Input bearing?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Fostoria Ohio
Input bearing?
About a month ago I purchased my 1st Corvette, a 2000 Convertible, and on a ride recently i started to notice a "whine" noise coming from under the car. Originally only in the higher gears, but by the time i got home it was down as low as 2nd gear. The noise would happen on acceleration and would stop when released. i am no mechanic and am being told that it could be the input bearing and that I'm looking at anywhere from $2500-$3500 for the repair. Is this a common problem? From what i have seen, it appears to be a labor intensive fix. If this is the problem, is there anything else that should be replaced while they are in there? Any information would be helpful. Thanks
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
About a month ago I purchased my 1st Corvette, a 2000 Convertible, and on a ride recently i started to notice a "whine" noise coming from under the car. Originally only in the higher gears, but by the time i got home it was down as low as 2nd gear. The noise would happen on acceleration and would stop when released. i am no mechanic and am being told that it could be the input bearing and that I'm looking at anywhere from $2500-$3500 for the repair. Is this a common problem? From what i have seen, it appears to be a labor intensive fix. If this is the problem, is there anything else that should be replaced while they are in there? Any information would be helpful. Thanks
BUT
Before you do all that are you absolutely sure it's the pilot bearing? How was this diagnosed? The most common "whine" sound on these cars is probably the differential. Are you sure the noise is coming from the front and not the back?
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Fostoria Ohio
If it is the pilot bearing then the job is pretty labor intensive. You have to drop the rear cradle, differential, transmission, and torque tube to get at it. If you're going to go through all that, depending on mileage and other factors, you should probably go ahead and do a clutch swap while you're at it so you don't pay the labor twice.
BUT
Before you do all that are you absolutely sure it's the pilot bearing? How was this diagnosed? The most common "whine" sound on these cars is probably the differential. Are you sure the noise is coming from the front and not the back?
BUT
Before you do all that are you absolutely sure it's the pilot bearing? How was this diagnosed? The most common "whine" sound on these cars is probably the differential. Are you sure the noise is coming from the front and not the back?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 19,454
Likes: 1,163
From: Dyer, IN
It really sounded like it was coming from the front. I haven't really had it "officially" diagnosed, as i was afraid to drive it and make anything worse. Just from talking to mechanic friends and the local dealer. They threw the input bearing(I assume we are talking about the same thing) as the most likely cause. The car has 65,000 miles. I was wondering if the clutch should be replaced while in there. Am i correct in thinking i shouldn't drive the 30 miles to the closest dealer with a "Corvette specialist"?
If you do not have the knowledge/expertise, to determine if it's safe to drive.....flatbedding it to the shop is the safest bet.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
It's impossible to determine for sure what's wrong from your description so if you aren't sure the car is safe to drive don't drive it.Be sure to come back and post what their conclusions are once a mechanic has gotten a chance to look at it.
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Fostoria Ohio
so..as it turns out..the differential was shot, which in turn caused problems for one of the bearings in torque tube. Dealer says that in his 30+ yrs of working on Corvettes he has never seen this problem. Long story short, roughly$4500-$5000 to replace it. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,902
Likes: 21
From: Oak Hill Virginia
Also, you can have your differential rebuilt by an excellent shop like RKT56 with better parts and your choice of ratios for less than the cost of a new one from GM...
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Fostoria Ohio
it is at the local dealer, he is replacing the differential (GM) and repairing the torque tube and transmission...he had 2 days in labor tearing it down and trying to diagnose the problem..@ $96/hr..not much i can do now, I'm guessing...it is laying all over their shop floor
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Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Fostoria Ohio
while they have it apart, i figured i would put a cat-back exhaust on it...i was thinking Borla, i can't go to expensive, especially with the unexpected repairs. I want some good sound @ idle and on acceleration, but still want to be ale to hear my stereo with the top down. Hard to tell from the internet which i want, any suggestions?