MK5 1.9 TDi Golf - release bearings or DMF??

[cobra kid]

154k miles 2007 Golf still on the original clutch. For about 3-4 years now, with the clutch pedal depressed, the engine sounds quiet as a mouse. When the pedal is released, in neutral, there's a strong rattling noise.

Any thoughts?

[GreenV8S]

Release bearing would be my first thought too. If it's a DMF issue I'd expect to find it was very rpm sensitive around the idle speed.

[cobra kid]

GreenV8S said:

Release bearing would be my first thought too. If it's a DMF issue I'd expect to find it was very rpm sensitive around the idle speed.

Idle is rock solid in neutral and in gear.

[GreenV8S]

cobra kid said:

Idle is rock solid in neutral and in gear.

I don't mean that the idle speed will be unstable - I mean that small changes in engine speed round about the normal idle speed will alter the symptoms.

[DuraAce]

Clutch release bearing has gone.
Get it sorted before it gives up completely and goes through the fingers of the pressure plate.

[Little Pete]

With the box in neutral slowly press the clutch pedal. If the noise alters as you move through the first part of the pedal travel it will be the DMF. If the noise stops when the pedal is fully pressed, it could be a gearbox noise because the box has now stopped turning.
Drive the car and when in 5/6th gear go on and off the accelerator and see if there is any backwards and forwards movement in the gear stick.

[bearman68]

cobra kid said:

154k miles 2007 Golf still on the original clutch. For about 3-4 years now, with the clutch pedal depressed, the engine sounds quiet as a mouse. When the pedal is released, in neutral, there's a strong rattling noise.

Any thoughts?

Doesn't matter - gearbox has to come off, so the clutch, DMF and thrust bearing are going to be changed anyway.

[NotBenny]

In case you're interested, I used a valeo solid flywheel conversion on my mk 5 golf 1.9 tdi, did about 80k miles on it, no issues.