T5 maintenance. What needs replacing?

[Chowder Head]

Yes, I know this is in GD but I'd appreciate if I could get a few responses before it gets moved.

Anyways, my tranny's been making odd noises recently.  Examples of this is sometimes when I press the clutch all the way in, there are weird "chirps" that occur every 2 or 3 seconds; almost sounds like a chipmunk or a squirrel.  Another example is when sometimes the gas is applied before the clutch is disengaged, it makes another strange sound.  I really can't describe it but it isn't crunching, or grinding or anything like this.  Almost like a whistle.  Lastly, and this occurs very rarely, but when idling in traffic in neutral and I go to stick it in 1st, it will not go in at all.  I have to jam it in a lower gear such as 2nd or 4th, and THEN it will go up to 1st.  Very odd but like I said, it happens rarely.

Also, I've realized I've owned this car for about two and half years and the only thing I did tranny related was replacing the fluid and that's it.  So given my above weird occurrences, does anyone have an idea of what I need to replace?  Maybe a bad TOB?  If I need to go down there, think I should replace the clutch as well?  And what about the flywheel? Is it worth it to replace that?

Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[Gravel]

The clutch throw out bearing is whats making the noise. Don't ever replace the tob without replacing the clutch unless its new and you just got a defective part. As for the flywheel, if it chatters then resurface it, if its fine than just buff it up a bit with the scotch bright pad on the die grinder.

[Chowder Head]

How do you recognize if a chatter is coming from the flywheel?  When exactly does it occur?  Also, if the flywheel is fine, is it worth replacing it for a better one or should I just leave it?

[Gravel]

chatter may be better described as shutter when taking off during clutch release. Light weight flywheels are the bomb, but I don't have much experience with them in the mustangs.

[Chowder Head]

Ah, gotcha.  Maybe the cookie korral can enlighten me on flywheels in mustangs.

Few more questions though.  If I need a throw out bearing, which it sounds like I do, is there a specific one to get or is it a pretty general part?  Lastly, any idea of a good mustang clutch that will primarily be driven on the street.  When I was doing research, the Spec II was THE one to get but I'm not sure if that's changed or not.

Thanks again man for all the help.

[Chris Wilson]

The last clutch I bought was the King Cobra equivalent from D&D, it was less than $200 for the whole thing, TOB, Clutch, PP, and Pilot bearing.  That would do you fine. 

[Kevins89notch5.0]

Yup, my king cobra felt great, even with the added power of the S-Trim.

[KC LX]

I'll send MFE into the thread.  He's rebuilt at least a couple T5s.

[MFE]

I'd try shooting some white lithium grease into the gap between the inner and outer parts of the bearing before committing to pulling the trans just to replace it.  I kept a squealing, gronking one quiet and alive for 10s of thousands of miles that way before I finally had to pull the trans for other reasons.  I taped 3 spray straws together, pulled the cable cover, got a light in there, and sprayed the bearing.  Cranked the car over, shot the bearing again, and once more for good measure.  I did that once every oil change.

[BadAndy]

I have a King Cobra and don't like it. I miss the Spec II that was in my Cobra I'd love to bite the bullet and just swap in a Spec II and aluminum flywheel but there's other areas the money needs to go to.

[NUTTSGT]

If I still the stock T5 in my car, it'd still have the King Cobra in it.

[Chowder Head]

Hmmm, some for the Spec II, some for the King Cobra.  Way to confuse me even more guys

MFE, I think I'm going to try that, but where exactly is the cable cover?  I looked in the Chiltons manual but I didn't see a lot on it.  I'm guessing it's something accessible underneath that doesn't require the trans to be dropped?

Lastly, one more thing.  My goal with my car down the line would be maybe 320, 360 horsepower.  Probably either with the stock block and HCI, or if I have the money, a 331/347 with a HCI.  Would a stock T-5 be able to handle that reliably?  I read about guys with 500 horsepower still having their T-5, but they have to baby it.  I don't want to baby my T5, but I don't want to go f'in buck wild with it either. Besides getting a clutch that can grab all that power, should I look into something else that will help?

Thanks guys.

[MFE]

It's the cover where the cable goes through its hole at the side of the trans.  Remove the 8mm bolt, bump the cover forward (or back, can't remember) to release its tab from the trans, and pull it off.   Inside you'll see the clutch fork, follow that inward to the TO bearing.