Over the last few months i've noticed a rattle when i start up my 300tdi. When i push the clutch or rev the engine it stops. I thought that it may have been the thrust bearing but i've recently changed the engine (and thrust bearing while it was out) due to another problem but the rattle did not go away.
I also noticed while laning this weekend that when going up/down very steep rocky slopes in low box the truck judders slowly, as if i'm pumping my foot gently on the accererator.

I've been advised that it may be a worn input shaft but i just wonderd what other peoples thoughts may be?

Hi,

Had a very similar problem on my 300Tdi when I was in Zimbabwe. I diagnosed mine correctly as worn release bearing. When I changed it, I changed the clutch et al, and the clutch plate had loads of material still, even after 200,000 km. But the release bearing was totally shot. It has a nylon moulding supporting the bearing, and that had almost completely worn through, and the bearing fell apart when removed from the car.

Yours may be different, but I suspect something similar - the bearing rattles in the holder at idle, and when you put it under load, it effectively gets clamped and stops rattling.

Good luck.