I set off in my 89 xr3i MFI the other day for the first time this year as it has been SORN and soon as I engaged the clutch there was a very loud screeching coming from the engine. It carried on every time I engaged the clutch in every gear, which makes me think it is the clutch release bearing.

First question is... would it happen so suddenly and so loudly like this? Would it not gradually stop working and start with a faint noise building up to a loud screech?

And second of all.... I'd there anything else quite simple it could be that i could check before I go taking my gearbox apart?

Thanks in advance