The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING NOISE

There is a possibility that when I installed a new throwout bearing and clutch that I installed the clutch plate backwards as I hear what I would describe as a rubbing or brushing noise when I depress the clutch pedal....it does not sound like a typical throwout bearing noise.
But ....maybe the new release bearing is bad. I did not add any grease to it when installing.....my question is this, Is there a way to tell if the clutch is installed backwards without pulling back the tranny ???

Do you recall is the springs on the clutch plate/disc were on the flywheel side (incorrect) or on the throwout/release bearing side?

Did you obtain the throwout/release bearing in a clutch-assembly package (clutch-plate/pressure-plate/release-bearing). Maybe your throwout/release bearing's length does not match the height/thickness of the pressure plate?

zoegrant,

It sounds like installing the clutch backwards is a common mistake. Check this thread out: (CLICK).

Good luck,

Tim...I don't remember which side the clutch disk faced and that why I was asking if there was a way to see which direction it faced without pulling the tranny back ?
I used the old clutch disk and the old pressure plate as they appeared to be good.
The throwout bearing was purchased from "chevy`s of the 40" vendor.
It was listed for a 53 Chevy. I presumed it was correct ?
I did measure it right up against the old one but maybe the old one was not correct for my truck ?
How would I tell if the throwout bearing is the right one for my truck ?
So I guess I have to pull the tranny again ????

zoegrant,

Wait to see if any useful/helpful advice is posted.

If not, you will need to pull the transmission to look at the orientation of your clutch plate, and to see what length throwout bearing you have.

did you resurface the flywheel ? I know if you put in a new clutch without resurfaceing it will kinda chatter and grab a little at a time until you get rolling. . I wouldn't think this is the case if you used the old pressure plate and disc.Did the throwout bearing houseing fit good on the transmission nose ? Just thinkn out loud. noel in nm

Hi Noel...I did have the flywheel resurfaced.
There is no chatter to the clutch....the closest description of the noise that I can come up with is from an old post that "handyandy" referenced in his above post.
Not really sure what you mean when refering to "throwout bearing housing" fitting good on transmission nose ??????
What do you mean ????? ......thanks

I think you need to pull that tranny back for a closer look. I was thinkin that throw out bearing was a 2 piece unit. The bearing pressed in the part that slid back and forth when you applyed the clutch. I could be wrong. It's been awhile since I wrorked on one that new. noel

Noel...My throwout bearing just lays in the in the fork.... I believe your right, I will have to pull that tranny back to see what is going on...thanks for the input.

If you are using the original pressure plate it could be the clearance
between the pressure plate drive lugs and the pressure plate housing guides.
Read this POST

Under Inspection Read
Number 3 & 4
Under Symptoms and probable cause Read
Rattling b.

Otherwise splines on clutch disc hub are bad or don't slide smoothly.

In reviewing these old post...there was a comment made by "52 CARL " in which he commented the only time that the input shaft was spinning inside the pilot bearing was when the clutch pedal was push down. In thinking about this, when I installed the pilot BUSHING (not bearing) I had a hell of a time getting it to fit into its hole in the block. Had to hammer it in and in doing so I then could not get the input shaft nose to fit into it without sanding or filling this bronze bushing inside diameter down a little ...i figured I distorted it hammering it in.
It appears that I have to pull the tranny out and look at everything, PP,clutch disk, throwout bearing and pilot bushing. Will post when I correct this problem.
If there are more ideas, please send them my way..thanks to all.

Get a clutch alignment tool or input shaft and hand test fit the pilot bushing when you pull the trans, it should slide right in with no effort.

Mike B

A tight pilot bushing will produce a mild squealing noise while the clutch pedal is pressed in. I had this issue on mine and it eventually disappeared. I mashed mine in too hard too. It was a custom machined one for a '53 full pressure "With Powerglide" engine. The crankshafts for these engines were not machined to accommodate a pilot bushings since a Powerglide doesn't use one.

I will definitely test the pilot bushing with the alignment tool when I pull the tranny.
The biggest pain in removing the tranny is re-installing the cross member support because the fit is so tight going back in....
I am going to tackle this sometime next week and will report back as to what i find.

I just looked up the clutch release (throwout) bearing order I had placed with "Chevy`s of the 40`s" and in looking closer it states part # 909422 (0.799-0.2 ) is for a 38-54 vehicle....I forgot that my engine is a 1955 engine and not a 1953 as the truck is.....The throwout bearing I installed is 1 7/8" long.
does anyone know how long the throwout bearing should be for 1955 with a 235 engine ???????
Tim mentioned that the bearing could be to long in a previous post.

2 throw out bearings available... Long and short... Really depends more on the type of clutch... Borg and beck or diaphram type than it does for year.

I have the diaphram type. Which bearing is used with it, long or short ?

The 1929 - 1957 Chevrolet Master Parts & Accessories Catalog
Shows two throwout bearings.
Group # 0.799
36-56 part # 909422 1 7/8" long
55-57 part # 900018 1 9/32" short

Looks like part # 900018 was only used on 261 cubic inch 6 cylinder and V8 engines.

If I were you I would first try to ID my engine, flywheel and clutch housing.
Then I would buy the correct pilot bushing for the crankshaft that is used in the engine.

In one POST you said"
I installed a new throwout bearing and clutch.
In another POST you said"
I used the old clutch disk and the old pressure plate as they appeared to be good.

Did you use the old clutch disc?
What kind of problem were you having that made you pull the transmission?
Why did you think the pilot bushing needed to be replaced?

