How fortuitous was that?

[Rhothgar]

A doubly big thank you is in order for Jim!

It's a damned good job I didn't scrap my Xantia. The clutch went on Sylv's silver one today. Well! The release bearing at a minimum.

This is the car that some may recall I saved from the scrappers in 2012 with 164k miles on it from Duxford Citroen. It was described as needing a clutch then.

Well today! It finally gave up the ghost at 196k miles. My god it doesn't half smell bad when they go.

So I received a call from Sylv stranded on one of the main roads leaving Nottingham City Centre so I dug the tow rope out and dashed down. Couldn't find the screw-in tow eye immediately (it was in the rear footwell I later found out in the jack container).

So I just thought I'd have a go driving it. It still drives with no slipping so I think the release bearing has actually failed. It doesn't half screech when you dip the clutch and the bite is about 1" off the floor and it quietens down until you dip the clutch again then it screeches like a howling banshee!

Great! A 7 hour job to look forward to at some point. Or shall I just scrap it? Problem there is it has just been MOT'ed in September and needed new handbrake cables because I kinked them putting the calipers back without disconnecting.

Or dare I just continued to drive it until it totally goes pop! Sylv daren't drive it anymore and, of course, I don't want her to ruin mine. I feel sure it would have made 200k if it was my runabout...

[CitroJim]

Roger, what engine/gearbox is in the sliver one?

The clutch is not a bad job to do in all but the 110HDi and then it's just a little more of a game...

If the rest of the car is good then it's well worth doing in my view... Better the devil you know and all that

[Rhothgar]

Roger, what engine/gearbox is in the sliver one?

The clutch is not a bad job to do in all but the 110HDi and then it's just a little more of a game...

If the rest of the car is good then it's well worth doing in my view... Better the devil you know and all that

Guess what? It's the 110HDi. Yippee!

[CitroJim]

Guess what? It's the 110HDi. Yippee!

No worries, read Skull's recent doing of this job... He did a fantastic write-up and it also links to my doing of Davie's Activa clutch which is identical...

Skull's thread is here: viewtopic.php?t=58856

Lots of advice on offer here

I also have the special tool you'll need to pull the release bearing into the cover when reassembling....

[wurlycorner]

. It still drives with no slipping so I think the release bearing has actually failed. It doesn't half screech when you dip the clutch and the bite is about 1" off the floor and it quietens down until you dip the clutch again then it screeches like a howling banshee!

Yes, that sounds like a release bearing.

If the car is otherwise in fine fettle and you both like it... Then I agree with Jim - definitely worth doing the clutch and keeping

[Andy F]

I had my 110 HDi changed at 190k, well worth it! 211k now and all is well.

If you like the car and the rest of it is up together it's worth it in my opinion.

Andy

[RichardW]

The squealing release bearing on our C4 Picasso only lasted about 35 miles (of very careful driving!) before it totally imploded. I suspect the one on your Xantia will not last much longer....

[CitroJim]

I suspect the one on your Xantia will not last much longer....

Knowing how they fail, I'd agree. Best to get the job under way as soon as possible as if the bearing pulls right out and the slave decides to disassemble and empty itself you will find yourself in an even bigger world of pain...