Please help, think my clutch or flywheel is failing

[mr_m_cox]

Hi All,
First time post here, so hi to everyone.

I have a 54 plate 525d estate.

Unfortunately my visit is following bad times, I think my clutch is failing and I was hoping someone here might have a better knowledge than me on if thats the case and how long I might have left in it.

I found today that when in neutral if i depress the clutch pedal there is a spot in the middle of the pedal travel that causes a rough knocking noise to happen, and you can feel it knocking through the pedal. If you continue to press you move through that patch and it stops. There seems to be no slipping or performance issue when driving or moving off from stationary.

I don't think it happens moving from 1-2 or 2-3 etc just neutral-1

Any suggestions on what it could be and how long it might have left would be great. I know thats a tough ask but I have no clue.

Thanks all.

[helix402]

Both clutch and flywheel are probably past it.

[DuraAce]

mr_m_cox said:

I know thats a tough ask but I have no clue.

Nor do we!

Might last 10 miles, might last 10,000 miles.

Sort it sooner rather than later if you intend to keep the car.

[aka_kerrly]

I presume you can select all gears fine and there is no noticeable slip. In which case the rough grinding noise is likely to be the clutch release bearing - not an expensive part at all and part of a standard clutch kit, it's the labour involved in removing the box to get to it which is why most people would do a clutch at the same time. Also worth examining the slave cylinder to.

Now, the tricky part here is that a rough release bearing can still soldier on for thousands of miles so in less you are capable of removing the box and replacing just the bearing I would try not to worry about it for now.

[mr_m_cox]

Thanks for the advice all.

I have it booked in at the garage for tomorrow morning so hopefully it won't turn out too bad.

I didn't realise till I got home and was sat in a quiet road how bad it is, when you press or release the clutch pedal it makes a mighty crunchy/rough generally horrible noise right in the middle of the pedal travel