S13 KA Transmission Whine

[igreek]

Today on the way to school my S13 (KA) started making a whining noise from the transmission area. It wasn't that loud, but it was more apparent on the way back. When accelerating in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear it makes an loud whining noise, but it is fine in 4th; which from researching I understand is because of the 1:1 ratio in 4th. When the push the clutch pedal down the noise goes away, be it in neutral or in gear. When in neutral it there is a chattering noise, not loud, but there.

The tranny has about 155,000 on it and when I got the motor from the last owner it had 140,000. From what I've read, could it be the throwout bearing? I was thinking of changing the clutch, but I wanted to make sure that it wasn't something else before I do.

[DRIFTING_SIL_EIGHTY]

Throwout bearing.

[BoostSlideWayz]

^ yep threads over.

[unreal-]

Throwout bearing.

yep.

msglength.

[igreek]

Thanks guys! Asked a few buddies too and everyone seems to agree. Looks like I'll order a new clutch kit.

[DRIFTING_SIL_EIGHTY]

Make sure you replace everything if you can afford to.

-Rear main seal on the block
-Pilot bushing
-Throwout bearing
-Clutch disk (clutch cover if you need to as well)
-Rubber shift boot (may rip during removal)

[dreadedfist]

My RB20 trans does the same thing. It's the output shaft bearing. Transmission out job and expensive if you don't do it yourself. Just buy a new (used) trans.

edit: it's harmless, get a louder exhaust if you dont like the noise :P If anyone asks, you have a dogbox. :P

[Taniguchi_Is_#1]

a throwout bearing doesn't really do anything until you push in the clutch. if the noise goes away when you clutch in, chances are that it's not the TOB.

[CrimsonRockett]

a throwout bearing doesn't really do anything until you push in the clutch. if the noise goes away when you clutch in, chances are that it's not the TOB.

Agreed. It's definitely not the TOB.

Why would it only whine in gears 1-3, but not 4th and 5th?

I've had two S-chassis (S13/S14) with that exact transmission whine you're referring to. It definitely was NOT the throwout bearing. On the S13, we dropped the transmission, replaced the OEM clutch for an Exedy Stg 2 with a Fidanza flywheel, new TOB, and all seals. The wine was still there. We didn't replace the TOB hoping the noise would go away. We already knew the noise was coming from the transmission itself.

[DreamN]

Not a throwout bearing. It's more than likely an input shaft bearing. You need to open up the transmission and swap it out. Not something I'd recommend to someone who is unsure of what the problem is.

Call up a shop or a buddy who knows what he/she is doing.


Search my posts and you'll see I've experienced this same issue. Left it alone for far to long and the bearing actually broke apart in my transmission. Metal bits came out when I drained the fluid. Didn't even bother with that transmission as more than likely something else would have been ruined and simply replaced it.

[c.f.169]

My RB20 trans does the same thing. It's the output shaft bearing. Transmission out job and expensive if you don't do it yourself. Just buy a new (used) trans.

edit: it's harmless, get a louder exhaust if you dont like the noise :P If anyone asks, you have a dogbox. :P

My sr transmission did the same. I took apart the transmission at a friends shop and inspected it with him. In my case it was 100% the inpt shaft bearing. We inspected my ka transmission and swapped bell housing. Haven't had a problem since.

Curtis

Edit: mine was the input shaft bearing not output shaft bearing.

[igreek]

Agreed. It's definitely not the TOB.

Why would it only whine in gears 1-3, but not 4th and 5th?

I've had two S-chassis (S13/S14) with that exact transmission whine you're referring to. It definitely was NOT the throwout bearing. On the S13, we dropped the transmission, replaced the OEM clutch for an Exedy Stg 2 with a Fidanza flywheel, new TOB, and all seals. The wine was still there. We didn't replace the TOB hoping the noise would go away. We already knew the noise was coming from the transmission itself.

Yeah, I understand. I've been doing some research and there is so many contradictions in multiple threads. I appreciate it though!

Not a throwout bearing. It's more than likely an input shaft bearing. You need to open up the transmission and swap it out. Not something I'd recommend to someone who is unsure of what the problem is.

