How angry do I get? (1 Viewer)

[Jman]

Last summer my throwout bearing seized. My old mechanic replaced it, including all the labor charged to drop the tranny, but said there was a lot of life left in the clutch, etc. Drove it for over a year.

This summer, got the same throwout bearing noise, bit the bullet and had a new mechanic open it up, and lo and behold, the throwout bearing is shot. The new mechanic described the condition of the clutch, etc., pretty much as what old mechanic said, so it seems old mechanic did indeed open it up.

What am I to believe happened? A bearing can't fail in a year of light use. Maybe he put in a used bearing? The truck was screaming like a banshee when I dropped it off last year, sounded great when I picked it up, so he must have done something?

I guess the only thing to do is call the old guy and ask him what the fawk happened. I just need to think about this for a bit so that I don't go totally ape**** over the phone.


Oh, I need a house with a garage. . . . and a lift.

 

[Ming89FJ62]

Unfortunately, bearings do fail. Some earlier than others. You don't know if the old mechanic used a OEM bearing or some cheap sheeit part because that's all he could get. Yea, it's definately a PITA but it does happen. BTW if you're going to drop the tranny to replace the T/O bearing you might as well replace the pilot bearing at the same time - bearing is only a few bucks. Had that happen to me on an old Audi, new clutch and T/O bearing, left the original pilot bearing - got to replace the pilot bearing about 5 month later.

Harry

 

[Doc]

Since you actually don't know what happened, then don't get angry, just call the guy and ask.

If he gives you the run-around, then get angry.

 

[jwest]

Is it just chirping or outright screaming?

A t/o bearing that makes some noise doesn't always indicate replacement. Sometimes a light greasing (carefully as to not contaminate the clutch) between the hub and bearing can take care of it.

This may sound couterintuitive but an engine thats not running smoothly can also affect how the T/O bearing acts, causing it to jump around a bit and create a chirping or squeaking noise.

OTOH, if you can get a replacement under the original invoice due to defective parts, that would be the way to go. And if you can afford it, do the clutch, pilot, rear main and resurface the flywheel if needed, while you're at it.

.

 

[60wag]

Its possible to damage the bearing when installing the tranny. If you do end up replacing the bearing, make sure to inspect both the bore in the flywheel and the end of the tranny input shaft. Damage to one or both of those can shorten the bearing life.

 

[Jman]

Since you actually don't know what happened, then don't get angry, just call the guy and ask.

If he gives you the run-around, then get angry.

Yeah, I know. But since I had this work done last summer, it seemed like the guy was ducking me--never had time to take the truck in for any other work, wouldn't return calls, etc, which is why I switched mechanics. That, and the fact that he actually tack-welded the skidplate back in place on one side totally pisses me off. I mean, even if you lost some bolts, how hard is it to put it back on right? Up until recently, this guy was great.

The engine was running good, bearing sound was the same as last summer just before it totally seized, so I'm having the whole nine yards--pilot, throwout, clutch, flywheel resurfacing, rear main. Clutch cylindars were replaced last year.

The guy working on it (the local club's favorite mechanic) said he had a hard time believing the TO bearing was new just a year ago--it had some surface rust, pitting, and it was Koyo.

60 wag, thanks for the tip, I'll talk to my guy about that.

I'm going to focus on getting the truck back on the road and then call my old mechanic and see what he has to say.

 

[Doc]

If the old mechanic is ducking your calls and what not, I doubt you'll get any kind of warranty from him. Even a small claims court suit may not be worth your time.

Sometimes you just get burned.

 

[Jman]

I'm not looking for my money back, I'm just surprised and want to hear from him what went on so that I can figure out if he outright cheated me or if it was some comedy of errors that led to the problem. I'd been going to this guy for years, never had a problem. I'm more bothered by a sense of betrayal than being out a few hundred bucks.

 

[Doc]

Maybe that's why he's ditching on you? He knows he fugged up the install, or used sub-par parts, or old parts, etc... or actually just re-greased a bearing on it's way out and called it good. Could be any number of things.

My bet is that if he knows he did something wrong you'll never get your phone calls returned.

Are you close enough to his shop to 'drop in'?

 

[swank60]

Is there a chance that he just spray-lubed the hell out of the bearing and put it back together? i don't know why he'd do that (to save $90?) - call him and chat him up. If you haven't had a problem with him in the past, he probably didn't do anything shoddy...but you can read that much better than any of us can.

Patience first, grasshopper; then kick ass. Good to vent here first though...

 

[fsusteve]

Is there a chance that he just spray-lubed the hell out of the bearing and put it back together? i don't know why he'd do that (to save $90?) - call him and chat him up. If you haven't had a problem with him in the past, he probably didn't do anything shoddy...but you can read that much better than any of us can.

Patience first, grasshopper; then kick ass. Good to vent here first though...

I'm guessing this is what he did also, maybe he couldn't locate parts, was in a hurry or hates Yota's. Fawk it, let the new guy fix it and be done with it. If you can't prove anything, you'll never win the arguement.

 

[Tinker]

Something else to consider - the input shaft bearing in the tranny. Had a bad one on my first car (station wagon, too - go figure!).

 

[sandcruiser]

and speaking of half-assery, my t/o bearing is making some noise- at least, I think it is the t/o bearing. After I turn off the truck I can hear something spinning, if I tap the clutch it goes quiet. I'm upgrading 60's soon, but don't want this one to seize. Ie: I need a half-ass fix to keep it going another 2 months.
Thoughts?

 

[dd113]

Dont get angry at all, yet. A bearing can fail in just a few months, even if he used a good one. Submerging the truck, lots of mud etc.. can cause it. If he did not use new t/o clips the bearing could cock to one side and fail, if the pressure plate fingers were not all equal they could cause the bearing to fail, the t/o hub may be worn out (wallowed out on the indside) the ft bearing retainer shaft on the tranny (the t/o rides on this) can be messed up.

You descpritions of his actions might indicate that he messed it all up or used inferior parts. It could also mean the job was a big PITA to him and he wants nothing else to do with you or your cruiser.

I would call him and talk to him and see if you can get any idea of what happened.

If you ever re use a clutch you must send it into a clutch shop to be cleaned and tested as well as a new t/o pilot and clips.

 

[Jman]

David, thanks, that's the kind of input that I was looking for--I've done some deep water and some silty-clay/mud in the past year. Haven't seen the bearing yet. The new mechanic said it didn't look like it was only a year old, but I'll reserve judgment until I see it myself in a couple of days.

Toyota sent my new mechanic the wrong rear main seal, or I'd have my truck back by now. Grrrr.

 

[brian]

so in other words, you never saw the old bearing?
rarely do i let other people work on my junk, BUT when i do i ALWAYS try to take the old parts home with me. at the very least i ask to see the old parts when i pick up the truck/car.

 

[Gumby]

I agree with dd113. The bearing would look like it was very worn to a car mechanic if it had been subjected to off road abuse. It could have been new. Probably was.

Lots of stuff could cause premature wear. Silty clay sure would. Riding the clutch would too. Is your clutch free play correct?

 

[Jman]

Brian, I saw the old bearing that was taken out last summer--Koyo bearing, surface rust, pitting, seized.

Gumby, the guy working for me now is a Cruiser specialist, said it didn't look new. I'll see it this week when I pick up the truck. I only put about 2500 miles on that bearing--I still can't imagine that it failed in that short a time. I live in the city and have done my share of stop and go, but ever since last summer I've been careful--I always shift into neutral at stop lights, etc.