You depress the clutch pedal and hear a loud grinding, rattling, whirling noise. You ease off the clutch pedal, and the noise starts to dissipate. This likely means a bad throwout bearing, which can negatively impact your vehicle clutch function.
The throwout bearing is an integral part of clutch operation. When you press down on the clutch pedal, the throwout bearing applies pressure to the flywheel pressure plate, pulling it away from the clutch disc in order to disrupt power flow and disengage the clutch.
Loud noises are not the only symptoms associated with a bad throwout bearing. Once the throwout bearing fails completely, it can score the clutch and twist off the clutch control yoke, resulting in possible clutch failure. Replacing the throwout bearing as soon as noises start to emit is integral to preserving the life of your clutch system.
To replace a bad throwout bearing, remove the clip assembly from the ball pivot located in the bell housing in the flywheel. Remove the throwout bearing and withdrawal lever. Insert the new throwout bearing into place and replace the withdrawal lever.
