New gearbox and clutch.

[alang498]

I had a reconditioned gearbox and new clutch fitted on my 1998 VW Passat 1.9 TDI last year and ever since the car seems noisier inside (of course, it could just be my imagination).

I have also noticed that when travelling in excess of 60 mph in 5th gear, it seems as if the noise would reduce, and the drive comfort improve, if there was a 6th gear to use !

Has anyone experienced a similar situation ?

[Cavanmick]

Try slackening off the gearbox mounts where they bolt to the subframe, drive it for a couple of miles and it should settle the gearbox on its mounts . Tighten everything back up and all should be better.

[Gary03]

When this work was done, did the under tray get refitted? There's a big increase in road noise using the car without it fitted!
Have you changed the tyres recently? Again, I've noticed an increase in cabin noise when crap cheapo tyres are fitted.

[alang498]

Thank you both. I have quite new Michelin Energy tyres on the car. The front under tray is still in place but I lost the rear under tray quite some time ago and I think I was quoted over £100 for a replacement and decided to give it a miss. The mechanics at my local garage also curse under trays. Maybe time to have another think.

[Gary03]

Those are good tyres so wouldn't be the problem. You can get fairly decent copy under trays on ebay. I paid about 40 quid if I remember right for the front and rear section. I have seen just the rear sections available as well.
I must admit though, maybe just the rear section missing wouldn't make much difference but I could certainly tell the difference to interior noise with both missing!
They are a pain to fit but they are worth having on.

[JMR1]

Yes they can be a pain, but aside from noise reduction, they also help to shield against water ingress.

[micheal balbrig]

While those michelin tyres are good, and also expensive, I also find that they do tend to cause noise problem (Audi 80)
Some less expensive tyres can be quieter i,m.o. possibly due to softer compound,but they naturally wear quicker.