5MT (dual range) is very loud - overhaul question

[danci1973]

This winter the 5MT dual-range transmission on my '99 Legacy BH developed some pretty loud noise (it gets quieter as it all warms up). It's most apparent in neutral with the clutch pedal out. I think it's also louder when driving. When I push the clutch pedal in, the noise goes away - so it must be something rotating on the 'input' side of the transmission... Checked the oil and it was on the low mark (cold) and pretty 'clear'.

There are no other apparent problems with the gear box (yet) - the shifting still feels the same as it did before. But since the noise freaks me out, I'd like to have it repaired.

Any ideas as of what I'm looking at? Are there known (bearing) issues with the 5MT?

Thanks, D.

[StatGSR]

how many miles? orignal clutch? it sounds like your throwout bearing could be on its way out.

[danci1973]

how many miles? orignal clutch? it sounds like your throwout bearing could be on its way out.
About 100k (165k kilometers), clutch set (throwout bearing too) replaced some 20k km ago.

Is the throwout bearing always in contact with the pressure plate and rotates with it?

D.

[danci1973]

This morning I made a recording of the noise. With the engine running at about 2k RPM I was pushing / releasing the clutch pedal in an interval of a couple of seconds. Once I also switched into 'lo range' (the loud 'klik') and the noise changed (was a bit quieter). Then I switched back...

Here's a link to the MP3 file (http://foto.slovenija.net/show.php?size=download&album_name=%2FDanci%2FRazno%2FSubieforum%2FRazno%2F&obj_name=Legacy-Gearbox.mp3).

D.