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Clutch experts: clutch sounds and feel

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Old Mar 26, 2004 | 12:44 PM
  #1  
Dave B's Avatar
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Clutch experts: clutch sounds and feel

Probably for the past 1.5 years, my clutch pedal and clutch have made some noises and pedal vibrations with some days are worse than others. When I say noises and vibrations, they're very minor and a passenger wouldn't know the difference. The OEM clutch is over 7 years old, has 105K miles, 50+ 1/4 mile passes, still grabs very hard, and has yet to slip.

The noise and vibration:

With the car off and depressing the clutch in the final 1.5" of travel is can hear a creaking "ping-pong" sound. Kind of like something is slightly binding or unlubricated. When this sound is occuring it can be felt through the clutch pedal. When the car is on it does the same thing, but it's less obvious because of the added engine noise and natural engine vibrations.


I've inspected the external clutch components and they look fine. No leaks and the fluid level always stays the same. About 4 months ago I popped the clutch case rubber access cover and put some grease on a screw driver and tried to lubricate and pivot point of the clutch fork. This seemed to alliviate some of the noise and vibration for a month. Is it possible that the sound is coming from the that pivot point? It would make sense to me because the case has never been cracked open therefore nothing has been lubed in over 7 years of midwest winters/summers and 4 years of racing. Or is the sound the pressure plate fingers popping?


Dave
Old Mar 26, 2004 | 12:51 PM
  #2  
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The fork does have a wire retainer that might bind and make that type of sound. I would *guess* that if the tangs on the PP were making that type of noise, it would be worn out too. (but doesn't sound like that's the case) It could also be that the shaft the TO bearing is riding on is dry but that seems sorta unlikely unless it feels like the clutch is sticking in anyway.
Old Mar 26, 2004 | 03:06 PM
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also theres a large spring thats on the pedal assembly itself. mine makes that creeking pop sound too the last few inches of travel.

other thing I can think of is your pressure plate fingers are worn so they bind up. mine made a creeking noise and got pretty stiff the last few inches of travel, went back to normal that night but that only happened to me once when I think I overheated the pressureplate from driving 5 ppl all day in traffic
Old Mar 26, 2004 | 11:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Nismo
mine made a creeking noise and got pretty stiff the last few inches of travel, went back to normal that night but that only happened to me once when I think I overheated the pressureplate from driving 5 ppl all day in traffic
You think I could of overheated the pressure plate doing back to back runs on 90+ degree days and 4000+rpm launches

Thanks for the the insight guys. I'll keep all in mind. When my clutch finally goes (I don't understand how it's lasted this long), I'm asking for all the removed parts because I want to see how much I've put it through. I'm expecting to see a bright blue pressure plate, clutch springs, and a worn throw out bearing.


Dave
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