How long can I drive with a bad clutch release bearing?

When people discover a problem with their clutch release bearing, their first reaction is often, "Can I still manage to drive it for a while?" While the car might not be completely incapacitated yet, driving with a faulty clutch release bearing is like carrying a ticking time bomb.

Here's an analysis of driving with a faulty clutch release bearing:

1. It might "hold up" for a short time, but long-distance driving is not recommended.

If you only notice a slight abnormal noise when pressing the clutch, you can usually manage to drive to a nearby repair shop.
In stages: If there's only an occasional grinding sound, you might be able to drive for a few days; but if the sound has become a harsh metallic grinding or screeching sound, it means there is a serious lack of lubrication inside, and it could fail at any moment.

2. Risk of sudden failure

Once the clutch release bearing completely breaks or seizes, the consequences can be very inconvenient:
Unable to shift gears: You'll find that the clutch pedal won't go down, or won't come back up after being pressed, making it impossible to shift gears.
Breaking down in the middle of the road: The worst-case scenario is that it breaks down suddenly while starting at a traffic light or shifting gears at high speed. The car will instantly lose power connection, and you'll have to wait for a tow truck.

3. May damage more expensive parts

Don't underestimate the clutch release bearing; if it breaks and isn't repaired, it can take other surrounding parts down with it:
Wear and tear on the pressure plate: A broken bearing will become uneven, and it will constantly grind against the diaphragm spring on the pressure plate like a grinding wheel. By the time you get it repaired, what might have only required replacing the bearing could end up requiring replacing the pressure plate or even the entire clutch assembly.
Damage to the gearbox: If metal fragments from the broken bearing fall into the rotating parts, it could even damage the input shaft of the gearbox, increasing the repair cost many times over.

4. Extremely poor and unsafe driving experience

Difficult operation: A faulty clutch release bearing will make the clutch pedal very heavy or unstable.
Distracted driving: The harsh abnormal noise will distract your attention, making you constantly worry about the car stalling, increasing the risk of accidents.