Loud clunk when clutch pedal is released
 

Hi everyone, I've got a question regarding my clutch operation. My car currently has about 3500 miles, and I've noticed since the beginning that it makes rather loud noise when you release the clutch pedal. This is the video I've recorded today after a 20 minute drive, the car is fully warmed up. When I release the pedal, halfway through the pedal travel, at the engagement point there's this loud clunk. You can also feel the impact through the pedal.
https://youtu.be/NWLtey7KdGk

It also happens when you are in 1st gear and release the pedal to crawl couple of feet without touching the accelerator. I think that it also occurs when you shift 1st to 2nd at low speed around 3K RPM and release the clutch. No matter how smooth you are, there's always that jerkiness as if you dump the clutch. All other shifts are very smooth without any jerkiness.

Is that normal or there's some issue with the clutch operation?

I reckon that isn't normal (at least my car doesn't do that).

If your car is under warranty, I suggest you tale it back to the dealer and ask them to fix it.

If you are wanting to do something yourself, you might considering lubricating the clutch fork (maybe it's dry).

Quick & dirty: from @Ultramaroon

1. Detach the slave cylinder. Leave the hydraulics alone.
2. Remove the dust boot from the fork.
3. Reach down behind the fork with a finger and feel for the pivot. It's going to be tight because of the retaining clip.
4. Squeeze a decent glob of Lucas Red & Tacky #2 in there with your finger.
5. Jiggle the fork to distribute the grease as much as possible. It'll work in more on its own.
6. Put a dab of grease in the top pivot where the slave pin goes.
7. Reassemble.


I hope you get er fixed.

Yeah, that sounds like another flat-spotted main pivot (on the fork)

https://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=145576

Thanks guys! Since my car is still under warranty (~3500 miles) I'll try the dealership option first.

It's something else. That's WAY too early to wear out the fork. :/

Hopefully the dealership will figure it out. I haven't noticed any squeaking sounds, it's just that loud clunk and I feel the push as if I just dumped the clutch pedal.

Bummer. There's only so much we can accomplish without hands on. Sorry I missed the mileage in your OP :(

With it being so loud, whatever it is will be obvious. Please let us know, yeah?

Sure, I'll report back ASAP! Thanks!

Update: scheduled an appointment with the dealer on Saturday.

So I took the car to the dealership on Saturday. Had to test drive it with the technician to show the problem. He said that the noise shouldn't be big of a deal and it's kinda normal. He also said that he'll find another 2020 car and check if it has the noise as well. I mentioned that it doesn't have to be 2020, to which he said that he wasn't sure that other MYs have the exact same transmission:) so he'll either find a 2020 or if the transmission is exactly the same he'll find another MY and will check if it has the same noise. If it doesn't they're going to replace the faulty parts.

Update?

No updates, lol. I actually think that it's normal.

This is normal in my opinion. Depending on how fast you release the clutch, i.e., if you release it very fast it will basically make a louder noise. If you think about it, you are making two objects (i.e., pressure plate and clutch) make contact each time you release the clutch so it has to make some kind of noise right?

Same thing. It doesn't matter if the car is in motion or not. Releasing the clutch will make some level of noise. Also, if the car is jerky when you engage the clutch, it's a driver error, not a car error. When the car jerks, it's because your RPMs don't match the wheel speed.

It's not that I it jerks all the time, but it's definitely way more demanding than most other manual transmission cars that I've driven and I drove a lot of them. It also varies from one particular car to another. I test drove several used FR-Ses/86s and some of them were worse, others were better. My new car just happened to be in the first category. I also test drove ND Miata and it's transmission is much smoother compared to the best twins specimens.

@Arthur-A

Understood. Yeah driving the FRS or at least my year 2016 has been demanding and took a while to get used to. Shifts have to be on point, every single time, or else jerkiness took place. I think that's why they say that this is a driver's improvement car. The car makes you into a better driver. I've also heard that this platform is one of the hardest cars to learn manual on.