[BMM]

Hello. I have a 1991 Mustang with 5 speed stick...never been touched as far as I know. Since I bought it, shifting into reverse without grinding has become increasingly rare. As I drive away, most noticable in first gear, I hear a tinkling rattle sound. This sound sounds like a throwout bearing to me.

It gets worse and worse every couple of weeks, so I am wondering...Is poor manual usuage a cause for a throwout bearing to go? I know 'riding the clutch' can pretty quickly destroy one, but not much else. Thank you.

[IanRiordan]

I'm guessing it has no synchro on reverse. Do you engage a forward gear before selecting reverse? Back in the stone age most cars had no synchro on first, so my late father (teaching me to drive at age 7) showed me how selecting a synchronized gear (2 or 3) acted as a gear 'brake' and allowed smooth engagement of 1st.
Your rattle? dunno, many possible causes.

[steve392]

If you are standing still, with the engine running and the transmission in neutral, do you get the sound when you press in on the clutch?

Any sound when the engine is idling in neutral and the clutch engaged?

Do you have any free play at the top of the clutch pedal as you press it in? If there is no free play, the throwout bearing may still be in contact with the clutch fingers even when the clutch is all of the way out and you are not "riding the pedal". This will also cause wear.

If you put the pedal to the floor, is the clutch completely disengaged? Can you shift through all of the gears without grinding when you are standing still?

As Ian said, the reverse gear has no synchro, and if you can't shift into reverse without it grinding, your clutch adjustment may be off enough that it is not completely disengaging.

If you are getting that rattling sound just by pressing the clutch pedal in,
then the throwout bearing is one problem area.

You may also have others, including a worn clutch disc or pressure plate, synchro going bad, even the pilot bushing may be acting up.

First do the clutch pedal test and see if you are getting the noise. If you are not, then it is probably more of a transmission/clutch problem.

Hope this helps,

Steve

[xntrik]

If the clutch adjustment allows the TOB to continue to spin, it will wear out quickly, just like riding the clutch.

The T-5 has an aluminum front bearing retainer that the TOB slides on, if it wears, the TOB will **** and be irregular in its release and cause a variance in grinding into reverse, as well as allowing contact and letting the bearing spin continuously. Install a steel retainer when replacing the TOB.

While you are there, put synthetic ATF into the transmission.
A Pro 5.0 shifter will make the shifting much more positive and you'll never miss third.

[BMM]

The ratteling in nuetral happens with the clutch pedal out. If I pull it out with my foot behind it, or engage the pedal just a slight bit, it will stop.

I can shift smoothly with the clutch in in all gears, save reverse.

Thanks for the advice guys.

[baddbob]

Does this have cable operated clutch linkage? Is there a return spring?