Extremely weird clutch failure
 

So I'm driving home, car feels great, I'm running a new e85 tune that has finally learned the fuel trims. I downshift into 3rd for a soft speed bump and I grind the gear. NBD I thought, but as I put the clutch in to get ready for a turn, I could feel 4-5 distinct "notches" in the throw of the clutch pedal, whereas it felt fine literally 30 seconds before.

I go to give it gas and it has all the characteristics of a slipping clutch. Totally notchy clutch pedal very wtf. Once the clutch decided to grab it felt normal under light acceleration. I start to smell burnt clutch as I pull into my garage and and I can hear horrible metalic grinding noises. I popped the hood and lots of smoke coming from the clutch area.

Why would something like this happen so sudden? 68k miles on the clock original clutch original owner.

Did a bit more digging and it looks like it's probably the throw out bearing. It always made so much noise with the clutch depressed I wonder if it just gave up lol.

Yeah if it was making noise, it is the throwout bearing.
Probably the most common failure in these transmissions.
I'm wondering what caused the smoke.

Most older stamped fork Subarus have a stainless repair sleeve for the transmission snout where the plastic insert/bushing of the throw out bearing slides. The abrasive dust wears from the clutch wears the plastic and the snout and it becomes uncentered.

Dam now you got me paranoid.. I have a few thousand more miles on my car than yours (original owner too).

Is there any way to check for a failing (or about-to-fail) throwout bearing? Is it a gradual failure, like a worn clutch... or more of a sudden failure, like a timing belt breaking.

Just listen to it. If it starts to go there is no doubt.

Answered your own question. You upped the HP and torque and the bearing that was already going (as you said below) just said "screw it I don't want to live anymore".


My standard response to TOB issues is when you get it fixed make sure you upgrade the fork as well. Seems the fork on these don't do well with increased HP.

Thanks! Naturally, I immediately google "signs of a failing throwout bearing". It doesn't help that my clutch has been squealing like a baby pig since 30K miles ago.. I'll just have to listen for more weird noises from the clutch system.

Out of curiosity... Do you think the 2017 parts would play any difference rather than go aftermarket for the fork? As they did some "revisions" in the transmission. It may be too early to tell, but maybe there's a possibility the 2017 clutch fork and TOB could solve the problem so many of us are having? :iono: Would be a way to keep the warranty involved if you could convince the dealer to do something like that.

Depends more on when it squeals than if it squeals. Many of the guys that have noises just needed to lube up a bit.
I am pushing 100K and still have a perfectly silent TOB.

Possibly. Look up the changes. Pretty sure they only modified the bell housing and 6th gear. Could be wrong though. Maybe it was just 6th gear. Google knows.

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But, to be fair... I upped my HP and torque too, ~50K miles ago (also running on E85).

I've also 1) mis-shifted at high RPMs, 2) grinded the hell out of gears several times, shifting up & down, 3) never changed my clutch fluid til a few months ago, and I drove my car a few times over dirt/gravel road like a ATV 4-wheeler (ok, 2 of those times was unintentional)... among other things.

In other words, I've abused my car.. and it still loves me back! :D

The list of changes they provided was pretty clear and they made no mention of fork or TOB. I doubt it was changed but really hard to know for sure. They may have changed it anyplace along the line and we just never knew. I will have to take a look through the threads and see if this is predominately a 2013 issue or not. I never really paid much attention to the year when reading about all the issues.
The two things I have noticed though is that a lot of the guys with the problem are either new to MT and/or have HP increasing mods. The parts may be fine under normal use but may not take the learning curve or extra stress well.

Not saying for one second that increasing it will cause an issue just that it increases the risk of an problem occurring. There are loads of guys with huge increases that have not had a problem. Also many with stock everything that have so it isn't a black and white failure mode.


In this particular case, with the limited info at hand, the timing as stated and the fact there were indications for at least a while it is pretty safe to guess that the increase was the final nail.