would not a clutch thrust bearing cause loud screeching under load if it were not freely spinning.

but it maybe that way, In redoing manual transmission clutches I had experience of this noise when the transmission fluid was low and cold - hence I posted it.

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2012 BMW X5 (Beef + Granite suspension model)

1995 E300D - The original humming machine (consumed by Flood 2017)
2000 E320 - The evolution (consumed by flood 2017)