# Subaru transmission noise?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-transmission-noise/34808>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** forester, subaru\
**Created:** [August 10, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-transmission-noise/34808 "2009-08-10T03:03:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sheldon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ad7895/32.png) [@Sheldon](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Sheldon)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:03am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-transmission-noise/34808/1 "2009-08-10T03:03:41Z")

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I own a 2001 Subaru Forester with 192K miles and the original clutch (only slips once in a while). Over the last couple of years, a noise has gotten gradually louder. It sounds like a wheel bearing that gets louder over time; however, it’s not related to the wheels turning. I can “feel” the noise when holding the gear shift. It makes the noise when sitting still in neutral. If I depress the clutch pedal all the way, the noise stops. Any diagnosis ideas? Thank you!

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**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/subaru-transmission-noise/34808/2 "2009-08-10T03:31:41Z")

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Have you checked the transaxle gear oil level?  
Just offhand, my main suspect would be a transaxle mainshaft bearing problem, although it’s always possible anyway that it could be caused by a fluky throwout bearing or flywheel pilot bearing; all of which require removal of the transaxle.

The reason I asked about gear oil level is that if the transmission is low on oil due to a leak or failure to refill it properly after a gear oil change the mainshaft bearings are the first things to go.