2004 Rav4 D-4d Gearbox Bearing Noise

[CTM]

My 2004 Rav4 D-4D XT4 has a worrying bearing like noise coming from the gearbox/ bell housing area car has covered 75K. Shortly after start up whilst idling an intermittent bearing clonking noise can be heard from the gearbox area. Car drives well and changes gear ok clutch seems to work OK. With car on ramp with wheels off the ground and driven with no load the noise dissapears but if you load the engine by braking the noise comes back. I have noticed the engine does vibrate somewhat at idle speed. Any help before I dive in would be appreciated. regards Tony

[anchorman]

My 2004 Rav4 D-4D XT4 has a worrying bearing like noise coming from the gearbox/ bell housing area car has covered 75K. Shortly after start up whilst idling an intermittent bearing clonking noise can be heard from the gearbox area. Car drives well and changes gear ok clutch seems to work OK. With car on ramp with wheels off the ground and driven with no load the noise dissapears but if you load the engine by braking the noise comes back. I have noticed the engine does vibrate somewhat at idle speed. Any help before I dive in would be appreciated. regards Tony

Welcome to the club Tony.

This is probably not what you want to hear but what you are describing has a familiar tone to it and I think you should have a read through this to see what you think.................

http://toyotaownersclub.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=74099

[CTM]

Anchorman, many thanks for your reply, you have confirmed in great detail what I feared in reading the various forums. I must put it on the to do list along with an MR2 SMT gearbox problem which also needs sorting

Kind regards

Tony