Hey every1.

I'm the friend he's asking for, thought i'd explain the problem myself to avoid mis-understandings!

I was driving the car pretty hard on the freeway, and when shifting from 5th to 6th gear my foot slipped of the pedal! I heard a loud bang, and then i couldn't use the clutch! I can still shift gears without using the clutch, so i figure the clutch release bearing must have been destroyed? There's absolutely no slip what-so-ever, so the clutch plate/clutch pressure plate seems intact, as well as the propshaft...

As soon as i start the engine there's a rattle from the gearbox as well, must be the clutch release bearing spinning aroung the prop shaft, no?

What i want to know is: Will it be possible for me to replace this (and see if anything else has been damaged) without totally removing the gearbox? If so, will i have to disengage the drive shafts, or can they be left mounted on the gearbox? I know the exhaust has to be removed as well as the propeller shaft for the rear wheels, but of course i'd prefer as little work as possible, changing the clutch release bearing...

I've worked as a car mechanic, but i've never had to deal with these cars before (my previous V8 - may it rest in pieces ... - was an automatic)

Thank you again Ulf, for asking the question first hand for me :-)

Audi V8 -92