Below is my post on a Z forum, but in typical Z fashion no one is responding. They only like to help some guy decide if his wheels are the right color. Anyway, having either tranny or rear end issues and hoping someone on here can point me in the right direction, and have an idea if I’m going to have to shell out more parts monies.
New 5 puck clutch installed within last 2-3 Weeks. New throwout bearing, heavy duty fork, pivot ball, slave cylinder, clutch fluid, resurfaced lightweight flywheel. Drove through break in period. Week or two ago noticed vibration in gas pedal and steering wheel (basically front end of car) about 62-65mph. Wait and see. Went to Lancaster to try out the clutch, ran two eighth mile passes. Clutch past break in period. Since then, noticed #1: high pitch whine in gears 1-4 under acceleration, stops after load is released. Also feel vibration at lower speeds now too, but less apparent.
This whine sounds like a mini supercharger when accelerating. Most previous posts on this did not mention their clutch was freshly installed. My gut tells me input shaft bearing or throwout bearing, even though TB is new. Would either of these cause vibration? Is the whine a tranny getting ready to puke and just coincidence with the clutch install? Any help is always appreciated.
Clutch: SZ high 5 Flywheel: SZ lightweight flywheel: OEM five speed, short throw shifter Rear end: original OEM. Mileage: 140k on chassis, tranny, rear end. Front suspension: all upgraded Powertrix. Single piece driveshaft, carrier bearing deleted.
After some more discussion with the installer of the clutch, and Trans Masters on South Park, we’re leaning towards the rear end, possibly a bearing. Hasn’t gotten any worse since last week. Should I be concerned and baby it until a new differential is installed of just hammer it like usual and wait to see how long it lasts. I know just enough about my car to get me in trouble so I’m looking for someone with actual mechanical knowledge. Josh is going to test drive it in a day or two to see if he’s got any input. Any help is always appreciated.
How was the previous clutch that was in there? A new good clutch installed behind some power will then put more stress on everything behind it. I’m leaning toward it being in the tranny and/or rear diff.
Throwout bearing is fairly easy to do initial checks without any disassembly.
Clutch issues are, in my experience, easier to diagnose as well.
After those, I would start in the rear diff with an inspection of it (or have someone more educated on the matter inspect it). It’s the easiest and cheapest area aft of the clutch. From there if that looks good the next logical step is taking the tranny down to inspect that and the clutch is right there while you’re at it.
Previous clutch was a full face RPS Street Max sprung clutch. A little wear but wanted something to hold up to mote abuse. Nit the thowout bearing. Just trying to narrow it down to tranny or rear diff. Like I said, leaning towards rear diff.
My throwout bearing just started to go and it made a light grinding noise. There wasn’t any vibration or supercharger-style whine. I don’t think that’s it, but then again I haven’t seen the car.
Tires went on after the problem started. Flywheel was resurfaced by a very reputable shop. Not sure the two problems are related as the vibration was there before the whine. Whine started becoming noticeable after Lancaster. There was always a little whine but now it’s hard to ignore.
Driveshaft possibly? Xander had a truck that did something like this and we thought it was the rearend, after changing the rearend we learned it was in the driveshaft :banghead:
Sounds like diff/driveshaft to me. However a “reputable” shop doesn’t mean shit these days when it comes to machine work, so don’t rule the flywheel out.
