This seems odd but after a brake bleed and track day the squeaking went away, clutch is quiet.

Took the car to the dealer. They replaced the pressure plate under warranty. I asked if they replaced anything else and they said no. Problem is fixed. No squeak and also better engagement.

There really should be a TSB about this. My 2013 FRS w/ 22k miles recently developed this problem. Took it into Fred Anderson toyota in Raleigh this week (I only drop their name because they treated me very well and gave me no problems about replacing the clutch under warranty). They did not hear the noise at first but I told them to drive around because it only happens when the transmission is warm they did and they were able to reproduce the sound, and are going to replace the entire clutch assembly under warranty and they also went ahead and replaced my HPFP under warranty which i didnt even bring up bc the chirpping didnt really bother me and no performance issue afaik

I took a better video tonight of the problem area. Is there a fix for this?


[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YCTEJGkyTg"]FRS clutch engagement noise - YouTube[/ame]

There is a fix: replace the entire clutch assembly. But don't worry, it should covered by power train warranty.

I just got my car back from the shop today b/c my clutch was making the exact same noise. My throwout bearing snout was already scarred from the throwout bearing not sliding properly on it. I think someone at the factory (or maybe the clutch mfg?) installed the throwout bearings wrong, or at the very least forgot to lube it properly.

http://i.imgur.com/hAGkHmz.jpg

Crazy. Did you go in knowing that was the issue, or did they find it? I am going to have to make an appointment.

I didn't know exactly what was going on when I took it in, but I was close. Just going off the sound I was pretty sure that it was being caused by some kind of metal-friction issue . Based on what I've read in this thread and a few other posts I figured it was being caused by a poorly lubed clutch fork.

When I took the car in they did not hear the noise at first, and thought I was just hearing the HPFP crickets. So I told them to drive around because it mostly just makes the noise when the transmission is warm. Approx. 10 mins later the guy came back and was like "uhhh yea, you were totally right. the mechanic drove it for like 2 minutes before he heard your clutch dying. you're gonna need a whole new clutch assembly"

EDIT: I will also say that now that i have the replacement clutch, i probably should have realized that something was not right w/ the original assembly. The action of the new clutch is significantly smoother.

ugh. I have this issue and always just sort of ignored it. only have 6k on the odo, figured it was just a little stiff for whatever reason.


I wonder if I haveto take my track numbers off my windows before I take it in or they'd not warranty it. :/

Even though this is, afaik, pretty clearly a mfg defect (and not an abusive driving issue$, I would def take the #s off just to be safe.

I just had the exact same issue pop up for me yesterday. Stock DD, no tracking and mainly highway driving at 59k km. I'll be taking it in to the dealer tomorrow afternoon and will let you guys know how it goes. I also hear the clanking sound as mentioned in an attachment earlier in the thread...sort of sounding like 2 metal plates hitting each other. I always assumed this was normal until I read that as an issue. Is this something that other people have brought up with dealers as well?

Additionally is there anything in particular I should bring up or mention as they are doing the diagnosis?

As a side note, the first time I took my car in for its first oil change...i just happened to be walking outside when I noticed a mechanic stalling my car 5-6 times in the time it took for me to process the whole thing and run to the car and stop him. I never went to that dealer again obviously but all they said was stalling doesn't do any harm to the car or clutch which I found to be a load of bs. This was just in the 30-45s I observed him so I don't know what else happened at before that.

Nonetheless I had them document that the mechanic stalled the car several times, just wondering if anyone things it's worth bringing up with this issue and if so, how should I tie it in? Cause I see a variety or patch fixes (Lube/Grease) to full out clutch assembly replacements. Is this just dependent on dealer diagnosis or how you present the issue?

Thanks for the input in advance as always fellas

My dealer supposedly lubed the clutch fork after I specifically asked them to do that. Noise didn't even go away for a second. Mechanic at dealer then said Toyota told them the squeak is normal and that there isn't a fix for it. He refused to replace the clutch since it'll "just come back."

The best part is that he had me sit in another frs also at the dealer for warranty work. He told me to press the clutch and it squeaked. Then he says "see? All of them do it it's normal."

Rofl.

@gonzo what dealership was that?

I just passed 20k miles and the bottom-of-the-clutch travel squeak just appeared, exactly the same as in your video. The clutch feels a little crunchy at the bottom of its throw, but it can be fully engaged without pressing it down that far, so I was thinking about simply installing a clutch stop or adjusting it. Nice to see this thread and learn that it's a common problem.

I'll be taking it into the dealership, and I'll post the results. Hope my visit isn't anything like yours...

yeah I cant stress this enough..

bring it to the dealer, the more reported cases, the better chance of them making a TSB and finding a permanent fix

Also a friend of mine brought his FR-S in for the clutch squeak issue.

The throwout bearing was replaced and the clutch fork was lubed, the noise disappeared for several more 1000 miles but it is starting to make the noise again it looks like.

I just got this issue this morning, really annoying noise. I'm going to bring to it to the dealer this weekend

I had this problem up until I did a brake bleed and a track day. Not sure what solved the problem as I haven't heard this noise since.

I just got my whistle back now for the 2nd time on my new throwout bearing or clutch fork. Seems like clutch engage point is getting a bit lower.

I have the same problem with my car! I'm at about 23xxx miles and it started maybe 3-4k miles ago. Took it to the dealership to have them check it out and they said they couldn't do anything to fix it as there is no official TSB released yet -_____- They said they'll report it and if it gets worse then they'll have a Subaru tech look at it.

