clutch release bearing

[allanmc]

I have a Xantia 2lt 110HDI when its idling there is a rattle which goes away when I press the clutch a wee bit can you help please
allan

[citroenxm]

Yes very likely release bearing BUT and its a big one.. firstly they are a pull clutch so despite being installed in two pieces they are then joined together after so the release bearing is integrated to the pressure plate. this now means that the whole unit needs changing as one..

I have been told and from a fairly reliable source who know their stuff that the Hdi 110 clutchs are a common fail point. even if the friction plate is good there's nothing to do but change the whole lot..

150 odd quid for a decent clutch kit for these now.. they used to be 200 quid.

[CitroJim]

Yes indeed and there's a risk of catastrophic failure. The release bearing is held into the diaphragm via a C clip and it's quite common for it to pull right out with disastrous consequences to the clutch slave cylinder.

I would take Paul's advice and replace it as soon as you can. It's not a totally straightforward job but quite doable yourself if you have had previous experience of say, a 1.9TD...

[citroenxm]

One advantage that I liked though, is it is initially installed like a PUSH clutch, then when the box is on, you reverse activate the release lever to "Mate" the release bearing to the pressure plate, unlke the XUD where the thing came as one..

OH and the ML (or are they ME) gearbox's are bigger then the BE, this means slightly less space to move the box. But it is dooable in situ... Done a couple now, but not enjoyed it.

[CitroJim]

ML5T.

Yes, doable in situ but it's big and heavy. Best done with two people and an engine crane. On a 110 HDi with Eberspacher the clearances are in fag-paper territory!

Done a couple now, but not enjoyed it.

That's a fair description but at least the release bearing is a lot easier to do than a bloody 1.9TD. I enjoy those even less

I found the worst part of the job was unclipping the gearchange cables

[RichardW]

I thought you'd decided that that rattle was not a problem Jim...hence Rattiva went away with the clutch still rattling.....??

Anyhow - if the ML5 is the same as the ML6 then the gear cable problem is easily overcome - just unbolt the bracket off the back of the box (3 nuts, albeit you have to do it blind over the top of the diff )

[CitroJim]

I thought you'd decided that that rattle was not a problem Jim...hence Rattiva went away with the clutch still rattling.....??

In Rattiva it was the gearbox rattling Richard, not the clutch. I deduced that as it needed the clutch fully depressed to make it go away whereas if it was the release bearing then just a light depression would have silenced it.

[allanmc]

Thanks guys I suppose with what you say I better get it done as soon as possible
allan