I'm looking at picking up an EG hatch, good but has one problem. Sounds like it could be a throw-out bearing but I'm not sure. When I'm on the clutch it doesn't do it, but when I'm not and it's in neutral it does... Makes a grinding sound like something is being thrown around inside the bell housing, like a gear is chipped and flying all over or the clutch is tearing apart. The clutch still grabs & holds and runs good, just makes that god aweful noise. Any guesses what it can be without tearing it apart? Any quick ways to check, safe to drive it 45min back home you think? I'm gonna replace it when I get it back intown, just prefer to drive it back than trailer it.

 

sounds like something being tossed around.... that does not sound like a throw out bearing. the throw out bearing sounds more like a rubbing.... it ought to be ok to drive back.... i'd have someone in another car come with just in case. I've driven a stupid amount on cars with tranny issues.
it sounds more like bearings to me.... you'll probably have to double clutch when/if it gets worse.... good luck

 

Yup, sounds like the throw out bearing to me!
You said its making the noise when your not on the clutch its like chattering grind then its got to be the bearing.

 

So it should be safe to drive it from Clearwater to Lakeland?

I'm thinking the worst that could happen if something is getting slung around in there is lock-up the tranny & locking up the tires while I'm on I4...

 

hhahahhaha ROFL!!!!

Nothing like that will happen! Worse case senorio is you wont be able to get the car in gear by pressing the clutch. If the throw out bearing breaks its going to just bounce around in there and will eventually chip at the clutch itself. Your wheels will never lock up! LMAO.

PS: If your replacing the bearing you might aswell replace the clutch and flywheel at the same time anyway while your in there.

 

yeah, that would be the worst....
its more likly that you'll get stuck in (or out) of gear. if you can stay in one gear, do it. the less shifting you do, the better. if it is in gear, then you shouldn't have an issue with it wearing out before you get home. shifting is gonna break whatever is making the noise.
just have a buddy drive up there with you. that way if anything does happen. you'll at least have company.... and a ride home...

 

Well the plan is take my hatch and a buddy to go get the car. I drive one hatch back and he drive the other (following me). Take it to the house, swap the clutch, throwout bearing & flywheel.

 

It's not the throwout bearing. The throwout bearing is not turning when the car is not in gear and foot is off the clutch. Throw out makes its noises when the clutch pedal is pressed and the bearing is under a load.
You have a bad input shaft bearing, most likely. It doesn't make the noise when the clutch is in, because that is the only time the input shaft is not spinning, except of course when the engine is not running.

 

i just had this problem in my 96 dx and replaced the clutch/flywheel/bearings. started it up at 2 in the morning and there was the same noise! replaced the whole tranny (cheaper than rebuild) and no more noise. also got ex gear ratios with the tranny change!

 

yep civicized is correct it is your inputshaft bearing.easy to do unless you do not know what your doing.and yes you can drive it like that.