So, I think my release bearing or pilot shaft may be worn, hence the slight noise when the clutch is released... Am I causing any damage to my tranny or engine if leaving this alone? Is this just an indication of 143000 miles? Thanks!

Usually a Realese bearing or throw out bearing will last the life of the Clutch/pressure plate. You would be better off attending to the matter as ignoring it, it will only get worse, and in a worst case senario the bearing self distructs leaving you stranded somewhere with no clutch

It always works out to be cheaper to fix the small things rather than to let them get larger..
If it is the realese bearing a new Clutch plate, Pressure plate and a new bearing (A full clutch kit) is on the cards.
While your there it may pay to check the condition of the rear main seal on the engine and input shaft seal on the box, cheap fixes...

Preventative medicine is the best medicine i say!

I agree, just curious as to what could have caused these noises... I guess just wear. Though an original owner car, I believe it was in the hands of a few teenagers at one time, but at 143000 miles, the clutch grabs great....

Hello,

I was going to post a thread with my 82 240D tranny problem, but I realized this thread is exactly the problem I'm having.

When I'm in neutral, especially at startup in a parking lot, I get a bearing grinding noise, like a dry annular bearing that will go away if I push the clutch down. If I pump the clutch it will go away and not come back till I restart the car the next day. I can make the sound come back if I pump my clutch up and down a dozen times or so. To repeat, the grinding sound comes when the clutch is UP. This would suggest the mainshaft bearing is scored rather than the throwout bearing. I don't notice the problem when the car is rolling or in gear but again there is more road noise. The fact that it goes away when the car warms up has made me ignore it for the time being.

I'm not too sure of the 240D clutchpack, but my old fords with bad throwout bearings would squeal when the clutch was DOWN.

Does this sound like an input shaft bearing issue? And, how tough is this thing to change once the trans is out? Carrameow? I have the unit construction aluminum tranny.

Should I just add some Stabil to the tranny oil and get on with life?

Cheers,
Yoko
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