How I fixed my squeaky clutch
 

First off I want to give credit to the following threads

http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56882
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79617

Without the discussions from everyone in those treads I wouldn't know where to start.

Since my brz has 45k miles on it, I didn't even bother to bring it to the dealer.

So here is what I did

1) Locate the clutch fork in the engine bay of the brz
http://i66.tinypic.com/icuxk7.jpg

2) Have someone in the car press the clutch pedal to be certain that this is the source of the squeak

3) Have the other person hold down the clutch pedal while you wipe off all the old dirty lube from the clutch fork. Pull the dust boot back and wipe if off as well.
http://i65.tinypic.com/1g2a1h.jpg

4) I used the some marine grease I got from my local auto shop. I'm not sure if this is the right grease to use for this assembly so any mechanics out there who know what they're doing, feel free to correct me. ( EDIT: As mentioned in the reply below, subaru service manual calls for Nichimoly N-130 or equivalent )
http://i65.tinypic.com/5x35at.jpg

5) Apply it to the clutch fork assembly while have the dust boot pulled back and having another person in the car pressing down the clutch pedal.

6) I press/depressed the clutch pedal fully about 10 times but a small squeak was still around. So I added a bit more lube and press/depressed the clutch about 10 more times, but this time I only lifted the clutch pedal half way before pressing it back down all the way. (I don't know if this makes any difference). At this point the squeaking went away

7) Push the dust boot back to its normal position
8) Clean up the area to make sure no excess lube got to unwanted areas of the engine bay
9) Test drive it make sure that the engine reaches normal operating temperature. I tested it by around my neighborhood with a lot of stop and go.

It's been 4 days now with a trip from the bay area -> LA and back with tons of traffic during the holiday and I haven't had any sign of the squeak.

A lot of you out there probably know more about these things than I do so please feel free to give your input on this.

Hope this works for anyone hitting this issue

Here's the product you used on amazon if anyone is interested:

[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Pennzoil-4949-80W-90-Viscosity-Marine/dp/B000QUN7GI"]Amazon.com: Pennzoil 4949 80W-90 High Viscosity Marine Engine Oil - 1 Quart: Automotive[/ame]

For this application, the service manual calls for Nichimoly N-130 or equivalent.

I found a non-authoritative reference equating it to Conoco-Phillips Multiplex Red #2 and am using Valvoline Max Life #2 Red. This is a high-temp, high-load bearing, and tacky lithium-complex grease.

Incompatible grease must be completely removed prior to applying the correct stuff.

Thanks for that input. I would probably reapply the grease if the squeak ever comes back and I figure out a way to purchase that grease.

Should be available at any auto parts store. I think I was able to reach that pivot with my finger. Either that or I greased something unrelated. :/

Really, the right way to do this is to pull the transmission but I'm clearly no one to preach. Been talking about doing it for a few months now.

@Ultramaroon..... iffen you're not sure what you're greasing up down there .... mrs ultramaroon may be in for a might surprise ..... :eyebulge:

Here is my take on this lubing that clutch rod deal:

Nichimoly N-130 = ConocoPhillips Multiplex Red #2 Grease = Lucas Red "N" Tacky Grease = bearing grease.

Now, Bubba, down at the farm supply, will sell 14 oz of the Lucas stuff for about $3.23 (see below).

http://agrimart.net/lucas-red-n-tack...FUNffgodDH8P6Q

So, if the clutch squeaked on my FR-S, I would simply go down to see Bubba and ask him for few spoons full of bearing grease (buy him a soda).

Then I would ask my 7 year old granddaughter, to reach her little, strong hands in there, skin back that dust cover, clean up the rod real well and cover the rod and fill the space under the dust cover with a few fingers full of bearing grease.

Give her a chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk and I would go take a nap.

Now, isn't that a heck of a lot easier than pulling the transmission ..... :D


humfrz

:slap:
Squeaky wheel gets the grease. :D

Yeah, I bought my tube for about 5 bucks at the parts store. In my gut I know you're right. It's just the engineer in me that wants to make sure I'm crystal clear about what I know, what I don't know, what assumptions I'm making, and most importantly, appreciating a good lesson. :cheers:

I really have seen incompatible greases break down, though. Airplanes fall out of the sky. Clutches just squeak. :D

So after 7 days my clutch squeak is starting to come back. I hear a slight noise and some friction when I press the clutch pedal. I'll try to pick up some of that ConocoPhillips Multiplex Red #2 Grease or Lucas Red "N" Tacky Grease and apply it this weekend.
I'll update the thread with my findings and procedure.

Hope this is the right one
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Conoco-Multiplex-Red-2-Grease/dp/B00OQM91G2"]Conoco Multiplex Red #2 Grease: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific[/ame]
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Lucas-Oil-10005-Tacky-Grease/dp/B000ARPVO8"]Amazon.com: Lucas Oil 10005 Red 'N' Tacky Grease - 14 oz.: Automotive[/ame]

Like @humfrz said, they're pretty much the same. I'm probably making too big of a deal about it but I'd rather say nothing or admit that I don't know before giving poor advice.

The other thing to remember is both ends of the pin in the slave cylinder. I disconnected my slave and pulled off the boot to remove the pin. Get a little dab in there.

My squeak is pretty much gone now that temps are in the 30's. When I push the clutch in all the way to full disengagement I can hear a spring compressing like noise for an additional 1-2secs.

I'm not sure if this is a permanent solution to the squeaky clutch. When I brought in my car for the squeaky clutch at first they did lube up the clutch fork but that did not last long. I brought the vehicle back after 3 weeks and they replaced the throw out bearing and a few other items. Squeak never came back after that.

That makes me nervous, as I've got the squeaky clutch. It really does sound like a squeak.... but nevertheless... Has anyone done the lube on the clutch fork and had the squeak not come back?

I think if you're still under warranty it might be a good idea just to bring it to the dealership.

bought some of this stuff. will def try it if my issue comes back.

just took in my '14 BRZ yesterday. their replacing clutch, fork and bearing i believe. had a really bad crunch feel on the bottom half of my depressed clutch after driving for 15 mins or so.