When you identify unusual noises on your Audi A3 you usually tend to be troubled. Especially when you experience a noise coming from the release bearing of your Audi A3. It is immediately assimilated to an engine problem and can therefore be serious. As we know that you do not take these trouble lightly, we have decided to write this article content to support you locate the causes and free yourself from this matter as quickly as possible. To do this, we will first focus on the function and operation of the release bearing of your clutch, and in a second step we will look in detail at the different release bearing noises on Audi A3 and their sources.release-bearing-noise-audi-a3

What is the function and operation of the release bearing on Audi A3?

Role of the release bearing on Audi A3

The release bearing of your Audi A3 has a crucial function in the operation of your entire gearbox system. Indeed, its task is to liberate the gearbox from the rotation of the engine block via its action. This will allow you to shift gears. It is controlled by the clutch pedal and then by the release fork, which, when it is activated, will press on the clutch and release the gearbox from engine rotation for you allow you to shift gears on your Audi A3.

Objective of release bearing Audi A3

Let’s now look at the technical side, the release bearing is composed of two parts, a first fixed part that slides only when the stop is pulled, or pushed (according to its type) and finally a rotating part that is composed of a bearing that will allow it to stay in contact with the mechanism and follow its rotation.
There are two different types of release bearing Audi A3 :

  • Pulled release bearing
  • It is the most unconventional of the two types of release bearing . This one, contrary to the hydraulic type, is operated by a mechanical pulling system that will release the clutch disc. In this case, the release bearing must be mechanically fixed to the mechanism.

  • Hydraulic release bearing
  • The hydraulic release bearing, although more complicated, is the type most used in modern automobiles. It is however more sophisticated than the pulled release bearing. Indeed, it will be composed of a hydraulic tube that will receive the pressure right from the clutch pedal.
    More conventional clutch stop

Release bearing noises Audi A3 and their sources

I experience a release bearing noise on Audi A3 when I drive and it stops when I release my clutch pedal

If you experience a noise from your gearbox, release bearing or clutch itself when your engine is running, but it ends when you press your clutch pedal, this noise often sounds like a bell noise, it is highly possible that your release bearing is the cause. Make sure that this noise stops when you disengage, in which case it is time to replace the release bearing of your Audi A3.

I experience a release bearing noise when my pedal is up and I experience jolts in my foot

If you experience too much or too little resistance when you press your clutch pedal, and it is associated with jolts that you can experience in your clutch pedal, then the stop/fork release/blades grouping is degraded. Indeed, this noise often comes from the broken fork that no longer allows the system to run normally.

I experience a grinding noise coming from the release bearing of my Audi A3 when I try to shift gears and they do not shift

This matter happens most often on models equipped with hydraulic release bearing. It is often connected to a clutch pedal that has little or no resistance. If you are in this situation and you feel a grinding or cracking noise coming from the release bearing of your Audi A3, then you probably have a leak coming from your release bearing. It must therefore be replaced quickly or risk damaging your gearbox in addition to the clutch. If you have a noise coming from the gearbox of your Audi A3 and it’s not from your release bearing, check this article to have more informations.