I brought mine in this morning and they confirmed that it is the throwout bearing, and will replace it. Really hoping they make a revised throwout bearing. I dont want this to pop up again after my warranty is up.

I picked up my car today and the clutch is back to being smooth and no squeek. The tech said that a few cars have already been in for this fix, I'm sure they will see more :thumbdown:

Here are the parts needed:
http://i.imgur.com/mipKzje.jpg

I'm currently dealing with this, the dealer told me it was the throwout bearing and that it would be $1800 to fix that and the clutch, i'm slightly out of basic warranty 41k miles. I decided to deal with the noise. I'm currently having warranty work on this vehicle for a major engine issue as well (5th time bringing it in). I'm at the end of the rope with my brz. More than likely will have to be trading it in for something more reliable. Sad days, such a fantastic car plagued with the perils of being a first gen.

@Djratrap It should be covered under powertrain warranty. 60k

Dealer essentially told me to f#ck off and that it was a wear and tear item. I've called two dealerships and they told me the same thing. Subaru corporate told me the same thing as well. I'm basically SOL.

I thought it was covered under power train warranty too. This is a bad news... :(

Yeah man it's complete bullsh!t, my clutch is fine. The throwout bearing should not be going out this early. Def a manufacturer defect. I actually went shopping around for new cars today because of it. It's pretty ludicrous, that they expect us to pay $1800 for it. Ma and pops charge 700 for it. Luckily i have a friend that's a mechanic and i should be able to pay him with dinner and beer. Regardless, i shouldn't be replacing it this soon.

Our synchros are also junk too. Just wait a few more thousand miles and you'll experience grinding and shifting on a brand new car.

Change your transmission fluid...I have 35,000 miles and my transmission is smooth as glass running Motul Gear300 75w-90.

Many people have found that changing the fluid to ether Motul or Pentosin has fixed 95% of the issues with this transmission. The car comes stock with crappy conventional oil.

I also had the clutch squeak for a while...but it fixed itself over time and it doesn't squeak anymore. Clutch feels smooth, even better with a high quality DOT 4 fluid from StopTech.

I'm not a gear head, otherwise I'd know the answer, but... would upgrading to a performance clutch solve this? I'm eyeballing the Jackson Racing kit and I'd end up doing that anyway. Either way, this thread is really convincing my to get an auto and look into the SSP upgrades. I'm assuming other than stiffening up the chassis for 2015, nothing else has changed. I'm planning on getting a Release 1.0 and I am torn between manual and auto (mainly because of stop and go commutes).

Already did it, it got marginally better. The entire transmission as a whole is awful. They are on national backorder because the synchros are crap, the gears are crappy crunchy, the stock throwout bearing sucks, and the clutch fork pivot ball is weak.

We are organizing a warranty walk-in to a nearby dealership here in Atlanta, because we have at least 10 guys with shotty transmissions.

Got my fork lubricated. Fixed the problem. We'll see how it holds up.

Usually the case. The boot on top of the transmission that shields the clutch fork from the elements easily comes out and doesn't easily go back in so it is no wonder why the clutch fork dries up so easily.

Follow up to an earlier post, I finally got word back from my dealer that they ordered a throwout bearing and shift fork. Its on backorder and will probably take a few weeks to get in.

I started having the same issue this week. Crunchy pedal for the last few inches of pedal travel and a squeak. Took it in this morning dealership just told me they're gonna replace the clutch master cylinder. Most of the parts are on backorder so it may take a few days. Seems like most people just had the throwout bearing replaced so I'm curious about my diagnosis.

For reference, my car was built in 03/13, has 19.5k miles and is stock. Met a guy while I was waiting and he had a similar problem and they replaced his entire clutch. I'd recommend anyone who is worried about it just take it in, especially if you're in warranty. They didn't give me any hassles

I've replaced the master and slave cylinder already. It literally has nothing to do with the problem. They are just starting from the cheapest fix and will realize that that didn't fix anything and will have to open the transmission.

Trust me I had the same reaction when I talked to the tech. I didn't push it for now but hopefully the collection of bills Toyota is about to get from me and all the others will push them for a TSB. Seems to me my best move will probably be using the hell out of the warranty then going aftermarket after.

I love this car and was planning on keeping it for a long time but now I'm going to be about paranoid about life after warranty. My itch for an NSX is slowly coming back.

I have the same sound, dealer change all clutch under warranty! But after that, i dont like the feeling of my shifter... feel more loose

Same issue here, the dealer stated that they could not replicate the noise so I was sent on my way.

I'm going to there after I drive around a bit, it usually makes that crunchy pedal feeling w/ the squeak after I've driven it around a bit. Then take it back to the dealer.

Reading this thread makes me realize how grateful I am that this car was made. It is an econobox with econobox parts. Toyota/Subaru are getting punched in the nuts with all the repair bills. I am not sure what their bottom line will look like when all is said and done. But - I can anticipate them upgrading the components and charging more. Or just charging more with superficial changes. When a dealer jumps on the opportunity to replace an entire transmission / clutch assembly for a relatively minor issue with a $2 part - that has to hurt eventually.

I picked up my BRZ knowing full well that I was going to upgrade the shitty stuff to better stuff because I really like the platform. I have 8500 miles and I am on my third clutch and third set of TOBs. (I never had a problem with any of the TOBs - they were replaced along with clutches - that's another story)

Anyway - I feel bad for folks that are having issues but I can see where this is all headed :)

On top of that - most of these parts come from the same damn factories whether it is OEM or aftermarket. The one part that I worry about over time is the AISIN transmission. Not a ton of options to upgrade there. Anyway - my 2 cents for what it's worth.
:burnrubber: