Throwout bearing fun

[PhillyPhiat]

Hi,
I just recently replaced my plastic throwout bearing (which shattered into a million pieces) with a metal one from IAP. I packed it with grease, as best I could seeing it was my first time. The problem is, now when I step on the clutch pedal it makes a loud shrieking sound which announces to everyone within 5 blocks that I am close...
I know that when throwout bearings start to go bad, they make loud squeals but this is brand new. What did I do wrong? Not enough grease? not aligned right?
I also replaced the clutch fork, clutch cable and return spring on the clutch fork. if that matters.
What to do?

[majicwrench]

Shouldn't pack em with grease, but that ain't likely making your noise. Pull it back apart and see what has been rubbing.
Keith

[dmwhiteoak]

Do not put grease on the throw out bearing. You don't want any grease that close to your clutch disc. Kieth is right, pull it back apart and see what is going on.

[PhillyPhiat]

Sorry, I must be confused. I thought it damaged the bearings to even turn it in hand when it's dry. What am I supposed to use if I don't use grease?

[narfire]

The bearing itself is a sealed bearing, does/won't take any grease. Where it was recomended was a VERY light application on the shaft so it slides a bit easier. Did on my directions anyway.

[azruss]

its a good possibility you have contaminated the clutch and pressure plate with grease. Looks like you have some serious cleaning to do. The friction material can be contaminated so bad, it will never be right.

[PhillyPhiat]

ok, this is all bad news. so am i able to save this? if i replace the throwout bearing (without grease this time), what else do i need to do to make this right?

[burlybryan]

Last week I replaced my clutch cable and spring. Previously the car didn't have the spring and I found that the "happy" spot for the cable tension was completely different with the spring. Took a lot of trial and error to get the engagement point just right as well as to eliminate (or at least reduce) a newly present throwout bearing noise. One difference with the new cable and spring set up was that the throwout bearing chrips and squeals a bit now when shifting where previously it was silent. I was able to make fine adjustments to the cable tension to get it mostly quiet (following recommendations here to achieve about a 1/8" gap between bearing and pressure plate). Anyway, long story short - I would adjust the cable to see if there is any difference in the TO bearing noise.

Second rambling story time. Back before I knew anything about cars (most of what I learn is from mistakes...) I had a VW golf that I wanted to change the gear oil. For the life of me I couldn't find the fill plug (after draining - remember about mistakes) and finally just poured mistakenly through the clutch inspection hole. Needless to say, it all ran out the bottom and I totally soaked the clutch disk in gear oil. Not knowing any better, I hosed it out with brake cleaner (not saying you should do that here) and although it was almost undriveable initially, eventually the clutch cooked off the oil, stopped slipping and really returned to normal operation. I had the car for 10 more years.

I suppose after that story I shouldn't be giving any advice, but I'd play around with the cable and pull the TO bearing, clean it off (or replace it) inspect and clean the pressure plate tines and see if there is any improvement.

[Fi8spider]

ok, this is all bad news. so am i able to save this? if i replace the throwout bearing (without grease this time), what else do i need to do to make this right?

Possibly but as azruss mentions you have some cleaning to do. Grease on pressure plate side of your thrust bearing is not good. The pressure plate is attached to your flywheel and it will always spin so long as you engine is running. When you press the clutch the bearing pushes up against the release fingers, this is when the thrust bearing need to spin as one with the pressure plate not slower (due to the grease lubricating the contact point) as may be the case here and hence causing the shrieking sound you hear.

[majicwrench]

You need to take it back apart. The grease is not causing the noise. MOre than likely something is not installed properly. Clutch disc/plate likely fine, just clean em up with brake clean if they have a little grease on em, they may not. If they are SOAKED with grease, gonna have to work at it. I'll be they are fine. Maybe new bearing. Take it apart.