Because it is such big job.
When I replaced a bad clutch I always installed a new clutch disk, pressure plate, throwout bearing and resurfaced the flywheel.
I may have lucked out, but have never bothered with the pilot bushing.

Coil spring clutch illustration
Diaphram spring clutch illustration

Jorb....I had intended to replace the clutch disk but it looked fairly new, plenty of meat left so I used the old disk and pressure plate.
I had previously ordered a pilot bearing so I did use the new one and in retrospect I should have left well enough alone.
From the block number #3836233 at the distributor area Someone identified it as a 1955 car engine....a 235.
I pulled the tranny to rebuild it as the syncro`s were bad and the gears were chipped badly.
I also replaced the ring gear at that time and had the flywheel turned down.
I will try to cofirm the engine is a 235 from 1955....
The old throwout bearing is 1 7/8" and the new one is the same. This noise could have been there oringinally as the tranny made so much noise that I probably would not have heard it. The tranny is a lot quieter now so I hear this strange brushing or rubbing noise.
If anyone has info on this block number,please let me know...thanks

Provide the casting and die stamped numbers that are shown in photos below.
Casting Numbers (click on photos to in large)
Die stamped Engine serial Number To left of distributor on flat machined boss. (bottom center photo)

3836233 cast number shows Chevrolet 55-57 235 Source

Need Die stamped Engine Serial Number
To see if it was used in a car or truck and what size of clutch was used or if it has hydraulic lifters and what tranny was attached.

Need cast date code to determine what date engine was cast on. (located just above starter)

Die stamped engine serial # 0137350T55Z
next to starter = B3 55

Conveyor Belt Number at Foundry
CON = Conveyor (number not available)

Engine Block Cast Date Code
B355
B = 2nd letter in alphabet = 2nd month in the year = February
3 = 3rd day of the month = 3
55 = last two digit of 1955
Date block was cast on, February 3rd, 1955
This engine probably went into a 1955 model year passenger car.

Block casting Number
3836233 = 1955-1957 235 cubic inch

Engine Serial Number
0137350 T55Z
0137350 = Units produced starting at 1001
T = Tonawanda New York - Engine assembly Plant
55 = 1955 = Model Year of engine = 1955
Z = Regular engine, 3 speed transmission, 9" clutch, No Hydraulic lifters

A high percentage that this engine was:
Cast in Tonawanda New York on, January 3rd, 1955
Assembled in Tonawanda New York on or around, January 3rd, 1955
Made as a straight six cylinder 235 cubic inch engine.
A 3 speed transmission was mated to it with a 9" clutch.
Does not have Hydraulic lifters. (powerglide engines only in 1955)
Was installed into a 1955 model year passenger car.

Source: 1955 Chevrolet Specifications (resto pack)

Thanks Jorb....I will print this out for my truck file.....

With the truck up on sturdy jack stands and clutch pedal pushed in and with me laying directly beneath the flywheel I feel that the issue is the new 1 7/8 " throwout bearing...maybe not enough grease in it.
I have a couple of questions............
#1...is it possible that the rubbing noise will dissipate over time and would it do damage to the pressure plate ????
#2....if i buy another throwout bearing where is the best place to get an American made bearing ??? NAPA ????
This bearing came from "CHEVY`S OF THE 40`S" out of Vancouver WA.

I recently saw a post about how to pack grease into a throwout bearing.
Do you still have the original, and was it noisy?
If it turns cleanly and doesn't have any significant wobble, you could pack it with grease and use the old one.

I have more faith in a smooth original New Departure bearing, that has been repacked, than anything you can buy now.
My blog post on repacking throwout bearings.

Carl...the original one was really semi frozen up, not useable.
Dave....on your web site on repacking the bearing you stated there was a video.
I cannot seem to find the video ?
Also, is there someone supplying a New Departure bearing already repacked ?

The video should show up at the bottom of the page.

I made and use a copy of Dave's throw out bearing grease packer, works great!

I think you always get good advice from Pre 68 Dave but since you say your original was toast a new one may be in order. I had a similar experience as you. Replaced the bearing with a USA made one from NAPA. I think it was about $72. Problem resolved so far. Its nice to have someone roll down their window at a stoplight to comment on your truck and not be greeted by a horrible screeching noise.

Zoegrant , If your old throwout bearing was 1 & 7/8 "

in height . Why not get a GM NOS T.O. bearing .

There are quite a few on ebay right now . Since an NOS bearing

will be quite old it probably will need to be re-greased .

Go to ebay & type in the search box.......909422 .

photo@photobucket

http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/...Throwout_Bearing_909422__zpsmigxgnbo.jpg

&

http://i669.photobucket.com/albums/..._Clutch_Release_Bearing__zps0ro81ft7.jpg


George
'54 3600

Will do....thanks George

Is that 1.875 the long one or the short one, mine is together?

Ed

Q. Is that 1.875 the long one or the short one
A. The long one.

The 1929 - 1957 Chevrolet Master Parts & Accessories Catalog
Shows two throwout bearings.
Group # 0.799
36-56 part # 909422, 1 7/8" or 1.8750 long
55-57 part # 900018, 1 9/32" or 1.2813 short

Looks like part # 900018 was only used on 261 cubic inch 6 cylinder and V8 engines.

I have decided to leave the throw out bearing in place for now even tho it is noisier than i would like it to be. Not screeching, not overly noisy, just not quite as quiet as I would like. I will replace it in the winter unless it really gets loud on me.
Thanks to all for the comments and help....