clutch release bearing on its way out???

[dabill]

righty, have a very annoying problem with the car...

have an idea that it could be the clutch release bearing, but need clarification

tis a 1.8 8v 91 spec gti.

when accelerating hard, towards the end of the rev range, around 3 and a half to 4ish thousand revs, i get a horrible whining coming from the clutch/gear box side of the engine. but only when in gear.

when i come to a halt, pop it out of gear and lift the clutch, i get an irritating slightly muffled sqeeking wurring noise...very hard to describe, but as soon as i push the clutch in, its gone.

anyone had these symptoms before? as i say, think it might be the clutch release bearing, but not 100%
if so, is it a hard job to replace? for a garage that is...

rob

[Lee_dub]

Alright mate,  I dont know about some of the symptoms there but the muffled grinding noise whilst stationary and not in gear is most probibly your clutch release bearing, I had the same symptom on my first car and it turned out to be the clutch release bearing and it cost me 190 quid...

[herbster]

Sounds like it, its a simple job for the garage, possible for anyone with a bit of spanner experience, should'nt be anymore than an hour and half labour charge, although the garage are gonna want to put a clutch in too due to the simplicity of the job and to save you getting it done around the corner!! Be careful of the "oh, the flywheel has a few cracks it needs a skim!", if it pulls well now and your happy keep it simple and/or cost effective.

 

[dabill]

went to see the garage yesterday, they were telling me pretty much same as you guys, 200quid for lot and they would want to do the clutch too, simply because thier clutches hold a 4 year guarantee so i may as well.

but i then spoke to my friend who knows his stuff, and he told me it would take perhaps 4 hours to do on my own and cost pretty much whatever a clutch kit does (£30) so im thinkin that sounds alot better than paying a garage to do it, so looks like the spanners are out this weekend  need to fine a sheet of plastic or something now so my dad does go barmy over the state of the path 

just to double check, i need to unbolt the driveshafts, unbolt the gearbox, drop the gearbox out, then replace the cltch etc(using a clutch alignment tool or suomething) then plug it all back together?

cheers, rob

[rubjonny]

the release bearing can be swaped with the engine in the car, its behind the green cap in the end of the gearbox just behind the passenger wheel

http://www.brokevw.com/releasearm.html

[herbster]

the release bearing can be swaped with the engine in the car, its behind the green cap in the end of the gearbox just behind the passenger wheel

 
You got me thinking now rubjonny, then maybe it is his thrust bearing needing doing!? Never known the release bearing to go and my train of thought on this thread was thrown into thinking release not thrust!!  My mistake!!!!

[rubjonny]

isnt that the same thing though, just that on a MK2 the clutch is fitted backwards?

Its worth swapping it over anyway, since its easily done in a couple of hours.  Forgot to add, make sure you buy a new end cap, and jack up the passenger side as high as possible to prevent oil loss

[dabill]

so i need to pop the end cap off the gearbox(usually has vw stamped on it right?) and its in there?


EDIT:

also would this explain the noises described above? or could it be the thrust place or something else?

thanks

rob

[rubjonny]

yep, easy.  It might be one of the roller bearings inside the gearbox, but if it is the box needs to be stripped & rebuilt!  Since the release bearing is so easy to change you might as well try that 1st.

[dabill]

righty lets hope to god then that its the release bearing! if not, think i might buy a new box and save the messing about with stripping it all down.

does the 16v have the same box as the 8v?