Author Topic: What is this sound when I step on the clutch? (Read 3181 times)

vte30 · « **on:** January 25, 2009, 09:17:51 PM »

Good evening m42club, I'm hoping this is an easy sound to diagnose...

Basically, I step on the clutch and get rattle/rock tumbler sound. As the vid (more like soundclip) starts, the clutch is already stepped on. At 4 seconds I moved the microphone closer to the engine and it pretty much just sounds like hissing, which is annoying but not relevant. Anyway....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRgoKe6FXdQ

Any ideas? Thanks!

nicknikolovski · « **Reply #1 on:** January 25, 2009, 09:50:35 PM »

Not the best quality soundclip so hard to tell but I would say - clutch release bearing - press the clutch in, then out again - if noise changed - most likely the bearing is shot.

Boosted E30 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 25, 2009, 10:19:00 PM »

before you go closer to the engine it definatly sounds like release bearing. hissing sound is a vacume leak for sure.

xwill112x · « **Reply #3 on:** January 25, 2009, 11:06:24 PM »

sounds like a broken release bearing or input shaft?

1991 E30 M42 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2009, 01:43:22 AM »

I'm going to agree with them on the throw out bearing, but also add the fact that most of these cars have a dual mass flywheel that can go bad and make terrible noises. Also, it could be a bearing in the transmission as in this particular transmission there are bearings in between the gears and the shafts they ride on, so there are a lot of bearings to go bad. How many miles are on the car and what previous service has been done on the transmission and other drive line components?

vte30 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2009, 07:42:11 PM »

Ok, interesting... thank you for the replies.

The guy I bought it from had receipts back thru '05 and nothing about the clutch was listed anywhere. It's just about to hit 200k. So then is this the kinda thing where it's time for a clutch, new bearings, mc/slave, maybe m20 flywheel, etc?

Boosted E30 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2009, 09:10:46 PM »

If it still the orgional clutch in the car that would be amazing. if the sound you hear is only there when you are stepping on the clutch pedal then i would definatly say your release bearing is the cause and get it changed before it blows up.

My tranny has 316000+ km on it and is just starting to grind 2nd on fast downshifts. so unless your tranny has been severly abused or never serviced i doubt that the bearings inside are noisey.

tglaze · « **Reply #7 on:** January 27, 2009, 11:04:53 PM »

Quote from: vte30;65404

Ok, interesting... thank you for the replies.

The guy I bought it from had receipts back thru '05 and nothing about the clutch was listed anywhere. It's just about to hit 200k. So then is this the kinda thing where it's time for a clutch, new bearings, mc/slave, maybe m20 flywheel, etc?

my clutch lasted until 200k. but the previous owner didn't have the same driving habbits as i do. i regularly see oem clutches last quite a long time if driven conservatively.

if you want to go the m20 flywheel route, i have a lightened one with the m42ring gear already fitted. let me know, i'll give you a great deal.

mjnov · « **Reply #8 on:** April 12, 2009, 05:11:46 AM »

thrust bearing... dont think its anything else

3seriesNut · « **Reply #9 on:** April 14, 2009, 07:44:40 PM »

same thing my 2door was doing before it took a shit.

my clutch was orginial from 1990. lasted the first owner 200k miles but like tj said the PO and i have verry different driving styles. the undoing of mine was a first gear burn out and slammed second..lol soon as i shifted to third i knew that i just burnt the fucker. pedal is letting out high and im getting a vibration from the throwout bearing.