Call up a shop or a buddy who knows what he/she is doing.

Search my posts and you'll see I've experienced this same issue. Left it alone for far to long and the bearing actually broke apart in my transmission. Metal bits came out when I drained the fluid. Didn't even bother with that transmission as more than likely something else would have been ruined and simply replaced it.

I've been searching and it seems like what you say could be the problem too. If it is, I don't have a problem replacing it. I've got buddies to help that would know. I'll take a look at your posts.

[CrimsonRockett]

Yeah, I understand. I've been doing some research and there is so many contradictions in multiple threads. I appreciate it though!

I've been searching and it seems like what you say could be the problem too. If it is, I don't have a problem replacing it. I've got buddies to help that would know. I'll take a look at your posts.

Honestly, if you're going to take apart the transmission to replace the input shaft bearing, I'd recommend rebuilding the entire thing while you're at it. It also helps when you have friends that have done it in the past as well.

Pick up a copy of the FSM and have a go at it. It's not expensive and in the end you'll have a "brand new" transmission that you won't have to worry about for years to come.

[BoostSlideWayz]

If it makes the sound hes explaining about in neutral and it makes that sound thats a sign of the throw out unless like someone said its shafts bearing it self. My other car makes a wine in 3rd gear but doesn't do it in any other gears and its been that way for as long as ive owned it. and recently when i let off the clutch you can hear the throw out bearing making the noise and then pushing the clutch in you cant hear it. thats the main thing that says throw out bearing.

I would drain the tranny... check the oil and see if it looks out of the ordinary. Also low oil in trannys or rear diffs can cause winning .. could need more oil. before you drop the whole tranny just take half and hour out of your time and see what the oil looks like.

[igreek]

Honestly, if you're going to take apart the transmission to replace the input shaft bearing, I'd recommend rebuilding the entire thing while you're at it. It also helps when you have friends that have done it in the past as well.

Pick up a copy of the FSM and have a go at it. It's not expensive and in the end you'll have a "brand new" transmission that you won't have to worry about for years to come.

Yeah, that would be the most logical thing to do. I've been scrolling through transmission part of the FSM just out of curiosity. You don't want to keep replacing things, one after another.

If it makes the sound hes explaining about in neutral and it makes that sound thats a sign of the throw out unless like someone said its shafts bearing it self. My other car makes a wine in 3rd gear but doesn't do it in any other gears and its been that way for as long as ive owned it. and recently when i let off the clutch you can hear the throw out bearing making the noise and then pushing the clutch in you cant hear it. thats the main thing that says throw out bearing.

I would drain the tranny... check the oil and see if it looks out of the ordinary. Also low oil in trannys or rear diffs can cause winning .. could need more oil. before you drop the whole tranny just take half and hour out of your time and see what the oil looks like.

In neutral, since I've had the motor, it has made a noise unless the clutch pedal is pressed in or when it warms up it seems to be less. But today is what threw me off as it was doing it through the gears and was a lot louder. Weird thing is that everything shifts fine though. Never had any time of grinding problems at all.

I'm going to change the fluid on Saturday as a first step and go from there. Redline 75W-90, GL-4 2.4 liters is what it should be, right?

[BoostSlideWayz]

Yeah, that would be the most logical thing to do. I've been scrolling through transmission part of the FSM just out of curiosity. You don't want to keep replacing things, one after another.



In neutral, since I've had the motor, it has made a noise unless the clutch pedal is pressed in or when it warms up it seems to be less. But today is what threw me off as it was doing it through the gears and was a lot louder. Weird thing is that everything shifts fine though. Never had any time of grinding problems at all.

I'm going to change the fluid on Saturday as a first step and go from there. Redline 75W-90, GL-4 2.4 liters is what it should be, right?

Yeah thats typical when the metal expands. It sounds kinda of like theres some friction when your off the clutch right ? and when your press it in it fads away and goes quiet then let off the clutch fast and it will probably fade back into that friction sound. I think thats one thing that does need to be replaced..

thats what weight i used in mine. i just used the cheaper valvoline or what ever.