Which bearing is making noise from my transmission?

Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 HONDA CIVIC
  • 160,000 MILES
I just replaced my entire clutch, pressure plate and release bearing because I had a noise coming from the transmission. After I replaced all this the noise is still there. The noise happens when the car is in neutral with the car on obviously but when I push in the clutch it goes away. It also makes noise when in gear with the clutch engaged(pedal up) but as soon as I push in the clutch to shift it goes away until I bring the pedal back up. Now I know the release beaing is supposed to only make noise when you push the clutch pedal down and is supposed to go away when you let go of the clutch but I keep hearing from people that that its the throw out bearing which would be the opposite of what actually is happening. Keep in mind I had an 05 Civic as well and had the same exact noise and I replaced the release bearing and the pilot bearing and the noise went away which tells me it wasnt the Input Shaft Bearing. Please help. Im so confused as to when each bearing makes noise. I already put the transmission back on and now I'm mad that I might have to take it all out again.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 8:17 PM

33 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
You would definitely have to take the transmission out again to have the bearings checked, replaced.

This should be from the internal and most likely the input shaft bearing is bad. The transmision has to be stripped to do it and while you are there, have other bearings checked as well, if they are not bad, they might be failing as well.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 8:24 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
I just did that the other day Khlow same symptom and its the front drive main gear bearing on a Nissan P/U 5speedo
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 8:28 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Nissan P/U are well known for this. Done plenty of them and the going price for owners are rather costly.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 8:36 PM
Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 92 POSTS
This is the problem I keep getting. Everyone keeps telling me something different. I dont have the money to replace every single bearing that I think it is. The Release bearing was already replaced but that doesnt always mean its good just because its new.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 8:46 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
We have given our opinion based on information you have provided. To believe or not is your choice.

You yourself understand how the clutch release bearing works and described in detail why it is not the problem, why are you contradicting yourself now?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 8:54 PM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Its costly allright-make money though, didn't lift a finger being the brainman-lol all I did is say drop it check the clutch assy-okay open the front cover bearing cage was almost gone-end of troubleshoot-1995 Nissan P/U Bye you take care Malay
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 8:56 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Same to you Jess, my work is done here as well.

If members don't know hot to do something, we can help, if they don't have money, too bad it is beyond our capabilities.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 9:02 PM
Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 92 POSTS
Well in your opinion what should I do then? Replace the Input Shaft Bearing. I'm not excatly sure what the front drive main bearing is. Sorry if that came out the wrong way. I didn't mean to offend you guys. I just keep hearing replace the pilot bearing and replace the release bearing and replace this and that and no one is ever sure.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 9:14 PM
Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 92 POSTS
And when you said check other bearings, which bearings exactly?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 9:15 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Honda does not use any pilot bearings.

The mainshaft and countershaft has bearings supporting them and they turn when the clutch is not depressed. Those are the bearings you need to look at.
Images (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, June 28th, 2012 AT 10:09 PM
Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 92 POSTS
So the Mainshaft is actually where the Input Shaft Bearing sits correct? I Have a bearing inside my flywheel. I bought the clutch kit that came with a clutch disc pressure plate release bearing and pilot bearing. If Honda doesnt have pilot bearings then what bearing is that?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, June 29th, 2012 AT 3:19 AM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Sorry, my bad. For this model a pilot bearing is used but it definitely is not the cause of your problem. If the clutch is not depressed, the pilot bearing is locked to the flywheeland does not turn on its axis. It is only when clutch is depressed and mainshaft is not turning when the pilot bearing is used.

The input shaft is the mainshaft. Item #22 would be the one most likely to be bad. Item # 25 is the end bearing and that should be checked as well.
Image (Click to make bigger)
Thumb
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, June 29th, 2012 AT 3:16 PM
Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 92 POSTS
Yea when you said they didn't use pilot bearings I kind of scratched my head thinking what the heck is that then lol. Is there any kind of special tool I need to take off the input shaft bearing? I really liked how you explained how the pilot bearing works. Can you also explain how the release bearing works because its not a type of release bearing I'm used to seeing. This one is clipped on to the edge of the fork and the inside race of the release bearing actually rides on the mainshaft.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Saturday, June 30th, 2012 AT 8:06 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
When clutch pedal is released, the release bearing is backed away from the clutch pressure plate and is not turning. When clutch pedal is depressed, the clutch bearing moves forward to press against the clutch pressure plate. When the diaphgram springs are depressed by the release bearing, the disc becomes free. That wouls stop the mainshaft from turning and whatever noises coming from the mainshaft onwards would stop.

The release bering is not riding on the mainshaft, it is on the housing od the mainshaft.

To replace the internal bearings, you would need to strip the transmission completely.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, July 1st, 2012 AT 8:22 AM
Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 92 POSTS
Ok I kinda have a better understanding of how it works. Thanks. Once I replace the mainshaft bearing and possibly the end bearing I will keep you updated whether or not the noise went away. Thanks for your help.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Sunday, July 1st, 2012 AT 9:30 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
When the transmission is disassembled, you need to test the bearing. If you turn the bearing on their axis when attached to the mainshaft, you should be able to feel coarseness indicating wear. For needle bearings, visual inspection is required. Any that does not have a shiny surface on the cones needs attention.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Monday, July 2nd, 2012 AT 2:59 PM
Tiny
EDWEEZY21
  • MEMBER
  • 92 POSTS
Ok thanks for the tips.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, July 2nd, 2012 AT 3:12 PM
Tiny
JIMMY TARDIF
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I'm 100% this is the input shaft bearing of the transmission
my solution is just go get a transmission in used car scrap yard for 150$ and install it.
I just did it on my protegé 1999 all by hand alone with the jack that come with the car and I still have a certain vibration cause by the clutch I asume it cause the damage to the previous transmission.
So I need to do the work again to change the clutch before it breaks the transmission bearing again.
Vibrations are the worst for any mechanical device.
Thats the cheapest way to do it and you might have a low millage transmission for less than 300$
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, May 1st, 2017 AT 6:06 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 49,850 POSTS
Great addition to this thread! Please feel free to help out on the site whenever it can add information that will help.

Cheers, Ken
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Thursday, May 4th, 2017 AT 10:10 AM
Tiny
LUVNHONDAS
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
  • 2001 HONDA CIVIC
  • 212,000 MILES
I have a 2001 honda civic 5 speed lx and its making a weird noise from transmission I guess and when I push the clutch in the noise goes away I need to know if this is a input shaft bearring or throwout bearring. I took it to several mechanics and they said it could be either one which is no help at all. Please let me know a solid answer thanks
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
+1
Thursday, May 4th, 2017 AT 10:10 AM (Merged)

Please login or register to post a reply.

Related Transmission Noise Content

VIEW MORE