I'm beginning to think my throw out bearing is going out. When the car's in neutral and I depress the clutch, it makes a whining sound. If I hold my RPM's a bit higher than idle, the whining sound gets louder.

The thing is, I'm hard-pressed on cash at the moment, and might not be able to get this repaired for another month or so. What can a bad throwout bearing lead to if not repaired ASAP? Should I stop driving the car in the meantime?

It will most likely just cause the rod to grind into the crankshaft... however, if it seizes the rod completely, it could break... that could lead to bending/breaking valves which is just adding money.... What do you think caused the bearing to start going? Usually it's caused by oil starvation...

It will most likely just cause the rod to grind into the crankshaft... however, if it seizes the rod completely, it could break... that could lead to bending/breaking valves which is just adding money.... What do you think caused the bearing to start going? Usually it's caused by oil starvation...

Or, sitting at stoplights and such with the clutch pedal depressed.

I know how to drive a manual car, and definitely don't ride the clutch or hold the car in first at stoplights. It might be from the previous owner. It's at 53k miles.

I'll check my oil level, but I just did an oil change and I doubt its a case of oil starvation.

I don't want to tempt fate or anything by not fixing it, it's jsut a bad time for something to break on the car. I'm pretty hard-pressed for money right now

It will most likely just cause the rod to grind into the crankshaft... however, if it seizes the rod completely, it could break... that could lead to bending/breaking valves which is just adding money.... What do you think caused the bearing to start going? Usually it's caused by oil starvation...

This reply was apparently intended for another thread, because it has nothing to do with clutches. :rolleyes

The release bearing is sealed with a lifetime lube. Premature failure is usually caused by holding the clutch released with the engine running. It's unlikely to cause much damage if it fails completely, but that doesn't mean it can't. It could possibly damage the support tube or pressure plate, but you should replace the friction disc and pressure plate anyway while it's apart.

It will most likely just cause the rod to grind into the crankshaft... however, if it seizes the rod completely, it could break... that could lead to bending/breaking valves which is just adding money.... What do you think caused the bearing to start going? Usually it's caused by oil starvation...


Hard to get my mind around that one.

This reply was apparently intended for another thread, because it has nothing to do with clutches. :rolleyes

The release bearing is sealed with a lifetime lube. Premature failure is usually caused by holding the clutch released with the engine running. It's unlikely to cause much damage if it fails completely, but that doesn't mean it can't. It could possibly damage the support tube or pressure plate, but you should replace the friction disc and pressure plate anyway while it's apart.
Thank you for the correction. I was puzzled when I heard valves and oil starvation :confused

I am going to go ahead and get my clutch replaced at 53k miles, along with the pressure plate and bearing.

Holy hell, I have no idea what I was thinking... for some reason I was thinking about rod bearings... oops.

Forget, don't worry about it. I have had cars in which the throwout bearing seized. It will drive okay for thousands of miles, just gets noisy.

:confused

Or, sitting at stoplights and such with the clutch pedal depressed.

Can you explain this to me in more detail? I've never heard you shouldn't hold the clutch pedal down when you're not moving... I drove a cavalier for 8 years and I always held the clutch pedal down while at a stop light. I figured it was much easier than constantly shifting to neutral. Same thing goes for being in a traffic jam...

I am wanting to know more because my car is at the dealer right now and the SA says he's 99% sure my clutch engage/disengage noise is coming from the clutch. My car only has 41,000 miles. :(

I do remember during the Hurricane Rita evacuation, and the ridiculous traffic jam, that I had to drive between 0 and 5 mph for about 4 HOURS. Constantly engaging and disengaging the clutch... :bluecry1

I put about 5-6,000 miles on my car with a bad T-O bearing. Eventually it may seize, but that eventually is usually waaaaay down the road, from what I've heard. My tranny sounded like it was full of taconite pellets every time I let the clutch out in neutral- that's what scared me.

Can you explain this to me in more detail? I've never heard you shouldn't hold the clutch pedal down when you're not moving... I drove a cavalier for 8 years and I always held the clutch pedal down while at a stop light. I figured it was much easier than constantly shifting to neutral. Same thing goes for being in a traffic jam...


The release bearing is under load only when the clutch is released (pedal down). It was designed to be used for only moments at a time, so when you sit there holding the clutch released for minutes at a time, the bearing quickly heats up and accelerated wear occurs.

Another thing that happens is that even with the clutch released there's a small amount of friction between the coupling elements. The pressure plate doesn't retract much, just enough to allow the friction disc to slip freely between it and the flywheel. So when you're holding the clutch released there is some wear and heat build-up occurring to the disc, flywheel, and pressure plate, in addition to the release bearing.

Finally there's the crankshaft pilot bearing, which also is loaded only when the clutch is released. Like the release bearing, it's permanently lubed and serviceable only by removing the transmission.

Considering your driving habits, I'd say the evacuation killed your clutch. At least you got out with your car though.

Thanks for the explanation.