Clutch feels 'scratchy/frictiony/grindy'

[eightysixer]

** UPDATE BELOW - Problem came back shortly after replacement of release bearing **


Hard to explain, sort of as if it were a cable clutch and it's all gunked up or kicked or something.. you just feel 'friction' as you push it in.

0. Started rather suddenly
1. Does not do it in neutral
2. Does it worse when cold
3. Does it worse when accelerating as opposed to coasting
4. Clutch does not slip when revving/dropping in 3rd or 4th gear
5. When slipping clutch out nice and long there's no shuddering

I have 31k miles and my 3 year warranty runs out in 2 weeks. They say if it's caused by clutch wear, it won't be covered ($2,000) otherwise it will be.

How do I make sure they don't screw me? I'm 99% sure it's not caused by clutch-wear, but I want to make sure I'm not taken advantage of..

*** UPDATE ***
OK, so they fixed the problem as mentioned above, they replaced:

Boot, Fork, Release Bearing, Clip, Boot, Gasket, and changed the tranny fluid.

Everything was fine for a few weeks.

Then it started up again. Not as bad as before, but similar sypmtoms, and they're gradually getting worse. It's intermittent again, so it's very difficult to get the dealership to realize the problem. I had my third test drive with them today with someone there that had an FRS, and he 'felt' something but doesn't think it's outside of normal. Hes going to drive a couple other FRS's today and they're going to get back to me, but I can read the writing on the wall...

NEW SYMPTOMS:

0. STARTED GRADUALLY
1. Does not do it in neutral
2. NOW ONLY DOES IT ONCE CAR IS WARM, ABOUT 20 MINUTES IN.
3. REALLY ONLY NOTICEABLE IF REVS ARE UP A BIT, SUCH AS CRUISING AT 30MPH IN 2ND GEAR AND THEN PUSHING IN CLUTCH WHILE STILL FEATHERING THE GAS
4. Clutch does not slip when revving/dropping in 3rd or 4th gear
5. When slipping clutch out nice and long there's no shuddering


I've given up on them taking responsibility for it, the car is no longer under warranty, so I'm going to wait for it to get worse and then just get it fixed myself.

Does anyone know what it might be? I'm thinking maybe the release bearing damaged the shaft, so now the shaft is causing the frictiony feeling? Or else the new bearing is already toast? which I don't think is possible. Any other ideas?

[murdoc]

Sounds like a throw out bearing if it's worse when in gear.

is there a noise when sitting at idle that goes away when you push the clutch in?

[humfrz]

YIKES ....... we have seen a rash of "clutch problems" .............

It's most likely one or more of the following:

(no need to list - you all know what they are)

About the only way to tell is to "open it up".

When you have it opened up, I would lub the clutch fork, bleed the clutch system, inspect the transmission input shaft bearing, replace the clutch disk, pressure plate and throw out bearing.

There, that ought to fix it up.


humfrz

[Ultramaroon]

Plastic bushing between the TOB and trans front cover (snout)

Worn TOB gets hot and melts the bushing. Bushing falls or wears out

Ugly mess binds on the snout and also destroys it.

[eightysixer]

Originally Posted by murdoc

Sounds like a throw out bearing if it's worse when in gear.

is there a noise when sitting at idle that goes away when you push the clutch in?

None that I can notice.

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by eightysixer

None that I can notice.

Hmmm... I still think it's the TOB binding against the snout. That's definitely a warranty thing.

[eightysixer]

Thanks! I'll definitely keep that in mind (I've re-re'd a tranny before but it was 20 years ago, I don't know exactly what you're describing but it certainly fits the symptoms better than any worn clutch plate idea, so I think I should be safe)...

They're going to inspect it as best they can tomorrow without taking anything apart and I'll see what their thoughts are before OKing the surgery.

[radroach]

It's the throw out bearing. When they got mine out it would make a scraping sound when it spun.

Or also the spline shafts need to be cleaned and re-lubed. I bet a bunch of clutch dust might collect all over the shafts / bearings and other parts.

[radroach]

Originally Posted by Ultramaroon

Plastic bushing between the TOB and trans front cover (snout)

Worn TOB gets hot and melts the bushing. Bushing falls or wears out

Are you talking about the white bearing in this pic?

[Ultramaroon]

Originally Posted by radroach

Are you talking about the white bearing in this pic?

Black plastic bushing which sets the inner diameter of the TOB. The smaller white/silver object is the pilot bearing that stabilizes the transmission input shaft.

[eightysixer]

I took it in, and of course it wasn't doing it! So I left it overnight cause it definitely does it when cold, and they called today and said it was the throw-out bearing and that they're replacing it under warranty.

Lock it up Danny!

[Tt3Sheppard]

Originally Posted by eightysixer

I took it in, and of course it wasn't doing it! So I left it overnight cause it definitely does it when cold, and they called today and said it was the throw-out bearing and that they're replacing it under warranty.

Lock it up Danny!

At least some dealers are replacing free of charge!

[Sigh-on-Rice]

I'm glad it worked out well.
But this is happening to too many cars (including mine). I wonder if this keeps happening every 20k-30k miles and the warranty will be out by the 2nd time this happens.

[Ehokana]

Odd that I happened to see this today. I have noticed similar symptoms (I actually was just thinking that there felt like there was some unusual friction when depressing the clutch) as of late, though my car is only at 5k on the clock.

Guess I'll give it until the 7,500k service, or bring it to the attention of the dealer when it's in for service. I'd like to rule out any kind of breaking-in of parts before