Hello this is my first time here. I am looking for help diagnosing my 2000 chevy stepside with a 4.8 liter and nv3500 manual transmission. My nv3500 is acting up. 1ts issue is with engine running I have a noticeable noise like a bearing going when I press the clutch and hold it down it goes away when I release the clutch it's back. I believe this to be the input bearing ? 2nd issue only happens when shifting from first to second. when the transmission is warm and I press the clutch down, shift into second and on the release of the clutch it clunks when engaging into second. This does not happen on the down shift and only when going into second. Any help would be really appreciated. J am planning on fixing myself but better diagnosis would be much needed. Thanks damon

 

Sounds like a bad throw-out bearing. I'd pull it out, check your flywheel out real good for wear or bad starter teeth, dump the clutch and the TO bearing and change the fluid. You might have a bad front bearing as well. At the age of your Chevy, it's likely going to have issues.At stop signs, I throw my NV3500 into neutral as it saves wear and tear on the throw-out bearing.

 

Any thoughts on a make of clutch seems to be a lot out there.

 

A clutch disk can run cheap or high price. It's a decision that only you can make. There are many ways to make a clutch last longer. Short shifting; shifting without the clutch; skipping gears, staying out of traffic, all work. My 1998 K-1500 still has the original clutch, but it was not made in China like most crap is today. As a professional class 8 truck driver, 95 percent never use the clutch for shifting. It's called "floating the gears". I don't recommend that for synchronized transmissions, as you can damage your synchronizers but semi-trucks don't have synchronizers.