PICASSO CLUTCH RELEASE BEARING

tryercar · Post by **tryercar** » 30 Jun 2010, 10:10

Hi,

X Reg Picasso 71K miles, 1.8 petrol

I have just driven the car to the garage as it was making a continuous screeching sound. I thought it was just a slipping belt and/or needing a cambelt change.

The garage just called and said it was the clutch release bearing and a new clutch is needed - £650! all in.

Is this too much and how come I could change gear easily on the way to the garage?

Thanks for any help.

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 30 Jun 2010, 10:29

hi TC

release bearing drying up would/may not massively affect gearchange immediately, though I would imagine the bearing would collapse in a fairly short period of time..

I was quoted the same for a xantia 1.8 petrol once, when the £5 bearing destroyed itself and the clutch.. I drove it home 80 miles home clutchless without stalling, and then did it myself, cost £50

I think the garage quoted about 6 hours labour.. in truth it took me 4 or 5, and i got quicker at them after that one..

John

ps I need some extra cash and could consider doing yours, but it would be in 2-3 weeks.. otherwise Malcolm on here may do it? 'Citronut'

tryercar · Post by **tryercar** » 30 Jun 2010, 10:37

Hi,

Thanks for the offer but wife needs car back on the road pretty quick.

P.S I'm near Brighton.

I was just starting to feel good on the way to the garage as the gears felt OK, so then had to pick myself up off the floor when they told me £650

jgra1 · Post by **jgra1** » 30 Jun 2010, 10:39

yep sorry to hear about it

they are such a cheap part, but a little hard to get to ...

On mine, I belive the bearing had been incorrectly fitted a few months before, and had melted and then gone through the clutch fingers..
Brighton is pretty close, I am about 20 miles up the M23

Malcom is Hastings..

flying clutchman · Post by **flying clutchman** » 30 Jun 2010, 16:37

£650 is not a cheap price for a picasso clutch. I'd love to be able to charge that! Under £400 would be more reasonable, you don't need a citroen specialist, there's nothing different about it from 90% of cars on the road today. The degree of difficulty is about the same as a Ford Focus, Ask your garage to quote for a Ford Focus 1.8 petrol, I bet it's not £650. Try someone whose not scared of doing it1 (you need a whole clutch kit by the way)

wright · Post by **wright** » 30 Jun 2010, 17:26

continuous screeching sound, i'd get a second opinion, and a better price, that is way too much for a clutch

flying clutchman · Post by **flying clutchman** » 30 Jun 2010, 17:56

I don't think there's anything wrong with the diagnosis, this is the usual cause of clutch failure on citroens and peugeots (and fiat puntos) which use the very small release bearing. The symptoms you describe are 100% consistent with this fault.