Second opinion on a clutch noise, is it worth the drive?
Quote from clarissamacWhirter on October 28, 2026, 10:12 amMy A4 has developed this faint grinding noise when I press the clutch in, only really noticeable in first and second, and my usual garage reckons it's the release bearing and wants to pull the gearbox out. I'm not convinced, mainly because they couldn't really explain why it only happens when the car is cold, and I've been burned before by a garage guessing at a big job. A couple of people at work told me to visit Elite Audi Care for a proper look before I approve anything, saying they've seen this exact thing before and can tell the difference between a bearing on its way out and something simpler. Before I book, has anyone here had a similar noise and what did it turn out to be? Also is it normal for this kind of diagnosis to take a whole day, because I'd need to plan around work.
My A4 has developed this faint grinding noise when I press the clutch in, only really noticeable in first and second, and my usual garage reckons it's the release bearing and wants to pull the gearbox out. I'm not convinced, mainly because they couldn't really explain why it only happens when the car is cold, and I've been burned before by a garage guessing at a big job. A couple of people at work told me to visit Elite Audi Care for a proper look before I approve anything, saying they've seen this exact thing before and can tell the difference between a bearing on its way out and something simpler. Before I book, has anyone here had a similar noise and what did it turn out to be? Also is it normal for this kind of diagnosis to take a whole day, because I'd need to plan around work.
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