Car clunks :(

My car has a clunking sound. It sounds like it's at the transmission/engine meeting point (a la clutch, fywheel, etc), or in the bellhousing. It doesn't seem to be consistent with revving the engine, some of the time, and there's also a sort of griding sound when I let off the clutch pedal sometimes (especially when I first start the car). Once in gear and putting load ont he car (moving) with clutch fully engaged, it seems alright.

Is this throwout bearing? If so how hard is it to replace? How long do I probably have? What happens when one finally gives out all the way? Or if not then what do you think it is?

Mine has it too, happens when I release the clutch when engaging the gear. I was hoping it would go away after I change the clutch that's why I didn't think too much of it. I'd be interested to find out more too.

Mine had a clunking sound taking off. It went away when I greased the U-joints

This might be related to one of the transmission bearing went bad.
Grinding sound reason mainly comes after that, nothing related with flywheel or clutch in my opinion even the sound looks like coming from that area.

Better to lift the car and listen after grinding sound if it comes from the transmission.

alp

My first clutch did that the pressure plate chatter on takeoff. The clunk might be the pressure plates fingers breaking. Or the clutch springs. Watch out for preformance clutches. The life of your t/o bearing will be shortened more than your clutch. I have a centerforce stage III dual friction. The clutch has great grip. after 1 1/2 years the t/o bearing is going out. Its noisy as hell.

boy o boy...clunking..yup i have had that...

If its your throwout bearing, condsider yourself lucky..why? its cheaper, and easier, than replacing the whole tranny! im not sure honestly how to tell..but i can give my story..

I had just changed the clutch 3 weeks prior to this incident, my problem was the wrong gear oil! you have to use 80w-90, nothing else! heres why..

I had this weird clunking noise coming from the tranny engine, so i checked it out, and it would only happen when the clutch was fully engaged to the flywheel. as the rpms went faster, the noise got worse (not neccesarily faster) anyhow it turned out to be the reverse idler gear bearing had gone by the wayside..in turn, the reverse idler gear, as well as reverse has substantial amounts of teeth missing! and all that stuff was beating the hell outta my tranny...well, i had to drive to toledo, get a used tranny, and put it in....the car STILL isnt right!

dont wait til its too late, check it out NOW!

if you need help..i can TRY! i have dropped, raised, and tried my tranny's 5 times before it ever worked...(bent rods, jammed into two gears..the usual shatty luck!)

OK typically, how much is the throwout bearing to replace?

The bearing itself is inexpensive, about $18 got me a new one a couple weeks ago. However you need a press (or rig something) to get the original bearing off the collar and the new bearing on. You may be able to buy a bearing with a new collar, it wasn't an option at Advance where I purchased mine. It's mostly an investment in time. While you're in there, consider whether you need a clutch :-P
If you're talking how much to have a shop do it....the labor to pull the transmission would be the same as for a clutch.

Which is......?

also make sure to check the transmission mount. i have found that on this car as well as a 240sx this mount will cause a clunk when shifting if it is bad. nissan wants $78 or so for the mount so maybe my prayers will be answered and mrbob will make us one of his!!!!

i got my new bearing with the new slutch set..BUT autozone/advance should be able to order them.

If you're talking how much to have a shop do it....the labor to pull the transmission would be the same as for a clutch.
Which is......?
I dunno, I've never considered having a shop do anything to a car I've owned. Don't have the money, don't want anyone else messing with my vehicle plus I tell myself I enjoy it. That last part gets a little hard when you're trying to line up the input shaft to the clutch, BTW.
I'd guess $1-200 in labor anyway? I think I remember my parents once paying about $3-400 for a clutch (parts and labor) in their Acura several years ago.

easiest way is to put the car on 4 jackstands and use a jack with a piece of plywood. you can also use a bungee cord looped around the tailshaft and hook it to the opening for the shifter. this will move the balance point back a little and it is easier to handle. the first time i did a clutch on my 200 it took me about a day to do it. but i had some oether stuff i did such as turbo gaskets and stuff. also you will need about 4 extesions and a swivel to get to the top most bolts!

lining the input shaft is rather complicated by yourself, but with one or two others, no prob. get the tranny lined and as close to level as possible. push forward, and at the same time, have a buddy turn the first driveshaft (which is connected to the tailshaft of the tranny) very slowly...should lock in fairly quickly. ANY questions..ask..Also..a 2 Ft. extension (like stated above) is a MUST for the top two bolts!