Clutch, bearing, trans, grinding noise

[fillup502]

First post here, I have a 97 corolla CE, manual, 169k miles, in the faded “gray” color. The purple monster as they call it at work has been a good car to me for past 5 years, since 125k miles when I picked it up.

I can't find another post that has this exact problem but maybe someone knows of one or can help.

Clutch grabs pretty up high on the petal & has since I got the car. Always thought it would need a clutch but it hasn't gotten any worse in 40k miles, with the last 10k of clutch hell driving only in Baltimore city(maybe 60 stop lights daily). Now my work moved and I drive 25 miles a day with 10 hard city & 15 highway miles.

Over the past year or two there is a metal grinding noise when in gear, coasting, accelerating, all gears, doesn't really matter except when I push the clutch in/neutral. Noise has gotten noticeably worst in the recent months.

Clutch in and/or in neutral car is quiet as can be (and I know b/c I've been coasting a lot since my radio crapped out but that's another issue). The clutch can be out while in neutral and no noise is heard. No noise while not moving, this seems to be a rotating noise while the car is in gear only.

My internet research directs me to wheel bearings, main bearing, throw-out bearing, input shaft bearing, all could cause this issue except most people describe the problem with the clutch pushed in.

Planning to bring the car in for some much need TLC and wondering if I can save some money by picking the masters brains so to speak.

For the record, the thought has crossed my mind to take the $300 from the salvage yard and start fresh but I'm cheap & indecisive (a bad combo BTW). The car owes me nothing; I picked it up for $2.5k and flogged the shit of it for 5 years with only super tech oil changes twice a year. Car also needs front brakes, a radio, and a couple tires to be anything more than a beater (and the clutch described above).

Anyone have an idea of what's going on here? Do I tell the mechanic to replace the clutch and xxxx?

[BoyYota]

Throwout bearing.

And you could have pieces of clutch flying around in there too.

[good_old_geo]

checking the wheel bearings is easy. take the tire off then take the brake caliper out. then take the disc off since there is nothing holding it. if there is any wobble in the bearing then the cheapest thing to do is buy a used knuckle from a junk yard and swap it out. I did it last year and my used knuckle is doing ok. ask if you need more details

[speedy25]

Last time I got noises like that I lost an input shaft bearing.

Sounds like some transmission work.

-SP