Squeaking Transmission/Clutch issues
 

I have developed a very loud squeaking noise in the area of the bell housing on my 240D with a recently swapped 4 speed manual. The noise is there when the car is idling and driving but it goes away as soon as you press the clutch pedal. Any suggestions on the cause? The entire clutch was brand new when I did the 4 speed swap last winter and it only has about 700 miles on it. I'm not excited about dropping the transmission again but it looks like it will need to come out.

Sounds a bit like the trouble JB3 had with his astro van conversion - I'll try and dig out the necessary...

I've remembered that incorrectly - his problem was related to custom flywheels and adapter plates...

...OK...

Clutch pedal down - clutch friction plates away from the flywheel - no drive to the gearbox.

Clutch pedal up - everything connected

Squeaking in neutral and in every other gear = possibly lay shaft bearings...

...so have you checked the oil level recently?

Oil was changed when I had the transmission out before. I think I'll change it again and see if that does anything. It wasn't making any funny noises in the donor car IIRC but I only drove it once to get it up to speed in all gears.

I was thinking of something you can do with out removing the gearbox...

...could be the clutch release bearing...

...you can also check the position of the slave cylinder plunger up against the clutch pack without removing the gearbox - but after that that's about it...

My initial guess is also the clutch release bearing. Second guess is the bearing in the end of the crankshaft (don't remember the proper term for that just now). Regardless, I think you need to pull the transmission to see what's going on.

Thing is it is more typical for the clutch release bearing to be making noise when it is holding the clutch away from the flywheel - but I think I've heard tell of them causing trouble the other way round too...

Reviving this thread since the weather is getting nice and I'm getting motivated to get the 240D back in service.

I'm planning on pulling the transmission at some point in the next month or so and was wondering if its possible the clutch fork could be the culprit. It seemed much looser than the fork on the 5 speed that I installed in the 300TE and almost wanted to fall off a couple of times while I was installing the transmission.