tweetyduck Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Walmart carpark in Indiana, USA. Clutch up and a slow grinding sound. Flywheel rotating so its grinding in time with those revolutions obviously. Clutch down and grinding stops. its an R380 on a 300Tdi. I'm thinking Clutch bearing....which one? the big bit of plastic? Input bearing on Gearbox maybe ? any way to narrow it down or does the clutch up and down prove its one and not the other?? anybody pulled a gear box back in a car park before? Can it be done on your own? Tips ? What should I need ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 When the clutch is up the release bearing shouldn't be under pressure so wouldn't that mean it's the gearbox input bearing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweetyduck Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 Thats what I thought. Worse nightmare. Any idea how big a job that is. I presume its gearbox fully apart time ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Can it be done by removing the plate that surrounds the input shaft? Probably not, let me find the manual Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Some info here .... but not conclusive http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=78972 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Yes sounds like the front bearing. I don't think you can fix it in a car park, but you should be able to drive on it for quite a while before anything bad happens. I ran with mine rumbling for three years Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweetyduck Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 its an intermittent grinding so it sounds like a bearing. I changed the oil in the box only last week to some Penzoil as it was due. I hope it wasn't the ffing oil ! I looked at the manual and couldn't decide if it was possible or not. Having no parts at all this is going to be difficult. Nobody here knows the box and i can see a special delivery from the UK looming. As you say it looks inconclusive. I might ask Dave at ashcrofts unless anyone on here come up with a yes it can be done without fully taking the box apart. It still means it going into a garage for a week I think. Damn ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Well you can certainly inspect that bearing without stripping the box, it's just the removal of the bearing that will be difficult. The bearing is mostly exposed once you remove that plate, but you'd have problems gripping the bearing to remove it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweetyduck Posted November 14, 2013 Author Share Posted November 14, 2013 OK. Thanks. options are. Get a new box sent out OR pair the old one. Swapping lumps of metal (and with a lot of good will from the clubs) might be cheaper than getting some USA transmission shop to try to fix it after getting parts from the UK. Ashcrofts are £495 (+ £350 for the old one) Inspecting sound like a plan but as 8pot says we might be OK until New York when we come back carrying a R380 in luggage.....how much do they weigh I wonder ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Gearbox on its own weighs about 35 KG Was there any noise that you noticed prior to this ? I had a problem like this a couple of years ago with a car. Exactly the same symptom, a real grinding noise, not a whine, and not a rumble. Turned out to be the fingers (diapragm spring) on the clutch pressure plate becoming worn through on their pivot ring, after a couple of weeks there was a bang and almighty rattle as some of them had broken off and were rattling aroung inside the bellhousing. Of course no clutch............................The original clutch HAD done a lot of miles though. Might not be that but might be worth checking before you buy a gearbox ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweetyduck Posted November 15, 2013 Author Share Posted November 15, 2013 Noticed nothing before. Changed the oil the other week as it was just past due. Only to Dexron though. Going to drain and check for bits tomorrow. Walmart carpark again ! If its the clutch I will be very happy ! I can order one and get it fitted (or do myself) pretty easily. Thanks for the pointer. However the noise does come more from the gearbox end of the bell housing. So I'm not optomistic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Gearbox on its own weighs about 35 KG ..... It's a lot more than that, I weighed an R380 the other day and it was nearer 60KG. The guy in this post http://forums.lr4x4.com/index.php?showtopic=86087 was planning to fit one in his luggage for a flight over.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallfry Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Really ? My apologies then. I read that somewhere when I was looking into buying one ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CwazyWabbit Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 Really ? My apologies then. I read that somewhere when I was looking into buying one ! You would have had a surprise when you went to pick it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eightpot Posted November 15, 2013 Share Posted November 15, 2013 If you've only got to get as far as New York, presuming your not taking in a loop beforehand, I'd be inclined to carry on with care, and if it takes a turn for the worse get yourself settled nearby and arrange for repair/ replacement. Ive just checked freight costs and 3 day airfreight of an R380 would cost £185, so not too bad. I ship plenty of parts round the world, so happy to help if you need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tweetyduck Posted November 15, 2013 Author Share Posted November 15, 2013 Thanks for the offer and thanks all for the assistance. Certainly the opinion is its the gearbox. Ordering a new on from Ashcrofts which might be ready for shipping monday....might ! We now have to find somewhere to live for a week and thats if its gets here and through customs in 5 days.... Current estimate. £845 + £88 clutch + £200 Shipping + customs + fitting fee from garage (~$800 / 10 hours) OUCH !!!!!! They have a good guy in the garage and as the noise get bad moving i'm not too happy to move the car. If we run against a deadline we will get a one way rental to Newark and leave the car here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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