts of the clutch assembly and contaminate the clutch? That's why I haven't tried this with my 01' GT at this point. It is really annoying having to listen to the TOB noise so I'm open to trying something but I don't want to have to replace my clutch because of grease getting somewhere it shouldn't be...

you don't use alot of grease and always use a straw to spray it. a "little" grease on the pressure plate won't hurt anything. if you don't lube or replace the TOB it WILL fail and that can get expensive. i've been lubing TOB in mustangs for a long time and never had any problems. the people who are adjusting the "stock" clutch to apply pressure and quiet the bearing are only attempting to "rig" the problem and i do "not" suggest that idea FOR THIS PROBLEM. there are times when you can adjust it to help pick up the slack, but ford designed the clutch a certain way. an aftermarket quadrant will help but again you "want" that TOB to engauge at a certain time and most people don't realize what the bearing accually does and "why" it freespins when the clutch is out...that's another long subject that i won't go into, do a little research if you are interested

L33T - if you remove the inspection cover(black cover where the clutch cable enters the bellhousing) you will see what is pictured. if you are not familiar with the clutch operations i would have someone help you who knows. it is VERY easy. just take it slow with the grease, it doesn't take much. i apply some grease, drive the car "stop and go" a few miles and grease it again. i do this every 5k miles with no problems. i have done this on 4 different 99+ mustangs and it worked. if the bearing is too far gone it will only mask the noise for a short time. if the grease trick doesn't work you will need a new TOB. i suggest lubing it from the begining "before" it makes noise, but whatever....just my .02

use White lithium spray can grease with a straw.

 

[Ajax_02GT]

you don't use alot of grease and always use a straw to spray it. a "little" grease on the pressure plate won't hurt anything. if you don't lube or replace the TOB it WILL fail and that can get expensive. i've been lubing TOB in mustangs for a long time and never had any problems. the people who are adjusting the "stock" clutch to apply pressure and quiet the bearing are only attempting to "rig" the problem and i do "not" suggest that idea FOR THIS PROBLEM. there are times when you can adjust it to help pick up the slack, but ford designed the clutch a certain way. an aftermarket quadrant will help but again you "want" that TOB to engauge at a certain time and most people don't realize what the bearing accually does and "why" it freespins when the clutch is out...that's another long subject that i won't go into, do a little research if you are interested

L33T - if you remove the inspection cover(black cover where the clutch cable enters the bellhousing) you will see what is pictured. if you are not familiar with the clutch operations i would have someone help you who knows. it is VERY easy. just take it slow with the grease, it doesn't take much. i apply some grease, drive the car "stop and go" a few miles and grease it again. i do this every 5k miles with no problems. i have done this on 4 different 99+ mustangs and it worked. if the bearing is too far gone it will only mask the noise for a short time. if the grease trick doesn't work you will need a new TOB. i suggest lubing it from the begining "before" it makes noise, but whatever....just my .02

use White lithium spray can grease with a straw.

There seems to be 2 seperate TOB problems being discussed in this thread and I'd like to just make clear what we're talking about. The first problem is a loud chirping/jingling noise made when no pressure is on the TOB (i.e. foot off clutch pedal, engine idling). The second is a screeching/dried up bearing noise made when the TOB is spinning (i.e. pressure on TOB, foot pushing clutch pedal in).

My suggestion to adjust the stock quadrant to put more pressure on the TOB was made to address the first problem. My TOB is nice and quiet when pressure is on it and it is spinning. If it starts making noise when pressure is on it and it is spinning then yeah, I'm hosed and it's new TOB time. I tried the lithium grease trick for the first problem and it didn't do anything to help. So is that trick for the first or second problem? I can understand it helping the second problem but not so much for the first.

FWIW I realize that my adjustment suggestion isn't probably the best way to fix the issue but unless I just want to live with the noise (I don't) nothing else seems to do the trick. I haven't had any other problems since so I guess all I can say is it's working for me. If there is a sure-fire and proper method to fix the first problem I would like to hear about it so I can fix it the right way.

 

[Premium Speed]

There seems to be 2 seperate TOB problems being discussed in this thread and I'd like to just make clear what we're talking about. The first problem is a loud chirping/jingling noise made when no pressure is on the TOB (i.e. foot off clutch pedal, engine idling). The second is a screeching/dried up bearing noise made when the TOB is spinning (i.e. pressure on TOB, foot pushing clutch pedal in).

My suggestion to adjust the stock quadrant to put more pressure on the TOB was made to address the first problem. My TOB is nice and quiet when pressure is on it and it is spinning. If it starts making noise when pressure is on it and it is spinning then yeah, I'm hosed and it's new TOB time. I tried the lithium grease trick for the first problem and it didn't do anything to help. So is that trick for the first or second problem? I can understand it helping the second problem but not so much for the first.

FWIW I realize that my adjustment suggestion isn't probably the best way to fix the issue but unless I just want to live with the noise (I don't) nothing else seems to do the trick. I haven't had any other problems since so I guess all I can say is it's working for me. If there is a sure-fire and proper method to fix the first problem I would like to hear about it so I can fix it the right way.

cool...my post was addressing the chirping/squeeling(first prob) when the clutch pedal is out at idle and during cruising. it will go away as soon as the clutch pedal has pressure placed on it. the noise is caused by the TOB running dry. the grease gets slung out during high RPM shifts.

i'm not here to say you are right or wrong, but personally i would not adjust the "stock" quadrant to apply pressure and quiet the noise. i would only do that to pick up any slack in the cable. that's just my opinion. the sure fire way to fix the problem is to pull the tranny/clutch and inspect it. the grease trick is just maintenance, and like i mentioned if it does not work you might need a new bearing.

the second problem you mentioned could be alot more than the TOB. that needs to be looked at by a mechanic. if it makes noise when you press the pedal, i would take it in ASAP.

 

[southernpony]

Ok yall. Heres one. Mines an '04 about 5k on it and when its cold it makes this noise in fifth only while I'm cruising kinda like the plates are grinding...(really dont know how to describe the noise). But once the car gets warmed up it will go away. Any ideas? Thanks

 

[Ajax_02GT]

cool...my post was addressing the chirping/squeeling(first prob) when the clutch pedal is out at idle and during cruising. it will go away as soon as the clutch pedal has pressure placed on it. the noise is caused by the TOB running dry. the grease gets slung out during high RPM shifts.

Hmmm, I'm a little confused here then. I would think that if the bearing ran dry then it would make noise when it had pressure on it and was spinning. When it does not have pressure on it and is not spinning, then I would think it should be quiet since it's not doing anything. Kind of like a "squeeky wheel gets the grease" sort of thing.

When my TOB has pressure on it and is spinning, it is quiet like it is properly lubricated and is functioning correctly as a bearing. If it ran dry I would think that I would hear all kinds of screeching sounds as dry metal rubs on dry metal.

I thought the chirping/jingling sound was caused by excessive play of the TOB on the input shaft or clutch fork or something along those lines when there is no pressure on it.

 

[Premium Speed]

i believe the TOB spins while the clutch is engaged. if the bearing itself is low on grease it will squeel. it should not make noise once the clutch pedal is pressed. i think i just confused myself...lol