| For a few days now my 5 has developed
a squeal when you take your foot off the gas but only when the clutch
is out. The squeal stops if you press the clutch. While I was at
Oxford Mazda picking up the fog switch I asked and was told it was
possibly a dry bearing in the clutch. Does this mean that I have
to put up with a sqealy car until my clutch wears out ? or could
it be something else ? (11/99) |
| I am getting an intermittent squeak from what I think is the
clutch or steering wheel. It is just irritating. The car is a Mk2.(11/99) |
| Put a bit of grease on the place where the clutch actuator fork
touches the rod coming out of the slave cylinder. (11/99) |
| Could be this I guess but mine is a 96 (Jan IIRR) so I will have
to check the VIN No. to be sure. Seems to be getting worse as well
but hopefully car will not fall apart before clutch needs replacing
(if it is the clutch of course) (11/99) |
| I will have a look at this tonight maybe, Only problem is that
I am ok with minor mechanical (plugs, filters etc) and wiring for
stereo etc but this is a bit deep. Where do I look to see the clutch
actuator fork and slave cylinder ? Might be a stupid question but
since I sold my mini in 1991 I have not worked on the mechanics
of my cars (escort, Rover 620, Rover 820, MX5). Also why/how would
this cause a squeal ? (showing my ignorance now I guess) (11/99) |
Basically your Mini had the same thing, and it was visible just
by opening the bonnet, although the configuration was somewhat different.
There was a long arm that came up vertically out of the end of the
gearbox, and there was a slave cylinder with a pushrod that sat
on top of the gearbox bellhousing, with a pipe going to the clutch
master cylinder. Mine always leaked badly.
Anyway, its the end of that pushrod you need to grease on your mx-5.
On the mx-5 though you have to get underneath the car - you will
see the clutch bellhousing just behind the engine the fork/arm that
comes out (protected by rubber boot on the lower rhs below starter
motor ) and the slave cylinder and pushrod. There will be a metal
pipe that traces back up to the clutch master cylinder. (11/99) |
| Is there any particular product / type etc or just plain old
brown stuff ? Can you get this in Halfords ? (11/99) |
| Something that does not wash off easily is best. I have used lithium
grease and motorcycle chain lube with fairly good results. (11/99) |
|
Squeak from clutch when it's released - disappears as soon as
you press the clutch.
This is a subject which comes up quite often. There is a standard
answer, which is to grease the point where the clutch slave cylinder
push rod engages the clutch release arm. This usually clears the
problem.
But not always.
However, I have found another factor. Basically the rattle or
squeak could come from anywhere along the clutch release arm -
push rod contact, release arm pivot or the fork where the release
arm engages the release bearing. Or in fact the clutch release
bearing itself. Popular wisdom is that only the push rod pivot
is accessible - this is not so. You can get to the pivot of the
release arm by removing the big rubber grommet where the release
arm disappears into the bell housing. (Or at least disengaging
it - it doesn't come off the release arm, but it does release
from the bell housing) Get a good gob of grease on your finger
and smear it well into the pivot point which you can feel by sticking
your finger into the bell housing alongside the release arm. (the
pivot is on the back side (ie facing the rear of the car) of the
release arm). Things are a bit tight, but the longer fingers,
more flexible joints and less aversion to grease on your fingers
the better. Replace the grommet afterwards - a blast of rubber
lubricant (silicone spray) helps. If you want to go further (to
the bearing end) - well, my fingers aren't long enough, so good
luck - but it may be a gearbox off job if it's really driving
you mad.
BTW - mine squeaked from the pivot point - cured since the summer
with this fix - I use motorcycle chain grease.
BTW again - to do this job you will need
to get under the car - please please make sure it is properly
supported - not just on a jack - that will NOT do. (12/99)
|
| The problem I have is a squeek not a squeal - it's something
in the clutch actuating mechanism - it squeeks even when the engine
is off! I just can't understand why the garage didn't/couldn't fix
it when they were asked to do so in writing. (12/99) |
|
Garages don't pay much. The people who work there aren't very
clever. This is why I do most of my own car work!
The clutch squeak you describe is usually caused by the end of
the slave cylinder actuator on the end of the clutch release level.
If you peer down near the alternator (near the driver's footwell)
while someone pushes the clutch you'll see the mechanism. You
can reach this easily with your hand from underneath but it's
hard to see at the same time. Have a dummy run and maybe get someone
to look from above and guide you. Then do it with a handful of
Molybdenum grease (or similar).
I did this about six months back and all has been quite since.
No "pulling teeth" noise on every clutch press. (12/99)
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