FYI, 5 speed manual

I know there are old threads about that but here's another one. My release bearing (clutch bearing) failed last week. It gave me ''chirping'' noises, like if there was a bird stuck there. I called toyota about it and greased the thing to get the chirping off and to be sure that it does not eat the shaft it belongs to. When I greased the shaft (by the small access hole with a rubber over it by driver's side of tranny), the chirping stopped, but the wobble feeling in the pedal was still there.

My estimation is that the bearing failed way before I heard the chirping noises, because there was an abnormal feel in the clutch when downshifting, while releasing the clutch with higher revs (3k and over, during a rev-match).

Toyota changed the thing, said that the shaft was good as new. I asked if they greased the new bearing, they said yes. But to be sure, I'll grease it every so often.

Btw, talking about this, anyone can tell me what kind of grease toyota put there so I can add more when? I guess some multi-purpose grease would do the thing just right.

This bearing seems fragile, like the 6 speed tranny. I hoped that our 5 speeds was not affected by the issue.

 

How many miles on yours when it started making the noise and then when you had the work done?

 

27000 kilometers (16875 miles) for the noise, 27500km (17187 miles) for the repair. Got the rendez-vous like just a few days later. They give good service here in the montreal area (as far as I could experience)

 

Thanks for the information. By the way, when you say "chirping" noises, would that be high pitched? Also, did it do it all the time?

 

high pitched, only when clutch was released (rolling or stopped). Seems like a common problem on the 6 speed tranny.

 

It looks like you and I are the only ones participating in this thread so far. I am grateful that mine does not have the chirping sound; however, mine has a sound that I think is normal. It goes away when you press down on the clutch pedal. I started a thread on this on the 4 cylinder forum entitled "Poll: Diesel like noise clutch determinative".
Now that yours is repaired, I hope that it was just an anomaly on our 5 speeds.

 

I have heard a simular noise when I engage and disengage the clutch. It sounds to me like it is comming from under the dash. Maybe I should have it checked out afterall.

 

Swanywing, are you referring to the same noise as supralight has described?

 

I am not sure the noise I have heard seems to be coming from under the dash. It sounds like maybe it is coming from the clutch pedal not in the transmission.

 

I had understood that a worn out throw-out / release bearing would make the chirping sound, and that was true of either the 5 or 6 speed.

However, the 5-speeds have a steel pilot shaft, whereas the 6 has aluminum. Therefore, a worn and wobbling t/o bearing will bite chunks out of the 6-speed's aluminum pilot shaft. We should be OK with just a t/o bearing change if this happens.

Someone (snoboarder?) feel free to correct me if this is wrong.

 

I hope this info is correct, but still, I hope I won't have to change that bearing every 25k kilometers...

 

It looks like snoboarder who hasn't been on the site for a while has reappeared on 12/10/09. In any event, looking at one of his previous posts, he states the the 5 speed shaft is replacable, unlike the 6 speed where one has to replace the bell housing. I looked a schematic of the 5 speed assembly and it does appear replacable.
You can look up snoboarder's previous posts by going to his profile and there will be something that says words to the effect of view all previous posts by snoboarder.

 

Well it looks like I'm not alone. I can not say with certainty that my throw out bearing has failed yet, but it sure does make some awful noises on occasion, and always makes a rattling, slight chirp with the clutch out. I will be taking it in next week to see what the deal is.

 

I got the chirp and plan on changing out the clutch soon. and I am banking on the idea the steel shaft should be alright. bearing material softer than steel shaft.