When you find out about unusual noises on your Lexus RX you commonly tend to be troubled. Especially when you encounter a noise coming from the release bearing of your Lexus RX. It is directly assimilated to an engine trouble and can therefore be serious. As we know that you do not take these concerns lightly, we have decided to create this content page to support you locate the causes and free yourself from this concern 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 Lexus RX and their origins.release-bearing-noise-lexus-rx

What is the function and operation of the release bearing on Lexus RX?

Function of the release bearing on Lexus RX

The release bearing of your Lexus RX has a major function in the operation of your entire gearbox system. Indeed, its mission 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 Lexus RX.

Function of release bearing Lexus RX

Let’s now look at the technical side, the release bearing is composed of two units, a first fixed part that slides only when the stop is pulled, or pushed (determined by 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 Lexus RX :

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

  • Hydraulic release bearing
  • The hydraulic release bearing, although more technical, is the type most used in contemporary automobiles. It is however more elaborate 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 Lexus RX and their origins

I encounter a release bearing noise on Lexus RX once I drive and it stops when I depress my clutch pedal

If you encounter 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 reason. Make sure that this noise stops when you disengage, in which circumstance it is time to replace the release bearing of your Lexus RX.

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

If you encounter too much or too little resistance when you press your clutch pedal, and it is linked with jolts that you can encounter 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 device to work normally.

I encounter a grinding noise coming from the release bearing of my Lexus RX when I try to shift gears and they do not shift

This concern arises 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 Lexus RX, then you probably have a leak coming from your release bearing. It must therefore be changed fairly quickly or risk damaging your gearbox in addition to the clutch. If you have a noise coming from the gearbox of your Lexus RX and it’s not from your release bearing, check this article to have more informations.