So my TOB started making noise recently...I did a search on it and it seems its a pain to fix and some say it can cause damage eventually, and some say its no big deal...anybody want to chime in?
It's not a PAIN to replace, but it's more involved than changing an air filter. You're going to need two people for this job also. If you're doing the TOB, you might as well change the clutch also. Basically what you do is take off the h-pipe, take down the driveshaft, unbolt the tranny and take that down (shifter needs to come off), replace the TOB and installation is the reverse of removal.
I got both TO and pilot bearing at Napa....The TO was a plastic one??? never seen one before....have not had a lick of trouble and its quiet...I was kinda leary on the plastic, as i had never seen one before..
some cars eat TO bearings, my old TA use to need one a Summer it seemed...
Anyway...if your in there and you think its needed...do the clutch, pilot bearing and this is a good time to check out the rear main and replace it if needed...
Heres the Napa numbers on the TO/Pilot shaft bearing if interested..
You can get by for awhile with a light squeeling...its gonna get worse though..It'll tell you when its spent...I wouldn't let it get that far...Sometimes you can have a light squeel and it'll be more annoyance than anything....if you lightly touch the clutch and it goes away...thats not much...when she squeels all the way down and up...thats spent...
Ive taken them out and they been Black/Blue from the heat tint...once the grease is gone in the bearing...she starts squeeling/screaming bigtime... If let go to long, you can risk wrecking the pressure plate to...that bearings rubbing against it, and the bearings seized...NOT GOOD...