Clutch Release Bearings - noisy...

[Stanky]

So, the Nissan is rocking its original clutch and after 140k miles its a bit tired. There is no slip, but at idle in neutral, there is a distinct clattery/rattly noise from the engine bay which instantly stops when the clutch is pushed down.

 

I suspect this to be the release bearing on its way out.

 

Now, what I;d like to know is the ramifications of doing nothig about it. I don't intend to keep the car a whole lot longer as I wish to buy a bigger vehicle, but it makes enough of a noise that it will probably be picked up by a potential buyer, unless Evelyn Glennie has a penchant for tatty old Nissan Almeras, and I have not seen any evidence of this.

 

I assume it will get worse until the point it falls to bits, when I will no longer be able to engage gears. I assume that if this occurs at 70mph on the A3 I will still be able to get it back into neutral though and coast to a dignified halt?

 

Its probably due a new clutch at some point and whoever does this will easily be able to do the release bearing at the same time, but I don't plan on this being me. If my guess is right then I can just fob the buyer off by saying it has been like that for ages but I saw no point doing anything about it as the clutch kept working fine. To be fair I'm aiming to get £500 for this, so anyone who comes and whines about the noise on an otherwise astonishingly reliable car can FRO, but I expect it to be questioned.

 

Anyone got any knowledge? Its a GA14DE engine, and I think the bearing lives in its own little housing 'twixt engine and gearbox so there OUGHT to be no way debris could get into either were the worst to happen.

[Albert Ross]

It's not going to be the release bearing. That only spins with the pedal pressed. The noise is likely the input shaft or layshaft front bearing in the gearbox. Check your gearbox oil level and thickness before buying anything.

[Stanky]

Thanks Albert - even if it is bad news!

 

I assume that leaving this alone could be fatal? A new gearbox from a breaker won't be expensive but again, I won't be carrying this work out!

 

I'll check the oil level next weekend, fingers crossed that its just a bit low and can be topped up and quieten it down a bit. Obviously its no spring chicken but I'd rather not have to explain it migh have a terminal gearbox problem.

 

Out of interest, how does wear in the input shaft and/or layshaft bearing come about? Just normal use, or have I been giving it too much beans?

[twosmoke300]

Prob input shaft bearing as ar said unless it's one of those rare fwd cars with a spigot brg

[Mr_Bo11ox]

It might soldier on like that for years, its not necessarily a sign of impending doom

[Stanky]

It has been getting a noisier over the last 24 months or so, but its hardly deafening. I suspect I'm more attuned to it so notice it more then most.

 

Any pointers on where the oil filler hole might be on the gearbox? Googling hasn't thrown up much of use other than it is halfway up and you fill until it spills over. I can see a plug with a recessed square hole (a bit like a peugeot sump plug, only bigger) might it be that? I'll need to get it up on ramps to get at it properly and get some 75w/90 gear oil too so its going to be next weekend I suspect before I get a chance to look at it.

 

One final question - when you buy gear oil do you get a sort of 'nozzle' like I've seen on Wheeler Dealers and the suchlike? I assume that I'll need something like that or my hand pump (fnarr!) to get the gear oil from the bottle to the gearbox?

 

Disappointingly, the article also suggests that if you don't regularly remove the filler plug it seizes in place. It certainly hasn't been removed in the last 4 years and I suspect the last time it moved was actually 1996 when it was fitted, so may now be integral.