Clutch Release Bearing

[Angle Grinder]

I have a distinct bearing rumble whenever the clutch is released.

I don't think that it is a problem with any of the Gearbox bearings as the box is quiet when you let the car coast in gear with the clutch pedal depressed.

Has anyone got experience of changing the Clutch Release Bearing on a Flavia 1800 coupe. Any advice or warnings. Can it be done with the engine in place or would it make life a lot easier in the long run to drop the subframe assembly?

I have a receipt for clutch replacement in 1999 so I'm hoping that there will be no need to replace the clutch as well, but I know that there is logic in doing it altogether.

At the moment, clutch slip is not a problem and there are no side-effects that spoil the gear change or clutch performance. I have only noticed a clutch judder on one occassion when pulling away from a standstill.

[rogerelias]

Hi May be of some help, i changed the gearbox in my normal sized garage at home, once the exhaust was out of the way it was striaght forward, undo driveshaft inner cv joints, and then treat as changing conventional rear wheel drive set up, i left subframe and engine in situ, lots of small nuts and bolts around bell housing but very simple job, mine was a Vignale but i would imagine the other variants would be the same.

[lancialulu]

I did same. Would add I found it necessary to get the car quite high to actually remove the gearbox to work on it as I used a Clark (from machine mart etc) transmission cradle that goes on my 3 tonne trolley jack.

Have done this a few times and i always manage to get the box back in albeit anothe trolley jack is generally required to control the small angle changes of the engine to get the box to mate.

You can do it on your own!

Tim

[Charles]

But clutch release bearings only rumble when the clutch is depressed - there is no load on them otherwise.  I'm not familiar with the inards of the Flavia gearbox but generally if a box rumbles when in neutral with the clutch released it's more likely to be lay shaft bearings. Charles