Weird Sounds From Transmission Area - Guess what Broke or is BREAKING

[Phoenix7]

I think it's the pilot bearing but the tranny shop I took it to was useless and didn't help (they had the car for 3 days) and I don't know.

1. When you reverse there is a rubbing sound. Fast revolutions so I know it's a small moving part and not the brakes.

2. It only happens when clutch is engaged. if You continue to reverse in gear while disengaged (with the clutch pedal to the floor) the noise stops.

3. During deceleration you hear a high pitched squeal but only between 2500rpms and 4000rpms.

4. At low throttle (about 30% based on SAFC) and ~2700rpms you hear rattling, like bearings flying around.

5. The noise stopped 3 days ago. It is about to break IMO and I can't trust local tranny shops.

GTUs Tranny, Excedy Stage 1 clutch.

[TehMonkay]

Worn bearings?

[Phoenix7]

which one(s) though? That's what I wanted the tranny shop to find out. It's not the throwout bearing and I think the tranny is fine internally but all they said was to go get my brakes checked.

Pilot bearing is my main theory but now I can't show anyone because the noise stopped!

[josh18_2k]

is this an NA trans?
if so you may just wanna find another and wait for this one to blow up. theyre cheap enough..
i've blown 3 NA trannies on totally stock cars, just decently high mileage (120-150k)
the first one started sounding like a helicopter, and just kept getting worse. after a week of horribly loud helicoptering, i just replaced it. the other two just broek gears, no noise.

regardless, you could try to just replace the throwout bearing. as far as i know there is no pilot bearing (?)
it takes like 3hrs to drop/replace the trans by yourself. not bad

[Phoenix7]

yup this would be NA tranny number 2.5

The thing is that I don't think it's the tranny, it shifts fine and shows no problems at all. I recently replaced the clutch (maybe 20K miles ago?) too but I don't know if the noise means I've been damaging parts in there.

I think I may have to just buy a new clutch and tranny and store it in case this one craps out on me.

[Boostmaniac]

Ok, I think I may know what is going on.

The rattling sound IS bearings that are circulating around, it is common enough on our trannies (at least the TII trannies) and can only be fixed by a rebuild. I wish I had the pics saved so I could them to you, but alas I do not. From what I remember, this issue was no big deal.

As for the other sounds, this EXACT thing happened to me. The tranny died and got stuck in second gear, then got stuck in 2 gears at once (when I break something I try to go the distance). This was the result of a slammed shift while drag racing. My 1st - 2nd syncro literally exploded and left the tranny via blowing a hole in the side. It was gruesome, horrible, and completely awesome all at the same time. It worked for a few months after that but with a whirring sound and other occasional errata.

You can try putting some really heavy gear oil in there to see if it helps a little bit, but at this point, I'd bite the bullet and just get another tranny or do a TII driveline swap since those are a little beefier and can withstand NA abuse.

disclaimer: I could be completely wrong on all of this. I could rebuild a motor blindfolded, rotary and piston, but I have virtually no understanding of how a transmission works other than selector forks and syncro's. I am still completely convinced that automatic transmissions work through the usage of black and heinous magic and no one will convince me otherwise. So take that to heart just in case I am wrong. Who knows, it might run for another 300k miles, but I'd get a spare soon just in case.

Normal pilot bearing failure causes the E-shaft to weld to the input shaft which is super bad news. If you really think that is what is happening, pull the tranny now and replace the pilot bearing or you are probably going to need a new E-shaft.

I hope something here helped.

-Maniac

[N.RotaryTech]

Same thing with my gtu for the past few months. Noises come an go, but everything still works good. About 170k miles on tranny as far as I know.

I'm just gonna wait till it blows.

[Phoenix7]

Originally Posted by Boostmaniac

Ok, I think I may know what is going on.

The rattling sound IS bearings that are circulating around, it is common enough on our trannies (at least the TII trannies) and can only be fixed by a rebuild. I wish I had the pics saved so I could them to you, but alas I do not. From what I remember, this issue was no big deal.

