When you discover unusual noises on your Mini Mini you have a tendency to get worried. Specifically when you encounter a noise coming from the release bearing of your Mini Mini. It is instantly assimilated to an engine trouble and can therefore be serious. As we know that you do not take these problems lightly, we have decided to write this article content to help you find the triggers 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 Mini Mini and their origins.release-bearing-noise-mini-mini

What is the task and operation of the release bearing on Mini Mini?

Task of the release bearing on Mini Mini

The release bearing of your Mini Mini has a crucial function in the operation of your entire gearbox system. In fact, 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 operated 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 Mini Mini.

Action of release bearing Mini Mini

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 (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 sort of release bearing Mini Mini :

  • Pulled release bearing
  • It is the most unconventional of the two sort of release bearing . This one, compared with the hydraulic version, 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 complex, is the type most used in modern vehicles. It is however more complicated than the pulled release bearing. In fact, it will be composed of a hydraulic tube that will receive the pressure straight from the clutch pedal.
    More conventional clutch stop

Release bearing noises Mini Mini and their origins

I encounter a release bearing noise on Mini Mini once I drive and it stops when I release 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 conceivable that your release bearing is the cause. Make sure that this noise stops when you disengage, in which circumstance it is time to replace the release bearing of your Mini Mini.

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 associated with jolts that you can encounter in your clutch pedal, then the stop/fork release/blades grouping is degraded. In fact, this noise often comes from the broken fork that no longer allows the device to run normally.

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

This matter arises most often on models equipped with hydraulic release bearing. It is often linked 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 Mini Mini, then you probably have a leak coming from your release bearing. It must therefore be replaced almost instantly or risk damaging your gearbox in addition to the clutch. If you have a noise coming from the gearbox of your Mini Mini and it’s not from your release bearing, check this article to have more informations.