355 Noise... Help!

Is the noise coming from the front of the engine, or from the rear of the gearbox??????

 

Hmmm?

Try having a look at the condition of the clutch. You can check it via the inspection screen on the bottom. Remove the nuts that hold it in place and remove it. Then look up and see how muchb material you have left on the plates.

 

Have you used Luciano in Sarasota? He gets alot of Shelton cars that they have been unsuccessful with?

 

Mine just recently started doing this....happened before, (twice in the past couple years) and would go away in a week or so. This time, after a couple weeks, the seals in the release bearing (t/o) failed and the fluid all came out, and the clutch pedal went to the floor. Gonna need a new clutch now. Almost 44k on the original clutch...so not bad. Will need to get the upgraded release bearing and housing though (either the factory or Hill version). Car at dealer, not sure if they will support going with the Hill, but will ask them.

 

I know they're probably not offering it to you, but I'd strongly recommend a Hill Engineering bearing instead. F355's have a nasty habit (common) of blowing out the butt end of those bearings. The Hill Engineering one could withstand the driving of Juan Pablo Montoya, and come back asking for more.


http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=261280

 

Hey Daniel! Which years need the $635 CRB355MS???

http://www.ricambiamerica.com/product_info.php?products_id=262597

My car is a 1997 6-speed and I think I will be needing the hill bearing in the future. Just want to know how much to save up for

 

(OZ: The short answer is ALL F355 have the crappy Ferrari bearing. Some have an old iron one, some have the crappy aluminum one. There hasn't been a good Ferrari one yet...)


You know, I get confused by this dang thing every time. So, in the spirit of our Homeland Security color coded chart, I have the following data:

1. Green box: You really should pull things apart before buying. Your car might have been upgraded to the 'new' Ferrari aluminum bearing and flange. If so, you only need the bearing. If not, you can only use the Hill Bearing if you simultaneously upgrade to the Hill Flange.

2. Yellow box: You really should pull things apart before buying. Your car might have been upgraded to the 'new' Ferrari aluminum bearing and flange. If so, you only need the bearing. If not, you can only use the Hill Bearing if you simultaneously upgrade to the Hill Flange.

3. Blue box: A new Hill Engineering bearing is all you need.

4. Red box: 355F1 drivers... a new Hill Bearing is in final QA and should be available very soon.

*** PAUL, Please correct me if I've incorrectly stated items above ***
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Daniel,
So the Hill Eng bearing the seals are the same as the newer Ferrari oem bearing? The difference is in the better machined bearing that puts more metal to support the seal, preventing it from failing?

 

Just replaced my blown unit with the Hill Unit. Amazing difference in the quality and construction. The Hill unit is the only way to go. Paul Hill and Daniel provided first class support as well as a first class product.

If the dealer won't entertain putting the Hill unit in for you and insists on putting the inferior, poorly designed OEM unit in your car I'd highly recommend you have the vehicle trucked to someone who will put the Hill unit in your car.

 

Yes, the teflon seals are the same. It has been been documented elsewhere on Fchat where the whole 'butt end' of the OEM bearing basically explodes. Here is an OEM one that a customer sent to me.

I like to (disgustingly) refer to the black stuff as Ferrari Bearing Meconium. Wikipedia it, if you haven't cleaned a newborn's diaper. BLECH!
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Thanks Daniel!!!

 

NASTY!!! I have delt with that stuff. Yucky, yucky, yucky.

 

Went to Ferrari of Seattle to inspect the clutch, and the bearing looked just like the one in the picture! Otherwise unremarkable...have the Hill Engineering part on the way, and looks like my car is late enough in production that it already has the late style flange required for the updated bearing.

Flywheel has a few heat checking marks, kinda of a spotted pattern, a good friend will machine a couple thousands off for me and should be good to go. Ferrari of Seattle has been great and very helpful in discussing options and methodology to their work.

 

Here are some pictures of my failed release bearing seal. Flywheel is machined, so car will be going back together next week.
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Clutch done...had FoS use stock parts, with the exception of that damn release bearing, used the improved Hill Engineering bearing from Daniel at Ricambi America. As always, the service and help of Daniel was beyond the call of duty. Even though FoS was pretty certain we would not need the updated housing for the bearing (based on my transaxle build number) Daniel went ahead and send the Hill Engineering one "just in case". Didn't even charge me for it...says "just send it back if you don't need it Dave..." Thanks Daniel!! (btw, it wasn't needed...on the way back Daniel)

Here are some close ups of my failed bearing....are we seeing a pattern here with these things or what?
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Looks like you did a great job!!

How many miles on that burst bearing?

 

Almost 44k, which I hear is pretty amazing...most go in half that time. The rest of the clutch was in pretty good shape. Disc was nearing the end of life, but could have gone another 10k without scoring the flywheel.