do i need a new clutch?

hi, i have a discovery tdi on a t plate, i love my car but i dont know anything about the mechanical bits. over the last few days when i depress the clutch it gowls and chatters quiet loudly (it sounds as though something is going to break!, its changing gear fine and seems to be much worse when i am stationary if i leave the clutch down for any lenghth oif time. when its going along the road there is very little noise and no resistance in the gear lever when i change gear, however if i am parked up with the engine running, in gear with the clutch down it sounds really bad. obvoiusly something is knackered, ive booked it in next week for a new clutch for £450 and i dont want to pay this out if it is not going to fix the problem. Any suggestions?
p.s my neighbour told me to check my clutch fluid level,, ive no idea where the resevoiur is!!

sound like new clutch mate sound like a noise from the thrush bearing against the pressure plate ie bearing is nacked and when you press down on it it contacts with the pressure plate and spins.The pressure plate will be worn / broke spline ect.All in all need a new clutch it comes in 3 parts thrush bearing/pressure plate/friction plate.

cheers andy ps also shop around for prices dont take the first price

thanks for that,ive booked in to have a new one but i think i might ring round a few garages in the morning..

best you get some cream for the thrush from the doc and go see a mechanic about a new clutch inc a new thrust bearing

Hi,

I think this is fairly common on Disco's - it sounds like the release bearing is about to give up the ghost. The bearing is held in a plastic/nylon holder and after a while, they start to disintegrate. I changed mine when I lived in Zimbabwe - obviously with that much work, it makes sense to put complete new clutch in as suggested by andy273. The friction and pressure plates were still in reasonable condition, but the bearing was only just hanging together. The reason you get the noise when you press the clutch is that with foot off the clutch, the bearing will spin on the shaft - press the clutch and the bearing pushes on the pressure plate - that's when the damage will show.

You should also consider replacing the fork as well, and the spigot bush (the bit in the middle of the flywheel where the gearbox shaft fits).

£450 doesn't sound unreasonable. Parts will be approx £100, and its probably 6 hours
to take either engine or gearbox out and refit.

Good Luck!

Who ever does the clutch for you,insist they fit a HEAVY DUTY fork for you,one less thing to fail

i had a noisy release bearing that went bad from offroading, but then got better again.

when the gearbox broke, i removed it and so fitted a new clutch as a matter of course - but the once noisy release bearing tbh wasnt in bad condition at all.

you COULD just leave it? depends if youve got a spare 450?

cheers

Mines been rattly since I got it in February.

The 90's went rattly after dunking it in salisbury mud. and lasted about 4 months before I had to fit a new clutch, bearing and fork. did it me self so only cost me about £100 for the parts.

Don't fit britpart clutch bits!

I got an ap driveline clutch kit through britpart for my v8

Was about 90 quid. Same kit as what I removed as it happens.

Ap driveline bought out borg&beck iirc (or the other way round) and borg&beck is what Ashcroft supply.

But yeah obviously if it comes in a britpart box you will need to be wary, but the ap seemed fine and still is