rattling from clutch

[kingstonbe]

i've got a rattle from the clutch i believe, you can hear it most noticeably at idle with the clutch out, the rattle then ceases when the clutch is in. this is despite the clutch being done only 5000 miles ago (garage job, previous owner). Ive been told that it is the release bearing rattling.
My question is, is this ok or will it eventually lead to clutch failure? what can be done to cure the rattle, and why the hell is it rattling in the first place?!

[Martinaston]

How many miles has the gearbox done ?
and the last time its oil was changed ?

[TW166Y]

its deffo your thrust bearing buddy, if the ratteling stops when you push clutch in its deffo that

[kingstonbe]

gearbox was reconditioned at same time as clutch, so oil is fresh, i think the rattle could have a gotten a tad louder in the last 2000 miles too, its got me a bit nervous, don't want to have to rip the feckin box out of it

[Martinaston]

The thrust bearing comes with a new clutch kit and once the geabox is removed it just slices over the input shaft.
So i can't see how the garage would fail to fit the new one.
Well i can. Shit mechanic.

Try changing the gears when it's idling and the noise should change, or stop once the gears stop spinning.
If so it's a worn gearbox.

[kingstonbe]

the thrust bearing is different to the release bearing ya? the rattle stops when i put in the clutch, so i don't understand what you mean by the rattle changing when i change gear at idle?

[Martinaston]

Do you have a reciept for the gearbox re-build or is it on previous owners sayso.
A rebuild is Ԛ£300/Ԛ£400 and one from the breakers is Ԛ£50

[Martinaston]

Have a look here

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=21&fg=05

Part number 4.
Clutch bearing/Thrust bearing same thing

[kingstonbe]

ya receipt is there, bout Ԛ£650 (Ԛ┚¬1000)

[Martinaston]

The noise may be caused by play in the gears so when you push in the clutch pedal the gearbox stops spinning so the noise stops.

[Martinaston]

Does the noise stop when you push the pedal down about 1/2 an inch ?

[peejay]

Hi fellas, we were talking about this recently werent we ? Sorry to butt in again but in answer to your last Q martinaston, yes noise does stop on mine as soon as you put pressure on clutch. The big Q for me is.. what will happen if I ignore it ? Like you kingstonbe the previous owner of my car replaced the clutch prior to me taking it on ( 2003).

Peejay

[kingstonbe]

will try this next time i'm driving the car, cheers guys

[kingstonbe]

ya tryed that, but it keeps rattling until about half way down the pedal, what does that tell you?

[Martinaston]

Yeah that sounds like the thrust bearing, but as i said it should be the same age as the clutch.
If it is the same age as the clutch then it could be your driving style.
Do you drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal ? (causing undue wear)
The reason i was asking about the gearbox was to eliminate the chance of gearbox chatter that you may be mistaking for the bearing noise.

[Brianmoooore]

How about the spring clip locating the release arm being unclipped?

[hogweed]

Me too... mine rattles exactly like tappets or injectors, whether you're coasting in gear, or sitting in the lights in neutral - but all you have to do to stop it is rest your foot on the clutch, not even really push it in.

Thrust bearing for me? Or gearbox fecked...