Thrust release bearing

thepharcyde · 3 Sep 2006 at 20:35

Gone on my car according to the BMW service guy who came out today. When the car is in neutral it is making a rattling noise which disappears as soon as the clutch is depressed. I have been told that its a 9 hour job, and usually involves replacing the clutch and possibly the gearbox, which I find wierd as my previous ST170 which shares the same getrag box has never came up as an issue on FFOC, but appears a common problem for the Cooper S according to Mini2.com. I am driving a 200 mile trip tomorrow, should I risk it or do you think its okay to book into the dealers on Tuesday. Also would something like this be covered under warranty?

Thx Phar

timbob · 3 Sep 2006 at 20:44

A 9 hour job to replace the clutch, holy moly!

If it's making a noise but still working, you might be ok for a day or two. When the release bearing went on my car, the guy down the garage said he'd heard a lot louder, and I should just drive it till it goes - might be a couple of weeks or more down the line. I decided in the end to get it done over that weekend to save the car breaking down on me on the way to work or somewhere inconvenient!

It's the sort of thing that you'd expect to be covered under warranty, but probably won't be - clutches are usually considered consumable items I think.

GT3 · 3 Sep 2006 at 20:44

IIRC there are two bearings, the clutch release bearing which is situated on the clutch arm within the bell housing and pushes the clutch friction plate in and out. This is what went on my old saxo it lasted 25k miles making the whining rattling noise with the clutch out before it finally became iffy changing gear. The thrust bearing I think is inside the gearbox on the input shaft.

Sputnik II · 3 Sep 2006 at 23:09

GT3 said:
IIRC there are two bearings, the clutch release bearing which is situated on the clutch arm within the bell housing and pushes the clutch friction plate in and out. This is what went on my old saxo it lasted 25k miles making the whining rattling noise with the clutch out before it finally became iffy changing gear. The thrust bearing I think is inside the gearbox on the input shaft.

I agree. it could be either.

The_Dark_Side · 4 Sep 2006 at 00:08

GT3 said:
IIRC there are two bearings, the clutch release bearing which is situated on the clutch arm within the bell housing and pushes the clutch friction plate in and out. This is what went on my old saxo it lasted 25k miles making the whining rattling noise with the clutch out before it finally became iffy changing gear. The thrust bearing I think is inside the gearbox on the input shaft.

unless i'm VERY much mistaken aren't they 2 different terms for the same part?

GT3 · 4 Sep 2006 at 00:25

The_Dark_Side said:
unless i'm VERY much mistaken aren't they 2 different terms for the same part?

Perhaps mate, all I know is on Pug/Cit MA boxes there is a bearing inside the casing of the gearbox that sometimes goes and I thought this was called the thrust bearing. I know some people refer to the clutch release bearing as the thrust bearing but I dunno.

Dogbreath · 4 Sep 2006 at 00:33

GT3 said:
Perhaps mate, all I know is on Pug/Cit MA boxes there is a bearing inside the casing of the gearbox that sometimes goes and I thought this was called the thrust bearing. I know some people refer to the clutch release bearing as the thrust bearing but I dunno.

The clutch release bearing is more commonly called a thrust bearing, because of the direction of the force it has to apply. The gearbox bearing that can cause noise when the clutch out is most likely the first motion shaft (aka input shaft) bearing.

GT3 · 4 Sep 2006 at 00:42

Ah ok what I said was correct then I just got the names muddled up

Cheers for the info.

The_Dark_Side · 4 Sep 2006 at 00:47

GT3 said:
Ah ok what I said was correct then I just got the names muddled up

Cheers for the info.

yup a thrust bearing is a type of bearing and not a specific component.
for example you find thrust bearings at the end of a turbocharger spindle.

Sputnik II · 4 Sep 2006 at 08:58

GT3 said:
Ah ok what I said was correct then I just got the names muddled up

Cheers for the info.

I knew what you meant by the way you described one being inside the 'box itself.

thepharcyde · 9 Sep 2006 at 13:31

Had the clutch & thrust bearing replaced under warranty. Car defo feels smoother changing gear as well as being easier to select. They notcied that one of the engine mounts had a hairline crack in it too, so they replaced this too. 9 hours in labour in the end