S2 clutch and gearbox bearings

[jonk]

Hi Guys,

If the clutch needs doing on an S2 (think it's nearing the end of its life) does the transaxle/gearbox have to come out? Only reason for asking is that if so, I'll bite the huge bullet and get the noisy bearings inside the box done at the same time. Sounds like a jet engine or like there's a window open when travelling at motorway speeds.
If anyone has had this done, advice would be gratefully received.

Cheers.

Jon.

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Yes - gearbox has to come out and torque tube needs to be moved out of the way, usually it can just be slid backwards to allow access to the clutch.
You have to drop the rear suspension to get the torque tube out.

 

[Copperman05]

I would also check its not a wheel bearing first, mine went and made that sort of noise, although there was no play at the wheel it was in bits when it came out...

Edd

 

[jonk]

Cheers chaps. Doubt it's a wheel bearing. The whooshing noise goes if you dip the clutch and coast, or pop into neutral. It's an expensive sounding wear and tear noise....[][]

 

[Mike_Pollock]

Could be a C/V joint. When I changed the gearbox, stuck in the grease were large chunks (inch x 1/2 inch) of bearing cage. The joint had been replaced but not cleaned out!

 

[jonk]

Wouldn't the CV joint still make a noise with car in neutral though?

 

[bmnelsc]

Could be release bearing on the clutch - noisy when "loose" e.g. clutch out - quiet when clutch in cause the slack in the bearing is taken up.

 

[Copperman05]

If it is the release bearing (there seems to be different names for it) its part of the clutch kit and should be replaced as a matter of course. Another possibility are the torque tube bearings which would require re-building, I would get these checked before re-assembling if your doing the clutch.

Edd

 

[jonk]

Many thanks. Torque tube bearings it could be... Speed related, noise increases with speed but appears unrelated to selection of gear. It disappears when drive to gearbox is cut however... Coasting for example. Strange... Gear change good, swepco in there but the noise as described earlier is clearly wrong.

 

[tref]

If the noise is present whilst reving it in neutral, clutch up, then that would suggest the problem is somewhere between the clutch and input shaft of the gearbox - it may at least eliminate the gearbox as a problem.

ORIGINAL: A9XXC

Yes - gearbox has to come out and torque tube needs to be moved out of the way, usually it can just be slid backwards to allow access to the clutch.
You have to drop the rear suspension to get the torque tube out.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but the rear suspension only has to be dropped to remove the torque tube, not to do the clutch (it may be different on an S2, but I know I just moved the torque tube out of the way to do the clutch on an early lux).

 

[944Turbo]

I think you are both agreeing aren't you? slid back for clutch drop suspension to remove

 

[spyro_x]

I think my S2 is doing similar things to yours, after she's warmed up a little when in gear and at lower speeds there is a whining noise which disappears when the clutch is down (i.e. out of gear) and when coasting out of gear but pop her back into gear and the noise is back. Someone mentioned that it sounded like the torque tube bearings. She's done nearly 200k now (don't have documentation on me to check when the clutch was last replaced though. The trouble is isolating where the noise is coming from, sounds like the front but obviously I can only tell when in motion, I guess I'll get her into someone to have a look in due course.

Jonk - where abouts are you located? I'm down near Staines in Surrey, if you're close by would be great to see if you're seeing/hearing the same thing as me - and of course meet a fellow S2 owner!

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Do get a ride in a few cars. People regularly panic about gearbox noises that are well within what's usual for a 944. Just get to any of the events and someone will take you out for a "comparison". []