As for the other sounds, this EXACT thing happened to me. The tranny died and got stuck in second gear, then got stuck in 2 gears at once (when I break something I try to go the distance). This was the result of a slammed shift while drag racing. My 1st - 2nd syncro literally exploded and left the tranny via blowing a hole in the side. It was gruesome, horrible, and completely awesome all at the same time. It worked for a few months after that but with a whirring sound and other occasional errata.

You can try putting some really heavy gear oil in there to see if it helps a little bit, but at this point, I'd bite the bullet and just get another tranny or do a TII driveline swap since those are a little beefier and can withstand NA abuse.

disclaimer: I could be completely wrong on all of this. I could rebuild a motor blindfolded, rotary and piston, but I have virtually no understanding of how a transmission works other than selector forks and syncro's. I am still completely convinced that automatic transmissions work through the usage of black and heinous magic and no one will convince me otherwise. So take that to heart just in case I am wrong. Who knows, it might run for another 300k miles, but I'd get a spare soon just in case.

Normal pilot bearing failure causes the E-shaft to weld to the input shaft which is super bad news. If you really think that is what is happening, pull the tranny now and replace the pilot bearing or you are probably going to need a new E-shaft.

I hope something here helped.

-Maniac

Originally Posted by N.RotaryTech

Same thing with my gtu for the past few months. Noises come an go, but everything still works good. About 170k miles on tranny as far as I know.

I'm just gonna wait till it blows.

OK, I'll see if I can find a tranny shop to take a look.

[TehMonkay]

You should hear my tranny, sounds like an electric drill at highway speeds.

Still works, for now, lol.

[Phoenix7]

I haven't redlined in a few weeks to ensure longevity. I want to go TII swap but I don't know if it's worth it right now (I'd have to source a bunch of things).

[Boostmaniac]

Originally Posted by phoenix7

I haven't redlined in a few weeks to ensure longevity. I want to go TII swap but I don't know if it's worth it right now (I'd have to source a bunch of things).

I wasn't trying to scare you with my previous post lol. Get it looked at.

If it is bad, start sourcing the TII components, you want to anyway and you know it

Not to mention on an NA motor it'll probably last damn near forever if the tranny is in good shape when you pick it up.

Also, never ever EVER tell me you don't redline your motor. Do the right thing and go dancing in the red. If it breaks putting around town, that will suck. But if it breaks in the red while going sideways, well now, that is a truly magnificent story

[Phoenix7]

No worries, it's the worst case scenario. I'm trying to get my TII done first and then we'll fix the NA. Still not redlining though (maybe 6.5K??). I do want a T2 drive train but it's going to cost more than a rebuild and it's still another used tranny.

I don't drift unless I'm doing it in an emergency maneuver so it won't be as magnificent. I don't know how long the tranny/bearings will last so I just have to take it easy (until the TII takes over for DD duty).

[Phoenix7]

It did the deceleration rattle today. Scheduled an appointment with a local tranny shop. We'll see tomorrow.

[Boostmaniac]

Originally Posted by phoenix7

No worries, it's the worst case scenario. I'm trying to get my TII done first and then we'll fix the NA. Still not redlining though (maybe 6.5K??). I do want a T2 drive train but it's going to cost more than a rebuild and it's still another used tranny.

I don't drift unless I'm doing it in an emergency maneuver so it won't be as magnificent. I don't know how long the tranny/bearings will last so I just have to take it easy (until the TII takes over for DD duty).

Most of my sideways adventures come from lack of tire grip, but then again I am boosted. I didn't mean drift exactly, just slam the shift home so hard it breaks loose a little when it blows up.

I was also being facetious, just for laughs.

Lemme know what the tranny shop says.

[N.RotaryTech]

Reminds me of something my transmission teacher said when I was in college, about shifting hard, he described the noise as: "BLAMYOW!!!"

weird but funny.