Okeydokey well i am use to working on cars and i am hearing a similar sound when a throw out bearing is wearing and about to go when i release the clutch and it is in neutral. Now i am looking around on the net and cannot find a "throw out bearing" what would it be called if there is one and if there isnt one than what will need to be replaced so that i dont end up stranded on the side of the road?

-jared

 

Clutch "lifter bearing" is the equivalent

 

Just so you know, F3's were notorious for having a faint, sort of a worn out bearing sound at ilde with the clutch released. Pull the clutch in, its gone, clutch released, the soud is back. The F3 I bought brand new in 98 had the noise since day one, and just about every F3 I've seen makes the same noise.

Unless its really loud, its more than likely the normal noise those models make.

As sprock said, there is a lifter bearing that is the outer most bearing that is pressed into the lifter plate. But there is also a needle bearing "starter Bearing" that could be making noise.

The good news, if you want to replace just the Lifter bearing, its pretty easy to do since the lifter plate is the outer plate of the clutch. Theres no need to remove the whole clutch assembly.

 

Awsomesauce!!!!

 

I also get the strange almost rumbling like noise when in neutral with the clutch out.


(not me)

Its not getting any worse so Ill live with it for now.

 

My 96 F3 has had a "sound" coming from it ever since I got it about 3 &1/2 years ago. Just got used to it. It just turned over 29,000 miles and no problems.

 

I am having the same problem on my '05 F4i. I can sort of hear the sound at idle, but mostly it happens when I am engaging the clutch (without any throttle). It is kind of a rattley/mechanical vibration/grinding noise. I assume it is the lifter bearing. I hope thats it, because its a heck of a lot cheaper than the needle bearing further inside the clutch.

 

Well it turns out it was just a loose chain I was hearing. I guess I didn't get around to cleaning/lubing or tightening after a 1400 mile trip. My bad. But at least I don't have to take the clutch apart.