I mistakenly posted this question in the gas engine forum so I'm putting it here as well (it's a clutch question anyway). I just bought an '81 240D. In neutral with the pedal out, I can hear the throw out bearing contacting the pressure plate. Should it be touching with the clutch engaged? If so, can the bearing be lubed without removing the trans? Could it be a problem with the clutch hydrolics? The car was in dry storage for about 5 years. It has about 170000 miles and seems fine otherwise. Thanks for your input.

Some rattle noise is normal and nothing can be done about it. If its really loud the bearing has to be replaced.

My TO bearing failed entirely at 190k (for the first time...). Beware the noise. When it starts to make noise, replacement isn't far behind. Do it when it's convenient, not after it fails--so you can drive it to wherever you're gonna do the work. The clutch replacement is really easier to do on a lift, because the driveshaft compression required to remove the trannie may take a torch to break loose. There are a lot of posts on this, but don't delay it too long!

John Bonds, '82 240D 4sp, daily driver 197k.
Charleston

What kind of noise does the throw out bearing make when its ready to go?

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1979 240D with a 617 turbo diesel.

My experience with no good Throwout Bearings has been that when you push on the Clutch Pedal is when they make noise (in my cash the noise has been a grinding sound with some higher pitched sound in the backround). Because you are putting the Throwout bearing under the load of the Clutch Springs. (The Motors Manual has: "here is a high-pitched rubbing noise when your foot rest on the Clutch Pedal.")

If it was making the same grinding noise in netrual with the clutch pedal up I would suspect some Bearing problem concerning the Imput Shaft on the transmission.

It might be that a Mechanic Stethoscope could clear up where the sound is comming from.

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84 300D, 82 Volvo 244Gl Diesel

Diesel911 nailed it. The throwout bearing isn't engaged until the clutch is depressed. In the old days of '37 Fords, many former drivers of model Ts kept their left foot on the clutch a lot. That caused the TO bearing to be slightly engaged, and they wore out much quicker. When it starts to go, it sounds like a bad bearing when you depress the clutch. The way it works is to absorb the engine's rotation without engaging the clutch plate and pressure plate. When you then let out the clutch, the pressure plate gradually comes up to speed with the clutch plate and you're connected from the engine to the trannie when your foot is off the clutch. When it goes, it doesn't spin cleanly, so the outside ring of the circular bearing is chattering inside the fork which is trying to push back on the pressure plate. Finally, it may seize up, as mine did--and came out in parts when the trannie was removed.
By the way, my clutch plate and pressure plate looked fine--but I decided since the trannie was out (for the first time since it was built), that I'd go ahead and replace the whole clutch, which I hope will last another 190k miles!

John Bonds, '82 240D 4sp, daily driver.
Charleston

Something isn't right there if it is doing what you say it is.

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1982 300SD