Prof Peach

OK.... at the end of sanity.

156 1.8 TS CF3 2002 engine in a 2001 car. 5 speed manual box.

The fault or problem described as best I can:

Drivng down a country road, went to downshift and noticed a vibration/judder through the clutch pedal. Only happens with the pedal is pressed and if you sit with your foot touching the pedal, there is no judder. The judder/vibration Needle Roller Bearing is linked to the engine speed. I can only describe the feeling in the pedal as the same sort of feeling via the brake pedal when the ABS is active, though newhere near as pronounced.

Bonnet up when I got home and noticed a pretty loud noise when the clutch is pressed. A bit of a groan and a dull knock tied to engine speed..... again, only when you press the clutch pedal. Let her sit and idle in neutral and the noise is gone. Starts and runs perfectly smoothly and there is no change in the clutch bite or clutch performance.

A friend pointed me to the clutch thrust bearing. A bladdy Pressed Bearing nightmare removing the box, fitting a new cluch slave and thrust bearing, then re-fitting the box..... not sure I'd want to do that again........ but the noise and vibration are still there.

Now..... friend who helped asked his old man and he suggested crank bearings. Possibly too much end float and when the clutch is pressed, the added pressure is pussing the crank...... causing the noise. Does that sound Thrust Bearing like a reasonable place to look? Having had the box off, I'm not keen on spending too much time and money with this.

Anyone have a guide on what to look for (other than a couple of hidden sump bolts) and where to look for a knackered bearing or 2? Can Special Bearing the crank thrust bearings be done with the crank in situ or am I looking at the box out again?