Transmission growling in neutral. Input/output bearing?

SWRT · Post by **SWRT** » Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:48 pm

Is there a way I could tell if this is the input or output
shaft bearing without dropping the trans or taking it
apart? I haven't attempted any transmission work before
so I'm wondering if it'd be cheaper to fix mine or just look
for one off of a part-out or junk car.

I've heard the front isn't too bad to change out, but that
the rear bearing needs to be pressed out and here in Lakeland
I dont necessarily trust a whole lot of shops to do that. Anyone
have any advice or know how to determine which is bad?

Post by **Legacy777** » Mon Aug 27, 2012 5:47 pm

If you hear the noise in neutral, the noise is most likely from the bearing(s) on the input shaft. It will continue to spin with the transmission in neutral. The output shaft only spin when the transmission is in gear.

When you depress the clutch, does the noise/growl go away?

SWRT · Post by **SWRT** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 12:23 pm

I'm assuming then if I hear both that they're probably
both bad?

Yes it does.

Sorry for the late response. I dont have internet at home
so I have to use it at work. Thanks!

cj91legss · Post by **cj91legss** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 3:53 pm

Is it a Turbo legacy or non?

Post by **Legacy777** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 5:49 pm

Since the noise goes away when you depress the clutch the chances are good it's the input shaft bearing(s). I couldn't tell you whether it's the front or rear input shaft bearing, but I'd suspect the input shaft.

SWRT · Post by **SWRT** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:15 pm

It's naturally aspirated.

Are they difficult to change out?

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:25 pm

Oh yeah. Pulling the tranny and taking it apart is no easy task. I just did it last week. Unfortunately it was to swap my internals to a new case and I didn't know where to get a new input shaft bearing so it got reused and I still have the stupid bearing noise in neutral. Once the case is open its super easy to replace. You pick the shaft up slightly on the bellhousing end and pull the seal (looks just like a cam seal) off and then slide the bearing off and slide new bearing back on and put the seal back on and put the case back together. Make certain all three shift forks are lined up where the shift selector sits in before attempting to put the transfer case back on or you won't be able to shift.

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:26 pm

And do not put it back in the car until you have tested to see if you can shift through all the gears!

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 12:28 pm

I have the part number for the input shaft bearing for the turbo trans and I assume its the same for non turbo but I don't know for sure. Its on my pc but it wasn't in the system on 1stsubaruparts.com so I googled it and found some very random website that sold a bearong with that part number but I didn't order it.

Post by **Legacy777** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 5:36 pm

You can put the older part #'s in on www.subaruparts.com to get the new superceded part #'s. They're the only site that still has the older part #'s.

SWRT · Post by **SWRT** » Wed Aug 29, 2012 10:01 pm

Well, wish me luck then

I'll just end up doing it. Worst
case scenario I'll be looking for a used or junk trans. I
dont believe it's out of my capabilities though, but if there's
a walkthrough on here I'd like to see it. If not I'll try and
make one.

Shoot, if you have the part #'s that'll help a lot

Post by **Legacy777** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 5:50 pm

You can pretty much find all that here:

http://bbs.legacycentral.org/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=14485

I've got the entire first gen parts book scanned, and you can look for part #'s in there.

Also, you can d/l section 3 of the liberty manual which should give you the factory procedure for taking apart the trans. It should be pretty much identical or very close to the US transmissions.

jamal · Post by **jamal** » Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:11 pm

Growling while moving or not moving? I've seen the bearings on the transfer gears go out a number of times but the main shafts not so much.

The 5-speed is actually pretty straightforward. The bearings on the transfer shafts and center diff are pretty easy to change and you could actually do it without entirely removing the transmission.

Here's a pic of the gearset:
http://jamalb.net/pictures/nm/IMG_4447.JPG

The front input bearing is easy. For the front bearing on the output you have to remove the big nut on the back (and replace it with a new one) to slide out the front drive pinion. For the rear bearings more stuff has to come apart, but with a basic press and a bearing splitter it is all pretty straightforward. Just make sure to keep track of what order and direction everything goes.

SWRT · Post by **SWRT** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 12:19 pm

As far as I remember it growls all the time. Whether
you're moving or not. Sorry, I only drive the car every
few days.

Gotcha. I wonder if Harbor Freight has good prices on a
press....or a bearing splitter. I'll have to go check it out.
Hard to ever find time to do anything anymore *sigh*

jamal · Post by **jamal** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:50 pm

Also those big nuts are *really* on there and it is kind of hard to get leverage on them. The oem tool is a rack thing that the shafts bolt into and holds the pinion/gears.

However I kind of suspect the issue is one of the rear transfer bearings. They aren't lubricated as well as the main shafts.

If you can get the car on a lift and have someone drive it while listening with one of those stethoscope deals you can pinpoint the area the noise is coming from.

SWRT · Post by **SWRT** » Thu Sep 06, 2012 12:14 pm

Dang, that's smart. I'll have to give that a shot.
Bryan probably can. I wont have an opportunity
to look at it til I come back from vacation though
so it'll be a few weeks

northcoast · Post by **northcoast** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 8:20 pm

FWIW...it could just be the throwout bearing. I had the same issue recently. Noise would go away when I depressed the clutch. Changed the throwout bearing and poof...the noise was gone.

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 9:49 pm

I think you've got it backwards. If it makes noise with the clutch pedal in that's the throwout bearing because that's when the throwout bearing is being used. If its making noise when its idling or driving then its your input shaft bearing most likely or another bearing in your trans.

northcoast · Post by **northcoast** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:24 pm

LOL...not sure how I could have it backwards since I just fixed it two weeks ago after it bugging me for two years.

jamal · Post by **jamal** » Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:53 pm

My TOB makes more noise with my foot off the clutch. Just the bearing surface barely being in contact with the pressure plate makes it squeak a little. Slight pedal pressure to bring it in contact and the noise goes away. I'm on my third TOB and this one is a TSK sleeve kit deal. Been thinking I should rig up a light spring on the fork or something like the newer cars have.

kimokalihi · Post by **kimokalihi** » Wed Sep 19, 2012 12:34 am

Had the same problem in 3 cars now. It was the input shaft bearing every time. It wasn't squeaking though it was a bearing noise. Growling sound.

SWRT · Post by **SWRT** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 12:27 pm

I replaced the TOB and springs when I did the clutch
and I was hoping that was what it was, but it didnt fix it.
Now the input shaft bearing is the one at the very front of
the transmission housing?

northcoast · Post by **northcoast** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:11 pm

entirelyturbo · Post by **entirelyturbo** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 2:58 pm

That's the pilot bearing. There's still a main input shaft bearing at the front of the transmission case.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Post by **Legacy777** » Mon Sep 24, 2012 5:42 pm

Michael,

I believe he's talking about the correct bearing. The pilot bearing is in the flywheel.

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