Is it gears, clutch or diff?

For all i know, the box in my Golf has done nearly 180,000. It feels fine, gear changes are perfect but there's this noise……….

I think i can hear it when it's in neutral ticking over and i've got the bonnet up. If i put my head down on the gearbox side i can hear it more, so i feel it's not engine noise. It's like a rough, rubbing, deep whirring.

I don't get any clunk, clunk, clunk on full lock so that leads me to believe the CV's aren't knackered, and obviously i can hear something when the wheels ain't going. What i do get it is a faint clunk clunk clunk/scrub scrub scrub relative to engine speed not wheel speed and more apparent in 2nd gear but can be heard in 1st and 3rd too. Also after changing gear and engaging the clutch, there's a 'donk' as the plates bite. Some sort of backlash? Where and what could this be? Would you say the noises are related? I'm thinking they are.

Should i look for a new box or get this one stripped with the hope of it being a general repair jobby?

Any stories on similar guff are welcome.

Cheers

That sounds to me like a clutch issue. When was the clutch last changed? Is the clutch slipping at all?

I would normally say that you should replace the thrust release bearing but the mk1 clutch operates differently I think, It has a push rod instead of a lever.

Also maybe try changing the gearbox fluid if your clutch turns out to be fine?

Cheers for that. That's the sort of thing i'd rather hear.
Got no idea when the clutch was last done.
It doesn't seem to be slipping but it is very solid under the pedal and doesn't release the instant you let off the pedal. It's as if the cable is sticking, though i doubt it is.
I'll get the clutch looked into then.

Yeah by the sound of things, your clutch is slipping, if the clutch doesn't engage as soon as you lift the pedal up (You can hear the engine rev before the car moves), then that means theres not enough friction material left to grip anything and needs replacing, as it will only get worse!

I've done a few clutches myself, not the easiest of jobs if you have't done one before but its not too bad on the mk1.

cvheck where the clutch cable comes thru the bulkhead on the driver side, prone to damage here which makes the clutch feel heavy and may cause sticky cable