Whats wrong with my clutch?

[AlleyCat]

Hello all,

right i have never had clutch issues before so this is new territory for me.

it started when i got in my car to go home from work the other day, i noticed when i pushed the clutch down i heard a mousy squeaking sound, this only seemed to appear when i was pushing the clutch down in neutral or in first gear. changing gears higher up didnt seem to create a noise.

it thought it was odd, but nothing really seemed to be different. so i drove it home, left it for a week or so without driving it.

i got in it to drive it tonight and noticed the squeak was still there, as i got up the road and got caught in traffic as soon as i held the clutch down for longer than 3-4 second it would start this squealing, however it was getting louder and for longer and started sounding like metal plates rubbing together, i also needed to rev the car a hell of a lot more to get it going without it cutting out on me.

i decided to take it back home as it was undriveable and the squeaking was becoming much more regular.

any advice as to what this could be?


thanks in advance.

[miniman]

Nothing more sinister than that the cutch is worn out, sounds like down to the metal.

[AlleyCat]

how is that possible i have only done 4,000 miles on it?

but it does seem to be the most sensible answer

[Skyedriver]

Release bearing sticky would produce a squeek.

Release bearing collapsed?

That would produce a squeal but the lack of drive kinda suggests the clutch is down to the rivets.
Or the friction plates have come loose (unlikely)

Whatever, its a get the spanners out, and find an engine hoist I suspect, although I have heard of people changing the clutch without removing the engine/box.

[GingerWizard]

Honestly its an engine out job. So much easier, and the chance to clean and replace consumables. More information is required really, to gestimate if its going to be more expensive then the clutch change.

4k is not a lot on a clutch, even static over long periods of time.

[AlleyCat]

the car has a straight cut box and has to deal with 140bhp, but i use it as a daily for a fairly short commute to work. most of it is traffic, so a lot of stop start. i dont really rag the car at all.

in the cold wheather i have had to sit with the choke out for a lot longer.

but by the sounds of things im going to need the engine out and a new clutch!

[Cooperman]

You can change the clutch with the engine in. Undo the RHS engine mounting, the top (and if fitted the bottom) engine steady, take off the grille and the fresh air vent pipe and anything else in the way, like the clutch cylinder if it's a Verto clutch, and jack the RH side of the engine up. Then you can undo the 8 off 5/16" UNC bolts holding the clutch cover on to gain access to the clutch diaphragm and flywheel. remove the flywheel and the clutch is accessable.

[1point7bar]

140 bhp ! That would fry a standard clutch very quickly.

[GingerWizard]

1point7bar said:

140 bhp ! That would fry a standard clutch very quickly.

Nope not really, an inbalance or faulty master cylinder could though.

[1point7bar]

IIRC 140 bhp is nearly double the design output

If you have experience of running standard clutch/ 140 bhp I bow to your greater knowledge.

Master cylinder not releasing properly is possible.

Can't work out what imbalance means.

[GingerWizard]

1point7bar said:

IIRC 140 bhp is nearly double the design output

If you have experience of running standard clutch/ 140 bhp I bow to your greater knowledge.

Master cylinder not releasing properly is possible.

Can't work out what imbalance means.

bent or worn crank through oil starvation, ergo ossilation.

I expect a orange plate semi road race clutch to be used.....

[1point7bar]

IIRC The whole assembly is mounted on the crank nose.

[checkmate91]

AlleyCat said:

as soon as I held the clutch down for longer than 3-4 seconds

AlleyCat said:

in the cold weather i have had to sit with the choke out for a lot longer.

OP, what exactly do you mean by the bit in the second quote in relation to your clutch? Sounds to me like you've done your thrust bearing, or primary gear bush.

[guru_1071]

id say that the release bearing is worn out, either from the clutch been pressed down a long time in traffic, or incorrect clearances when assembled.

its an easy job to fix, no need to take the engine out - the job could be done in a couple of hours.

[AlleyCat]

yeah i have reason to believe it is the clutch release bearing. im going away for a couple of weeks so i will get it sorted when im back.

but i will let you know exactly what it was when i find out.

[Skyedriver]

Skyedriver said:

Release bearing sticky would produce a squeek.

Release bearing collapsed?

That would produce a squeal but the lack of drive kinda suggests the clutch is down to the rivets.
Or the friction plates have come loose (unlikely)

Think thats one of the things what I suggested..
See I'm, not as daft as I look