Gearbox whine when clutch pedal released?

[nhudson1]

The car is on 88k clutch, slave etc replaced by Ford circa 20k ago. Focus GMk3 TDCI 1.6 115

I've noticed that the gearbox/clutch makes a whining noise when the pedal is released, with the pedal pressed in, the noise goes.

It sounds like what I can only describe as an old dynamo...? I've only really noticed it since I had the drivers side driveshaft replaced. The noise is 100% from the passenger side, which I assume is the gearbox side.

Reading the internet, it could be anything... So hoping someone may have had a similar issue or could shed some light on it?

[TechBod]

Clutch thrust bearing is worn, also known as clutch release bearing.


Will be a bit noisy but wont go bang and blow up the car...


If I were keeping the car, I would think about going and getting a new clutch installed sometime in the future, then they can do the bearing, which comes as part of the clutch kit, at the same time.

Had a thrust bearing go on my Lotus Sunbeam back in the 80's... did over 70,000 miles before I changed clutch and bearing...


TB

Edited by TechBod on Monday 24th June 18:53

[nhudson1]

Any idea on what work it entails? Is it a gearbox strip down job or simple bolt off, pull bearing, press, bolt back up?

I think there might also be a metal knocking noise that only occurs at low revs, when the engine labours the most. I thought it was a heat shield or maybe a loose brake pad rattling, but couldn't find anything. I assuming it might be related to this bearing issue.

Edited by nhudson1 on Monday 24th June 19:44

[Spurry]

I had always understood that noise from the release bearing occurred when the clutch pedal is depressed, not released...

[nhudson1]

Spurry said:

I had always understood that noise from the release bearing occurred when the clutch pedal is depressed, not released...

So Input shaft bearing then?

[stevieturbo]

nhudson1 said:

The car is on 88k clutch, slave etc replaced by Ford circa 20k ago. Focus GMk3 TDCI 1.6 115

I've noticed that the gearbox/clutch makes a whining noise when the pedal is released, with the pedal pressed in, the noise goes.

It sounds like what I can only describe as an old dynamo...? I've only really noticed it since I had the drivers side driveshaft replaced. The noise is 100% from the passenger side, which I assume is the gearbox side.

Reading the internet, it could be anything... So hoping someone may have had a similar issue or could shed some light on it?

Let the engine idle, clutch depressed and select any gear whilst stationary. Does it make any noise ?

If so, then it is probably, hopefully just the release bearing.

If not, then the noise could be internal ( ie when doing the above, all aspects of the box itself are not moving )

If it only makes the noise either way when the pedal is not depressed...that screws up the above test lol.

[nhudson1]

The noise is only when the car is in gear with the clutch engaged or with the clutch pedal released. There is no noise with the pedal pressed in, gear selected or not.

[Oldandslow]

Clutch release bearing would be my guess (part of the mechanism that pulls the pressure off the clutch).

Unloaded the bearing chatters if worn. When loaded (pedal pressed) it quietens as the slack is taken up. It's in the bell housing so it's a gearbox off job. Not usually worth doing until it either fails (they can go on noisily for thousands of miles with no issue as long as you don't ride the clutch excessively) or more likely it's time for a clutch change.

[slybunda]

Had release bearing do similar noise in a focus before. Did over 30k miles with the noise then was changed and all went quiet again.
Not a rush to get fixed job but noises like that can be annoying.

[TechBod]

nhudson1 said:

Any idea on what work it entails? Is it a gearbox strip down job or simple bolt off, pull bearing, press, bolt back up?

I think there might also be a metal knocking noise that only occurs at low revs, when the engine labours the most. I thought it was a heat shield or maybe a loose brake pad rattling, but couldn't find anything. I assuming it might be related to this bearing issue.

Edited by nhudson1 on Monday 24th June 19:44

Its a gearbox out job but not too bad to do.

Always worth swapping the clutch and if a Diesel, the DMF if you can afford it too, as it will save you having the whole job done again when the DMF eventually fails. No gearbox strip or anything like that...

Knocking noises not usually connected to this bearing... Poss DMF as mentioned above...

Where in the country are you??


There's a lot of scaremongering posts here... but ignore them...



Its the Thrust bearing/release bearing...

[TechBod]

Spurry said:

I had always understood that noise from the release bearing occurred when the clutch pedal is depressed, not released...

Wrong.... its when its released.

[nhudson1]

TechBod said:

Wrong.... its when its released.

Thanks for the reply, in your opinion you think it'll be the release/thrust bearing? That seems easier and cheaper than the input bearing.

I'm in Northampton.

I appreciate all the feedback and replies, I know its almost impossible to know 100% what the issue is without being hands-on and actually seeing the fault. Any idea is better than what I have in my head lol.

[TechBod]

Your'e a bit of a way from me then....


If you go with my advice, you wont go wrong... if you have recently had a new clutch installed, the usual practice is to swap for a new bearing at the same time, but it looks like Fords obviously don't want to do the job properly first time round, hence the bearing now whining...


Its about £285 for a complete clutch, bearing, and DMF kit and about 5 hrs labour or so..

[hellorent]

TechBod said:

Wrong.... its when its released.

Are you sure, when the pedal pressed down that's when the load is on the clutch release bearing,
I would go for a gearbox bearing personally as when the clutch is disengaged the gearbox looses it's
drive, I would check gbox oil level 1st although it could be a bit late now as damage may well be done.

[hellorent]

Spurry said:

I had always understood that noise from the release bearing occurred when the clutch pedal is depressed, not released...

Ditto

[ninjag]

I've had two cars (both Honda) where the clutch release bearing was starting to make noise. It was a loud squealing noise though, so loud it would make you jump sometimes.

It would happen when the clutch pedal was being released and biting and on an upward slope.

[E-bmw]

As with anything there can be exceptions but generally putting load (as in pressing the clutch pedal) on a wearing release bearing stops the noise.

[imagineifyeswill]

In my opinion its a gearbox bearing, probably first motion shaft but could be any bearing on the main shaft, Ive never dismantled a Focus box so dont know the internals.

[nhudson1]

Well, I've bit the bullet and having a rebuild at an independent gearbox specialist. They seem to agree after hearing the noise that it's likely the input shaft bearing and will replace that, plus one other and all seals and fluids. 

I'm not sure if it's a good price, but I'll be paying £724 with removal, rebuild (+3-4 synchromesh) and refit. 

I'll report back when I get the car back on the road.

Thanks for the replies!

[E-bmw]

That is obviously too cheap to include a full clutch kit too, do you not think it would be good to do that at the same time?

General consensus would be to do both together.