Monaro Gearbox/Clutch noise

[SupraSpanky]

• *UPDATE***

Hope the forum can help.

Took the Monaro for drive yesterday, drove as it should. I've never had any gearbox trouble, gears select fine with no play. Selecting reverse has never been an issue. Any way I will get to the point. Parked on the drive to open the garage. Started the car back up and was just using the clutch to edge forward into the garage and then the gearbox started making a horrible metal rattle sound in the bell housing. I turned the car off thinking the gearbox had exploded but everything looked ok. Started the car back up in neutral, everything fine. Pressed the clutch down selected first and as soon as a start to bring the clutch peddle back up you can hear this metal rattle.

I've found a video which is very close to what is happening to my car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZshhX-8Ufvk

Has the spigot bearing just exploded? or is it worse.

Edited by SupraSpanky on Monday 21st May 14:02

[mfp4073]

From what you have said I would say the spigot bearing has broken up.
You will only know for sure when you take the gear box off, so I would check everything.
When Monkfish did mine they replaced the spigot bearing, and clutch (LS7) I also asked them to fit a quick bleed line as well, these are worth their weight in gold!
Consider replacing the rear engine oil seal and release bearing while you're at it. As it turned out mine were both as good as new and didn't require replacement.
Believe it or not you might be lucky, some owners have sadly trashed their gearbox by continuing to drive with a failed spigot bearing. I suppose they can fail slowly over time or break up quickly like yours?

Best of luck John

[Yanayaya]

SupraSpanky said:

Hope the forum can help.

Took the Monaro for drive yesterday, drove as it should. I've never had any gearbox trouble, gears select fine with no play. Selecting reverse has never been an issue. Any way I will get to the point. Parked on the drive to open the garage. Started the car back up and was just using the clutch to edge forward into the garage and then the gearbox started making a horrible metal rattle sound in the bell housing. I turned the car off thinking the gearbox had exploded but everything looked ok. Started the car back up in neutral, everything fine. Pressed the clutch down selected first and as soon as a start to bring the clutch peddle back up you can hear this metal rattle.

I've found a video which is very close to what is happening to my car: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZshhX-8Ufvk

Has the spigot bearing just exploded? or is it worse.

Sounds like the spigot bearing has collapsed. I have literally just done mine a week ago, upon inspection my original bearing was actually really dry and rough to turn. There were noises that my gearbox used to make that it doesn't anymore so that bearing can be responsible for a lot. If you're doing this yourself it's not a job to take lightly and I would suggest doing what I did and that is, replace your slave, clutch and flywheel along with the spigot and rear main seal. Assuming of course you don't already have a new slave and clutch fitted.

[SupraSpanky]

Thanks for the input. I'm hoping I've not caused any damage to the gearbox as it happened just pulling into the garage.

I will have the car transported to the local garage I use.

With Monkfish closed, could you give me any pointers where to buy the mentioned parts?

[mfp4073]

Buying parts depends on your preference really. I live in the North East so for me it would be AAS in Newcastle.
You could Google Walkinshaw Racing, or Rock Auto. Hopefully someone will be along with other suggestions.
Just be cautions if you order from abroad, you will have to pay import taxes and wait longer for parts.

[speed4u]

Hi dropped a PM

[mfp4073]

Oops...Yes try speed4u....excellent service for my door mirror a while back.

[SupraSpanky]

Just to update this old post to maybe help other members with similar problems.

The car has close to 90k miles on so with my fingers crossed I ordered all the parts I thought I needed to repair the noise.

LS7 Clutch
Exedy light weight flywheel with new flywheel bolts
spigot/pilot bearing
rear engine seal
remote bleeder kit.

before the gearbox even came off we noticed the propshaft centre bearing was falling apart. My mechanic was shocked I had not hard loud banging under the car while driving. When we removed the gearbox the transmission mount was shot. again my mechanic said my gear stick should have been vibrating quite a bit.

As you may have guessed the spigot bearing basically was non existent. Luckily there was virtually no wear to the gearbox input shaft.

Things went back together smoothly after that and fingers where crossed for the first drive.

It drives great, better than ever. The clutch actually feels lighter, the lightweight flywheel feels faster in first and second than it did before (maybe that's just me). But to put a long story short please check your centre propshaft bearing and transmission mounts as with the age of the cars now probably need renewing.

[mfp4073]

Thanks for the update, it's always helpful to others when we get to hear what was required for a repair. Glad you got it sorted.

[dsmith1990]

Where did you buy the propshaft bearing? I have an LS7 clutch waiting to be fitted so might as well get that done at the same time. Spigot was replaced with the slave cylinder a couple of years back but will probably replace it once again as a matter of course.

[vxr2010]

I got one from au ebay not that much price wise

[SturdyHSV]

Agree on the trans mount, mine was shot (as was propshaft centre bearing, gone for a one piece CF one now). Car had done 63,500 miles ish.

Trans mount is an easy job to replace, support trans on a jack / stand, undo 8 bolts, bolt new one in, very quick and easy.

[SupraSpanky]

Forgot to mention I got a new slave cylinder too.

Parts wise I got most of them at rock auto. They seem to have every part for the Monaro (Pontiac GTO) and with shipping and taxes it was still cheaper than buying from the UK.