Maybe Clutch Problem

[mle808]

Hi everyone,

Needs some opinions about this problem i'm having. I've searched for grinding/squeaking noise when clutch pedal is pressed in and found some interesting topics on dry clutch fork but i don't think it's the same problem I'm trying to describe.

Basically I was driving yesterday along the hume back to sydney for about 5 hours, gave her a 20min breather middle of the trip. My exit is very close to my home and everything was going fine until i geared down to 2nd for the final turn before the home stretch. As i went into 2nd, it sounded like I didn't engage the clutch correctly, not crunching gears sound...but more like...(not that i know how the transmissino works) but sounded as if the clutch cable couldn't get pulled right and was rubbbing against something spinning...

Finally back on the driveway, waiting for garage door to open, clutch in...then just grinding, grinding, let go of clutch pedal...sounds go away.

When i put the clutch in...it takes about 1 second to start grinding and stop immediately once foot is take off.

Going into gears is fine, but when i try to the grinding gets effected... like it grids slightly slower and changes tone abit...and just sounds whatever is grinding its been tried to work just that little bit extra...

Hope i've described it ok...

Called mechanic after reading about the dry clutch forks and described the symptoms to them...they say from what it sounds its a bearing that spins together with the clutch is broken and they'll need to take off the box to inspect.

First reaction was ..f*k...$$$$ not just for labour but it'll be stupid not to upgrade the clutch at the same time..

Mechanic reckons its safe to drive over to inspect..but to be honest its quite embarrasing plus not even sure if it'll damage it more.

PLUS i have to fill up petrol too...arghhh...will have to ride the clutch to get into driveways...it'll be a nightmare of grinding/squealing

Basically i'm asking

1. If anybody here had the problem I'm describing or knows whats going on?

2. It is better option to just tow the car there?

3. What kind of cost labour wise will i be looking at?

...and its a R33 gts-t

thanks everyone.

[barney2010]

1. the noise is your throw-out bearing.

2. find a d.i.y thread on how to change your clutch. at the most labour time will be 5 hours for you to do it, you will need a mate to help lift the box out

3. and think by doing it self you'll save some money and learn about your car

p.m me on what your gunna do

cheers matey

[Simon-S14]

yeah its thrust bearing, and you'll need more then one mate to l;ift box out and in again.... those 33 boxes are heavy as when doing it on the ground when the car is on axle stands!

[mle808]

Ok cheers guys!!

thanks for all your help, same to those who PM'd also.

It'll most likely get done at a mechanic. Been back to them for quite sometime, hope they'll look after me this time as well.

Hmm..just one thing i need to know, the noise is rather harsh... but I've been told by the mechanic its ok to drive over to them.

What do you guys think? its ok to drive it?

[mle808]

I drove my car to the mechanics just then..just like last time, big grinding noise when clutching in..and found that it squealed a high pitch kind of noise as the clutch is gripping for 1st gear. Even just going down the street and approaching the first corner, each time i clutched in the noise had gotten fainter and fainter. until aobut 2 mins into the drive it completly disappeared.

The noise surfaced just one more time when taking it into the mechanics workshop for the hoist.

But this time, it was only when releasing the clutch pedal, taking off from 1st from a standstill.

No noise what so ever on the way home.

It seemed like its ok once gearbox/clutch has warmed up, will try it out again tomorrow morning.

I didnt want them to drop the gearbox yet, wanted to wait until a new clutch arrives. So i got them to have a look around for anything else.

They checked the gearbox fluid levels and it was fine, nothing else they could find.

But they couldn't really check the amount of lube where the clutch fork goes as mentioned in others threads. (they reckon its abit tricky to check)

Mechanics still believe its the throw-out bearing but could not really justify why the noise has dissappeared.

They said if the noise comes back, I should bring it in and they will drop the box and have a look around.

If it the throw-out bearing...is it normal for the noises to go away once its warmed up?

If the noise does come back next time i check...I'll order a new clutch...

but what bearings would i need? not sure what comes with a clutch kit.

Is throw-out bearing another name for the Thrust bearing? or is the Spigot bearing?

[barney2010]

its the throw out bearing and it will come with the clutch when you get a new one.

[mle808]

Barney2010 - Yea you were totally right. Got a new clutch and noise has gone!!! Thanks for everyones input.

the mechanics forgot to swap over the spigot bush i bought tho...they didn't know I supplied one but apparently the spigot was ok so they didn't raise the issue. =/

got another problem now, the clutch is only just disengaging. its right to the floor.

will have a look around the forum, will prolli start a new thread if i can't find it, but feel free to post your inputs if you wish.

Clutch fluid has been bleed so much and pedal is still way down...if I release the pedal just even 3-5mm I start moving.

Makes gear changes slower, something i don't think i'll ever get used to (before i could get out of gear half way down, and release clutch as I'm gearing up)

A new slave cylinder has been put in, (the old one was leaking)

A longer slave rod has been put in. The master cylinder rod has been adjusted as much as possible already.

Mechanic say there is no more air in the system, I was waiting and waiting, took them about 2 hours to bleed it.

They believe the flywheel has been machined down so much and is causing the really low clutch point.

Washers were not installed under the pivot thing, and I'm not about to pay another load of labour for gearbox removal.

Is there anything else you guys can think of?

[Simon-S14]

adjust the pushrod on the peddle for the master, you need to make it longer i believe