Hey guys. I'm normally on the Toyota Tacoma Forum but a buddy of mine with a 1998 Jeep Cherokee needs some help so I'm hoping you can help me out. He just had the Cherokee towed into the tranny shop (5-speed tranny). When he pushes the clutch in, we get a rattling ... SOUNDS like a clutch throwout bearing, but the tranny mech says "I know it sounds like a throwout, but it's not the throwout. It's one of the main bearings in the tranny". Anyway, of course my pal is biting his nails worrying about how far this will bend him over. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> I've heard horror stories about how if you're unlucky enough to have a vehicle with a pricey tranny, unknown to you until you have a problem and get the bill, that it can be quite a shocker when they tell you the total. Has anyone here on the forum had a similar issue and how much did it set you back? Any useful info is mucho appreciato.

Thanks!
Mike (VanillaGorilla)

Do you get the noise with the pedal pushed down and in gear?
If so the trans has no moving parts at that time. If this is the case the mechanic is dishonest.
A transmission makes noise when the pedal is up, either in neutral or when driving.

We are definitely getting the noise with the pedal pushed IN, but it doesn't matter whether it is in neutral or in gear, we still get a noise. My buddy says that the noise has also occurred when stopped at a red light, pedal OUT, and in neutral. So I don't know if that helps determine anything.

I know enough to immediately think "throwout bearing" when I heard the noise and which I told the tranny mech when we took it in. The tranny mech said his initial thought was throwout bearing as well but once he started looking into it, he is certain that it is not the throwout.

Any thoughts?

The tranny has a shaft that goes thru the clutch. It has a bearing on it. When the pedal is OUT the clutch is engaged and the shaft turns. If the bearing is bad the noise should be made then and also at times when the vehicle is MOVING. The throwout bearing will make noise when the pedal is pushed IN. If the throwout bearing is real bad it CAN make noise at all times or at ANY time.
I would purchase a clutch kit and take it apart. When the tranny is out I would do what I needed to ascertain the input bearing was good and the throwout bearing was bad..
For sure I would not take anyones word for it that was NOT a personal friend.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />