When you identify unusual noises on your Mazda MX 5 Miata you tend to be concerned. Specifically when you encounter a noise coming from the release bearing of your Mazda MX 5 Miata. It is directly assimilated to an engine issue and can therefore be serious. As we know that you do not take these concerns lightly, we have chosen to make this article content to support you find the causes and free yourself from this issues as quickly as possible. To do this, we will first concentrate on the role 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 Mazda MX 5 Miata and their origins.release-bearing-noise-mazda-mx-5-miata

What is the role and operation of the release bearing on Mazda MX 5 Miata?

Purpose of the release bearing on Mazda MX 5 Miata

The release bearing of your Mazda MX 5 Miata has a essential role in the operation of your entire gearbox system. In fact, 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 Mazda MX 5 Miata.

Action of release bearing Mazda MX 5 Miata

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 (depending on 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 distinct variants of release bearing Mazda MX 5 Miata :

  • Pulled release bearing
  • It is the most unconventional of the two variants of release bearing . This one, contrary to the hydraulic version, 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 technical, is the form most used in modern vehicles. It is however more complex than the pulled release bearing. In fact, it will be composed of a hydraulic tube that will receive the pressure directly from the clutch pedal.
    More conventional clutch stop

Release bearing noises Mazda MX 5 Miata and their origins

I encounter a release bearing noise on Mazda MX 5 Miata each time 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 ceases 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 swap the release bearing of your Mazda MX 5 Miata.

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 damaged. In fact, this noise often comes from the broken fork that no longer allows the device to operate normally.

I encounter a grinding noise coming from the release bearing of my Mazda MX 5 Miata when I try to shift gears and they do not shift

This issues appears 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 Mazda MX 5 Miata, 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 Mazda MX 5 Miata and it’s not from your release bearing, check this article to have more informations.