BE3 Gearbox Question + MOT Clean Sheet

[Rhothgar]

I’ve fallen in love with the S1 again!

Failed its MOT in early March but due to health issues have not been able to get it sorted and MOT’ed again until today.

Ended up fitting new spheres all around as the diaphragms had gone on two spheres and they couldn’t be regassed.

Went for IFHS front comfort spheres and fitted a pair of 40 bar early petrol ones on the back. The damper orifice on the IFHS fronts is a massive 1.8mm.

A pure blancmange ride restored! LOVELEY!

Seeing as last week I also herniated L3 disc on my lower back and couldn’t even stand up, the ride is very much appreciated.

Anyhoo!

I noticed on the drive home that the clutch is on its way out. They always go at 108k miles on the S1 diesels for some bizarre reason. I’m just over 107k now and I think it might be prudent to change now rather than wait for the clutch pedal clip to break! That will save me 3 hours work.

Just wondering if I should change the clutch cable at the same time.

ACTUALLY, I should probably try adjusting it first before condemning it. Forgot they were adjustable until now.

So onto gearbox bearings!

When I back off and the engine goes into overrun I can hear a whirring sound and suspect one or both of the gearbox driveshaft bearings are in their way out.

Would anyone recall or have details of the bearing type and sizes as I have a bearing supplier that would be able to supply me them at a decent price? I’d need to know ID, OD and width of bearings.

[mickthemaverick]

Well done on the MOT! Nothing to offer on the bearings I'm afraid!!

[PaulC5]

Last time I replaced gear box bearings I removed the old ones, took the numbers off them and got replacements from a local bearing shop. Taking the old ones also makes sure the right ones are supplied.

[Rhothgar]

Last time I replaced gear box bearings I removed the old ones, took the numbers off them and got replacements from a local bearing shop. Taking the old ones also makes sure the right ones are supplied.

That’s what I would have to do if no-one has a record of them. Just drags the job out more.

[CitroJim]

Well done on the MoT Roger

As your clutch is dying and you have to have the 'box off to do the job, it'll then be an easy job to swap the diff bearings. If you need to...

Are you sure it's the gearbox though? Wheel bearings can make similar sorts of noises...

[Rhothgar]

Well done on the MoT Roger

As your clutch is dying and you have to have the 'box off to do the job, it'll then be an easy job to swap the diff bearings. If you need to...

Are you sure it's the gearbox though? Wheel bearings can make similar sorts of noises...

I'm not Jim at all sure but wheel bearings would rumble all the time presumably.

I will get it into a supermarket car park at some point and do full lock test to rule out the CV joints.

Just tried adjusting the clutch cable and both Haynes and the official Mechanics Handbook are a bit vague.

It shows both push and pull type clutches. Mine has the pull type. L1 and L2 measurements are not even shown in the Pull type picture and the pedal shaped is different for the push type which seems a little odd especially the pivot point.

I've set it by using the steering wheel dimension option L1 and L2 despite it not showing that and I've set it at 145mm. It now has some 'B' dimension whereas it didn't before. Yet to test drive which I'll probably do over the weekend.

Really don't want a snapped clip situation.

I'm left wondering if I cannot get the pedal lower because the clutch is worn. It sits probably about 50 mm. above the line of the brake and accelerator pedals as is.

[Rhothgar]

Last time I replaced gear box bearings I removed the old ones, took the numbers off them and got replacements from a local bearing shop. Taking the old ones also makes sure the right ones are supplied.

Another question if I may. Can you recall if the bearing markings were on the outside outer race or facing into the diff?

[PaulC5]

If a taper bearing as in this ebay listing photo, the inner and outer shells both have markings but on opposite sides https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/168070537639 ... gICyPD_BwE

[CitroJim]

I'm not Jim at all sure but wheel bearings would rumble all the time presumably.

Not necessarily... They frequently hum when in the early stages of failing...

Really don't want a snapped clip situation.

Nope, you don't. It's a ballache of the very highest order - especially if you're not quite as flexible as the India Rubber Man...

Just ask Alasdair....

Apropos clutch adjustment. I always adjust so the bite point feels to be in about the right place... No rocket science needed

[Rhothgar]

Really don't want a snapped clip situation.

Nope, you don't. It's a ballache of the very highest order - especially if you're not quite as flexible as the India Rubber Man...

Just ask Alasdair....

Apropos clutch adjustment. I always adjust so the bite point feels to be in about the right place... No rocket science needed

Been there, done that Jim on the silver S1. 3 hour job. Driver’s seat out and lying upside down. I believe Alasdair and I share the same osteopath…

I do like the ‘feels to be in the right place’. I’d only know where that is if I’d have had one from new. I only drove car 100 miles last year, if that. Back when I got in whenever (was it 2013), it was probably alright then. My memory banks don’t extend to remembering clutch bite points of every car I own and drive. Jumping from one car to another frequently also does not help.

I can’t even remember if I’ve previously changed the cable in the green one. I’d doubt it because I’d have recalled the pain of the pedal box wrestling.