406oc.co.uk

Hi folks, I was driving along today and when I tried to take off from a round about the clutch pedal went straight to the floor and wouldnt come back up. I struggled to get it into gear at first but now its moving through about 10mm at the bottom end of its swing and allowing me to change gear. Its also making a High pitched screeching noise when I press it in sometimes, especially if im just taking off from standstill but not when im moving at speed for some reason. Does anyone have any ideas about this one? I know my self its either the clutch slave cylinder or the release bearing but Im just not confident enough to make a call on it.

update,
I just went out to see if raising the pedal would do anything and it did. when I pulled it out it stayed out and I was able to operate it as normal. with normal foot pressure I was able to press in the clutch and change gear no problem (although the bearing did sort of sound a little noisy). However I went to pull out of my driveway when all of a sudden the clutch just released itself while I had the pedal pressed down. I slammed the brakes on and the engine stalled. Now I can pull the clutch up and it seems to take an excessive amount of force to press the pedal all the way down however when it does go down It doesn't release the clutch at all and the pedal stays pressed to the floor until I pull it back up again. Is there anyway I could tell if the clutch slave is at fault after I remove it? there is no apparent oil leak around the gear box

Hi mate.
I had once that master/slave cylnder failure,cant remember which one of them failed but the one thing that was give away sign was small leak on behind of the clutch pedal.
There was no sound present.
Even with the master/slave system failing,if you pumped clutch pedal few dosen times,it would start working.

Update us with your progress,hope u sort that fast.

Sounds like a release bearing failure.

yes,i think that too.

thats exactly what i am thinking, mainly because there is still a savage amount of pressure in the clutch pedal when I try to push it down. Its just that if the release bearing is at fault then why doesnt the pedal return to its normal position?
Also im reading about some 406's having another component that can fail, apparently it sits on the first motion shaft and the bearing moves along it???? Ive helped mates change a few clutches before but im certain ive never seen anything like that! My engine is an rhz 110hp hdi 2000reg so im just wondering exactly what parts I need to order online before I go to take it apart. Motor factors over here can be a bit of a rip off sometimes.

I think until you open it mate you will not know what you need to order.
I have similar problem,my 406 started to judder and i pushed clutch pedal to the ground and turned car off.
After that i realised that clutch pedal is down,not returning in up position.
Pulled it with my hand and it stayed there,blocked,no power on this world could press it down again and now is standing like that.
Frend of mine pulled slave cylinder (i think) out and said it must be release bearing blocked.

So,i am in similar position as you,gearbox must go down

thanks for the replies lads, I will start by changing the slave cylinder and fingers crossed that will sort the issue.

good luck mate.

Had same symptoms on my HDi 90 at 70k and 140k, both times It was release bearing and the fork also needed replacing

Paul,how much they priced fork and bearing?