Thread: Tdi 130 - clutch issues

I've been nursing a leaking transfer and an unknown gearbox/transfer whine in the 130 for a while now, and planning to pull them out for a rebuild over the winter when I'm not using it so much.

Driving home yesterday I put my foot on the clutch and got a bit of a clunk, lower pedal than normal (but still disengaging), followed by a bit of a bearing squeal which went away quickly. Still drives OK but today I have varying levels of squeal with the pedal depressed.
I'm picking the release bearing has given up - either seized or collapsed.
Clutch has unknown history as it was in there when I bought the vehicle a few years back, but has been fine with no shudder or slip etc. I'm only using it on-road and no towing etc.

I'm pushed for time over the next few weeks but don't really want it to crap itself and leave me stranded so considering just pulling the gearbox/transfer back and throwing a new bearing in there to keep it going until winter.
I'll likely grab a complete clutch kit in case the pressure plate fingers are really worn, but don't want to get into stuffing around machining the flywheel when its all going to come apart again in a few months.

Anyone give me a feel for how long its likely to take to pull the box back and do the bearing? Possibly its even easier to pull the engine?

Steve

After the funny feel mine did 5 cycles before letting go in an underground carpark. Bugger!