Clutch Quick Question

Most likely, yes. If it's only making a little noise when you release the clutch, don't worry about it. It will gradually get worse, until your car sounds a little like a jet engine. That's the time to replace it (or if you do anything with the clutch before that time, replace it then).

BTW, over here we call it a clutch release bearing.

in article snipped-for-privacy@damia.uk.clara.net, Grunff at snipped-for-privacy@ixxa.com wrote on 13/10/03 9:46 pm:

Thanks Grunff - I actually typed at the end of my message, "What's the betting Grunff will be the first to reply" :)

Your replies are always appreciated and valued. You've not been wrong yet with my questions - I'll vote for you as Minister of Saab Information, if the job ever comes up :)

It's only a little noise at the moment. I keep having more jobs done to the front end (this time it was a wheel bearing) and I keep hearing more and more noises the quieter the car gets :)

I think my last 900 (the '85 900i) suffered this problem to the extreme. It did sound like a jet and the noise could be heard above the engine noise when driving. What's going on in there (the "potted" version)? What ultimately fails disastrously if it is left?

Thanks again,

Paul

Lol! Spending way too much time tied to the pc at the mo - big project, much coding to do.

The release bearing is a steel ring with a U cross section, with ball bearings in the U section. When you push your clutch pedal, it pushes the clutch master cylinder piston, which pushes hydraulic fluid, which pushes the clutch slave cylinder piston, which has the release bearing attached to it, which in turn pushes the clutch diaphragm spring. Phew.

As the bearing gets old/contaminated with dirt/grit/whatever, it gets noisy. When it fails, it may just seize up, in which case you'll still be able to operate the clutch until the slave cylinder gives way because it's piston is being spun round and round. Alternatively, it could just break apart, at which point you won't be able to operate the clutch.

Make sense?

in article snipped-for-privacy@damia.uk.clara.net, Grunff at snipped-for-privacy@ixxa.com wrote on 13/10/03 11:39 pm:

Can't talk ... Coding

That does. Thanks. I'll make sure I have all this stuff pointed out when the car gets a job in that vicinity done. My garage often show me what they've pulled off the car and explain how it failed - it makes a lot of sense when you see the parts.

Cheers,

Paul

Please forgive me for my stupidity but the symptoms seem to be in the reverse sense for it to be the release bearing. Bearings of all types generally make a noise under load, whereas Paul's noise is off load. I would therefore be moved to suggest gearbox input shaft bearing(s).

Your logic is sound, but release bearings do indeed behave as per those symptoms. The can be quite noisy until you load them up, at which point they go quiet.