UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hi all,

I noticed a strange noise with my GTi at the weekend...

When I have the clutch peddle pressed down, the car seems to make a strange gratting noise. The noise completely disappears when the clutch pedal is released!?!

Does anyone get the same noise or know what might be causing it?

Clutch release bearing (Or gearbox idler) is totaled at a guess....

Going to be expensive that one!

Sounds about like the release bearing

I took it in to the garage last night who had a quick drive of it and said that they can hear the same noise (but alot quieter) when the car is in third and fourth.

They thought it was probably the gearbox on the way out. Does this sound right to those of you who have had their gearboxes die on them?

I wouldn't know, but you could always get a 2nd opinion put your mind at rest (as long as they don't charge you).
Just out of interest whereabouts are you because I'm in Chester, don't know if that's miles from you or not.

Ok, just got 2 more opinions and they both reckon it's the clutch release bearing.

Does anyone know how much that would be to fix?

I'm from Macclesfield womble68 so about 50 miles east of you

Clutch release bearing is about £15 I think... (been a long time since I bought one)....


But to fit it you have to remove the gearbox so whilst its out you might as well fit a new clutch to save having to strip it appart again in the future...

TheEggShell wrote:Ok, just got 2 more opinions and they both reckon it's the clutch release bearing.

Does anyone know how much that would be to fix?

I'm from Macclesfield womble68 so about 50 miles east of you

where did you take it? there's a good VW specialist on Shaw St.

That's where I took it first because they are normally really good. I think they were too busy to have one of the better mechanics take a look and this old guy just said it was the gearbox before I could fully explain when I was hearing the noise.

So are you from around my way M6TT F?

I took it to another garage and they said that it is definitely the clutch release bearing and to fit a new clutch would cost me £300. Does this sound about a fair price?

They did also say that there was a slight noise coming from the gearbox but that it was nothing unusual for a car thats done 77k miles.

I'm just begining to wonder if it is a good time to sell up? Can anyone who's had the gearbox go on them tell me if the grinding noise it makes is quite loud of fairly quiet?

Yeah I live in Macc, in the middle of town actually. Try getting a quote from CW Motors on Rodney Street... Mike's very reasonable and does a good job. He's not a VW specialist, but at the end of the day a clutch is a clutch!

Ok cool! Cheers dude!

You aren't Matt the Policeman are you?

nope i'm Matt the graphic designer

No way dude! I haven't seen your car kicking about much!

Have you had it long?

Only noticed posts since I mentioned anything I'd say £300 sounds pretty reasonable to change the clutch. Not sure on Gearbox itself. I and a few others have tried changing their gearbox oil and clutch cable. I'd expect if you're changing your clutch, they'll do the cable, so might be worth asking them to change the Gearbox oil at the same time - it basically gets rid of all the swarf and kack that'll have been floating around in their (comes off when bad changes, etc). The oil itself shouldn't cost you much more than about £20-30 (can't remember exactly how much) - i used Castrol SMX-S because its Full Synthetic, and you'll need 2.7L - so 3 bottles.

£11.99 a litre for the Castrol SMX-S from Halfrauds.