Hi all. I had this ages ago and it went away. It has slightly come back now. A strange whirring like a bearing spinning, when you've let the clutch out. I can't figure out what I could be. I was away in the car this last week and it started it. Seems like after long motorway journeys.

First things first I will change the gearbox oil. It's not that old really, I do change it every now and then. But I'll do that and see what happens.

But clutch in to select first or second - fine. Clutch out, very loud noise and then it goes away! Yesterday coming off the M4 it did it and stopped when I cycled gears between 3rd and 4th quickly without taking pressure off the clutch.

Any ideas? It went quiet again until I got home but it's almost like it's waiting...

Probably not gearbox oil issue, but do check the level.

By what you say it could be the Clutch release bearing. Check the clutch adjustment before you do or buy anything else.

I thought the same thing actually Roger. I couldn't remember the name of that bearing though - thanks!

It has coincided with a clutch adjustment. But I think it's only a coincidence. When i had this clutch put in about 14 years ago, the excellent but now retired seasoned 2cv mechanic that did it told me it was at max adjustment already. But it recently got to the point where it was just dragging slightly in neutral, so I've been wondering what to do about that if it was at max already. But it just got seen to by another mechanic and he adjusted it to be spot on again just because he noticed it when it went in.

However, it first did it not very long after this Rick Pembro rebuilt gearbox was fitted, along with a fresh clutch. It was very bad then though, and stuck making that awful noise the whole time. Then it just stopped and hasn't done it since!

it's also possible it's the clutch fork. They weaken and bend or crack.

Go onto ecas site and type in clutch into the search box.

scroll down to see what one looks like.

The bearing attaches to the fork, and the fork has a pivot. The cable attaches to the end of the fork. pulling on (with the pedal) one end of the pivot pushes the other end with bearing onto the clutch pressure plate and dis engages the clutch. So the fork and bearing turn a linear motion into a rotational movement.

Poor adjustment of the cable can cause the bearing to continually engage with the pressure plate and wear out the bearing.

However, if the fork is broken (and it's not known), peeps tend to try to compensate by cable adjustment.

You may be able to get underneath and see if the fork is distorted.

If it is damaged, then it's engine out i'm afraid.

Thank you Roger. Makes perfect sense. I'll see if I can see the fork. From memory Its visible from under the car.

From experience with parts these days, if I was guessing then it'd be the bearing itself. I just wouldn't be surprised. Engine out either way I think?

Trying to avoid an Engine out, have a look from underneath through the fork opening and if you feel lucky give the bearing a shoot of oil.
Also from above behind the toothed flywheel disk.

Amazing. I did wonder about a shot of oil actually! On my next day off I will get under there with a torch and see.

Thank you!

Did ya fix it?