clutch TOB dying -> how much time do I have left?

[Nicad]

1993 MTX ~130k.
help!

Starting 3 days ago I noticed the clutch pedal felt a little "rough" while depressing and releasing. 2 days ago It started growling when the clutch was depressed, and then yesterday it is growling lowder and now there is quite a bit of noise coming back through the clutch pedal even when its not depressed. You can feel "grinding" when your foot is on the pedal. Feels/sounds like a very dry bearing.
Today didnt seem much different than yesterday.

I am sure my TOB is dying/dead.
It still shifts OK, but seems I have to push the clutch farther down than normal (this is not a step-change, just an observation).
Other than the growling/wirrrring noise, everthing still runs smooth.

I plan on tearing into it and replacing clutch/PP/TOB/main seal/etc this coming weekend (daily driver), but I need it to keep going for the rest of the week.
Will anything get perm damaged if it keeps being driven?

Thanks in advance.
Colin

 

[Ishodu]

You should be able to make it till the weekend. Nothing that your not replacing will get damaged, as long as its releasing all the way and shifting is easy. Still some freak thing can always happen.

 

[Minnesho]

when my TOB/fingers went bad it completley failed the day after if first started acting up, and i was driving it very gently.

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

When it happens, it happens fast. It will get progressively worse, very fast.

Good news is, is that you will have a fresh clutch to enjoy soon

 

[Minnesho]

Can it damage anything else on the car? like the trans input shaft say?

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

The only thing it will damage is the trans itself, if you force it into gear or grind gears with the clutch not working correctly.

Otherwise, just plan on a complete clutch job. Throwout bearing/quill sleeve, clutch disc, and pressure plate. I would also replace the clutch fork, and the clutch fork bushings.

 

[newby92]

when my TOB went out it happened with in a couple days... i noticed it was hard to get into first gear on monday and by wednesday i physically couldnt get it into first... i drove around starting in second for a couple more days before i parked it... ripped it open and the bearing race for the TOB had actually released all the bearings and they were clanging around the housing... it ended up ripping almost all the fingers off the clutch in a perfect circular pattern... not a big deal considering it all got replaced... but still anoying considering i had only had the car a week and a half... and the seller told me it had a brand new clutch in it.... LIAR