Gearbox / Diff Whine Noise

[sc00byd00byd00]

I'm getting a kind of diff whine noise in my Mk4 Polo 16v, my first thoughts were that it could be the gearbox.

When there is a noise, If I put the clutch in, the noise stops.

Another forum has suggested "the fact it stops when you press the clutch makes me suspect the release bearing"

Just wanted to get some more opinions on it before I take to a garage.

Could it be the actual gearbox itself ? I've been told that as the release bearing is a gearbox off job and that I should replace the clutch whilst its off. (Its only done 64k, does it need replacing)

My problem is, I can't really afford to "think" its the release bearing, plan for that and then it turns out to be the box and have to wait to source one.

On the otherhand, I dont want to buy a new box if I dont need to.

Ive also heard that Lupo GTI Boxes will fit my car and that they are supposed to be stronger ?

Can anybody throw some light on this ?

Cheers,

Scott

[e6m6a6]

Im guessing that you have checked the general condition of your box?

Oil level and any leaks?

But even before i read part were you wrote about release bearing the same thing was on my mind

When does it do the noise? on idle? under load? or just all the time untill you put the clutch down?

But then again (on a completely different car, clio, sisters) when driving along in first there is a whine and when i need to put the clutch in to change gear the whine stops, now this is just the crap quatlity of the box but just thought id mention it

[sc00byd00byd00]

Im guessing that you have checked the general condition of your box?

Oil level and any leaks?

But even before i read part were you wrote about release bearing the same thing was on my mind

When does it do the noise? on idle? under load? or just all the time until you put the clutch down?

But then again (on a completely different car, clio, sisters) when driving along in first there is a whine and when i need to put the clutch in to change gear the whine stops, now this is just the crap quality of the box but just thought id mention it

Not checked the levels yet. No apparent leaks visible.

Noise is all the time, more noticeable at around 40-50 mph, not necessarily under load, definitely not on idle

[sc00byd00byd00]

after more tests, the whine is at its loudest when decellerating.....

Anybody know any gearbox recon places in Cheshire ??

[sc00byd00byd00]

Been talking to a few gearbox specialists, pretty certain now that its the mainshaft / layshaft bearings that are causing my whine based on the tone of the whine and the fact that it isn't crunching when going into gears.

Ideally, I would like to take the gearbox out and replace these bearings myself.

Does anybody happen to know where these bearings are located do you and if you think that its something that I could do myself ?

[e_greenwood]

This sounds like a haynes manual job to me!