Clutch noise, should I be worried?

[ajcarson11]

I have the EXACT same squeak. I've assumed it is just the fork needing lubed. Interested in results. Thanks!

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by canyons

Update 19 Feb: After re-lubricating the clutch fork pivot thoroughly ( a plastic spoon works well for this BTW) the noise still persisted, but only with a cold engine. Zero noise when warm ( including off but warm.) Zero noise when moving clutch fork / Clutch slave cylinder by hand.

I suspected the the return spring in the clutch master cylinder. We depressed the clutch and sprayed the internals of CMC piston assembly (located above the gas pedal) with TriFlow, and that has eliminated the clutch squeak completely in the short term. We'll see how long that lasts, may switch to other grease product if needed, or replace CMC, or both. IIRC, some dealers had suggested this as a possible cause of squeaks; In my case that was it. Can't hurt to have lubricated the clutch fork pivot too. Both these procedures are easy maintenance items.

I am puzzled. The only metal to metal contact should be between the piston and the pushrod. Is the foot in that pushrod able to float off center? I'm checking that for myself. :/

Were you able to confirm the squeak when operated by hand?

[canyons]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I am puzzled. The only metal to metal contact should be between the piston and the pushrod. Is the foot in that pushrod able to float off center? I'm checking that for myself. :/

Were you able to confirm the squeak when operated by hand?

Yes on the squeaking when operating the clutch itself by hand. No when operating the clutch fork by hand, even with CSS installed. I believe that a liberal application of Triflow lubricated the sides of the "master cylinder piston sub-assembly" in the diagram above. I compressed the clutch fully before spraying it good, then released the clutch, then repeated the process. Noise still gone!

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by canyons

Noise still gone!

I am honestly baffled. Thrilled for you but confused almost to the point of wanting to disassemble mine. I thought both ends of that piston rode on seals.

[canyons]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

I am honestly baffled. Thrilled for you but confused almost to the point of wanting to disassemble mine. I thought both ends of that piston rode on seals.

I Believe that's correct. Could be the passenger-facing seal had begun to dry out? It's 4+ years old, living in dry & warm SoCal...i can believe pulling a dry seal through the bore would cause a squeak.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by canyons

I Believe that's correct. Could be the passenger-facing seal had begun to dry out? It's 4+ years old, living in dry & warm SoCal...i can believe pulling a dry seal through the bore would cause a squeak.

Ok, yeah. I can see that. Cool!

[canyons]

Originally Posted by canyons

Yes on the squeaking when operating the clutch itself by hand. No when operating the clutch fork by hand, even with CSS installed. I believe that a liberal application of Triflow lubricated the sides of the "master cylinder piston sub-assembly" in the diagram above. I compressed the clutch fully before spraying it good, then released the clutch, then repeated the process. Noise still gone!

Update: one year later, noise still gone!

[Zoid]

I'm having trouble figuring out what you did, did you do the same thing this guy did in this video?

I have the same exact noise as him at the beginning of his video. Identical. He left a comment 3 months later on his video reporting not hearing any noises since.

[86league]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

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.

Any issue with moving the clutch fork forward to help with access?

I did take one on this tonight, but couldn't really get to the pivot easily and was afraid to move the fork too far...

My squeak is still there, but I don't really think I got any grease to the needed location... Figure I'll go after it again tomorrow...

Thanks for the help!

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by 86league

Any issue with moving the clutch fork forward to help with access?

I did take one on this tonight, but couldn't really get to the pivot easily and was afraid to move the fork too far...

My squeak is still there, but I don't really think I got any grease to the needed location... Figure I'll go after it again tomorrow...

Thanks for the help!

Nope. Jam that slave piston all the way in. Pump the clutch pedal a couple times when you're finished. If you still have your assist spring installed, the pedal may sink to the floor and stay there for the first pump.

[86league]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Nope. Jam that slave piston all the way in. Pump the clutch pedal a couple times when you're finished. If you still have your assist spring installed, the pedal may sink to the floor and stay there for the first pump.

Moving the fork forward helped... Squeak seems to be gone. Clutch action seems a little smoother as well - felt very slightly gravely before.

I say "seems to be" about the squeak because it didn't always squeak, but it's been squeak free all day and I think it would have reoccured by now.

Thanks for the quick and dirty procedure, diagram, and the advice - made this fix easy.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by 86league

Moving the fork forward helped... Squeak seems to be gone. Clutch action seems a little smoother as well - felt very slightly gravely before.

I say "seems to be" about the squeak because it didn't always squeak, but it's been squeak free all day and I think it would have reoccured by now.

Thanks for the quick and dirty procedure, diagram, and the advice - made this fix easy.

You'll know in a couple days if you got it worked into the pivot.