Bad bearing noise while releasing the clutch..

[DougMorgan7435]

Recently purchased 1987 944 is making a awful sound as the clutch is being released in 1st or reverse...Not when idling in neutral
Not with clutch pedal depressed in or out of gear
Not in any other gear change I don't think and I took off in 2nd w a slight downhill this afternoon; wasn't a test but I don't recall hearing it.
Previous owner said the clutch was replaced a few years back but not driven much at "clutch specialist"
Thought the sound might be coming from between the seats.
I was thinking Pilot or Torque Tube bearing w the seat sound leaning to the latter.
Thanks for the help

*** I just read my own post, How the heck did I overlook the TOB. Advice still appreciated as I obviously need some . Thanks

[DougMorgan7435]

I don't understand ...350+ Porsche owners , most 944 owners and not a single one of you has any advice or suggestion about my problem. Did I commit some social etiquette no no?

[John_AZ]

"Not in any other gear change I don't think and I took off in 2nd w a slight downhill this afternoon; wasn't a test but I don't recall hearing it."

You might have some gear noise in 1st and reverse from the trans transferred to the clutch and TO bearing. I would drain the trans and look for metal flakes. I use Valvoline 80-90 gear oil. Cheap and good for the synchro bearing.

GL
John

[jjeffries]

Doug, I'm working on my 87 924S, but wrenching on this flavor of Porsche is new to me. I've re-read your description a few times and would, being a former dealeship service manager, try to eek out of you further detail on the noise:
- please describe the noise as exactingly as possible. Creaky? Graunchy? Grinding? Shrill? Deep?
- when you hear it, can you duplicate it on demand? If yes, is the travel/position of the clutch the key variable?
- when you hear it, can you feel any associated vibration?
- is the any variation according to outside and/or vehicle temperature?
- etc.

I believe you'll get more responses if you can help us better understand exactly what you're experiencing. Then we can all learn together.

Best, John

[DougMorgan7435]

John and Jjefferies thanks to you both for replying. changes gearbox oil , and refilled . It was clean.
The sound seemed like it was coming from under the shifter . sounds like pulling a 16 nail out of a 2 x 4 only louder.
Still does not make noise on startup. neutral and idling , clutch depressed idling, clutch depressed in gear revving , neutral revving.
It only makes that terrible screeching sound while releasing the clutch in gear. when released it goes away, only to return when taking off from a stop.
Replicates at every take off.

[jjeffries]

Doug, I only speak from being in the process of taking my 924S apart and putting it back together. Forgive me if I'm telling you what you already know.

Homing in on your observation that the noise is coming from under the shifter:
- the base of the shifter bolts/screws into the Torque Tube itself. Check these are tight.
- the shift rod is on top of that, within the body's tunnel but above/outside of the TT. Check shift rod to shift lever fastener is ok.
- below the TT , about halfway along its length, is a bracket that bridges the tunnel
- there's a pressed steel plate further forward, just behind the clutch housing, that does the same
- there are also two brackets that support exhaust hangers; these include large U- bolts (like a muffler clamp) which go over the top of the TT.
- these would all be items to check for tightness.
- I'd also make sure the slave cylinder > clutch housing bolts are tight; you may need to remove the starter to check them ... if you do, disconnect the battery first!
- you could also check that the transaxle > body mounts look OK and their fasteners tight
- maybe this last one, as I'm thinking, is the most obvious: check the motor mounts. If they're collapsing/collapsed, they could change the position of a bunch of components relative to the body and in turn, create noises.

Hopefully more experienced 944 folk than I chime in.
Best of luck, John

[IdahoDoug]

John,

That had the mark of professionalism throughout. Great list of things to check and all relevant and potentially the source. It also gave me some insight into the challenge of being the lead at a dealership in terms of assisting a customer with a challenge like this - wow.

To John's excellent list I'll leverage on his thinking and add this. Can you discern if the noise is DUE TO the exertion of torque as the vehicle is moved from rest, or DUE TO the movement of the clutch arm. To test this you might find a large open parking lot (easy with COV19 shutdowns!) and let the clutch out to hear the noise, then while still rolling at a few mph (meaning its still quiet for hearing) push the clutch back in and out to see if you hear it. If you do not, concluded it's the torque application itself causing the noise, not the clutch. So that leaves a lot of things on Johns list that come under force due to torque, while eliminating things that are indifferent to the torque like a loose slave cylinder (it doesn't care if the clutch/shafts/etc are experiencing force - it merely moves a lever) for example.

You might also remove the shifter boot so you can directly hear through the hole and that may make you say "aha - THAT is the source" versus mucking around a lot. We can guide you through pulling the shift knob/boot and that leaves the car drivable vs putting it up to check bolts, etc.