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Chirping squeaky noise when clutch is out


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Guest FillG

I have a '98 Legacy Outback Wagon w/ 5-speed manual tranny and it's been doing this since I got it a couple months ago but it seems like it's getting worse now. When the clutch is all the way out the car makes is a chirping squeaky noise. If I put the clutch in or even if I just lightly put my foot on the pedal, it goes away. If it's in neutral and I rev it up, it chirps faster. I first thought it was only doing it in neutral but I've noticed when I go through an underpass I can hear it then too.

 

I know the clutch is just about shot because it slips a little if I take off in a hurry. Is that my problem? Any other thoughts about what it might be?

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Guest Tolerance02

As you say it slips a little, this means the disc is worn and became very thin. Because of this the cover spring plate is almost completely released and touches the clutch bearing slightly, this gives a constant rubbing which makes that sound. When you push the pedal a little or fully the bearing is running along with the plate and the rubbing stops.

I'd say, loosen the cable adjusting a little but I think it's hydraulic and adjusting isn't possible.

 

Urban

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Guest canajun2eh

The chirping is caused by a failing clutch release (throwout) bearing.

 

This should be attended to as soon as possible. If you delay too long, the "fingers" on the clutch pressure plate will wear out.

 

My 92 Legacy had the same noise. My 95 Legacy (255,000 Km) is doing it too. Right now, it also produces a lovely "turbo" whine when I accelerate. Very impressive.

 

The 95 is due to go in for clutch service next Monday. You should have heard the commotion from me, when the damn service adviser wanted to keep the car for a whole day to diagnose a clutch problem. Stupid idiot.

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Guest FillG

<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/ohwell.gif ALT=":\"> I was hoping to put it off for a couple more months but I guess I'll have to go ahead and get it done.

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Guest Tolerance02

There is a difference between both cases. By Fill's car the noise stops the moment he pushes the pedal.

""If I put the clutch in or even if I just lightly put my foot on the pedal, it goes away"".

In Your case Gerry the noise begins at that moment. In Fill's case there is nothing wrong with the bearing itself so there is no such hurry.

 

Urban.

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Guest Flowmastered87GL

I was told it was the pilot bearing on my turbowagon... only made noise when sitting in neutral with my foot off the clutch.

 

I think its a little bearing in the middle of the flywheel or something... not really sure... its NOT the throwout bearing that I am referring to though.

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Guest Tolerance02

That small bearing dozen't do nothing when the pedal is free.

At that momen the flywheel, axel and clutch are one peace and everything turns at the same speed. So a worn pilot bearing ( I always call it support bearing because it supports the axel with the disc) schould make noise only when the clutch pedal it pushed down.

 

Urban.

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Guest Tolerance02

Because the clutch is slipping you'll have to replace it anyway. I'm just trying to explane that there is no real hurry because of the noise. Once the clutch is changed the noise will be away to.

 

Urban.

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Guest canajun2eh

Urban,

I'm going to disagree with you.

 

No matter what the cause of the noise might be, the clutch needs servicing, and the release bearing will need to be replaced.

 

I've got TWO noises: The whistle while accelerating, and the chirping. The chirping goes away when the clutch pedal is pushed. It's there only for part of the pedal travel.

 

Clutch service will do the trick.

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Guest Tolerance02

""When the clutch is all the way out the car makes is a chirping squeaky noise. If I put the clutch in or even if I just lightly put my foot on the pedal, it goes away.""

 

This problem can even occur with a new clutch if the cable is not correctly adjusted. I've had this more than once especially with Legacy a few months after replacing the clutch. In one case I had to hook a spring to the fork, where the cable is attached, to pull the bearing away from the plate fingers.

It wouldn't surprise me that if Fill gives more free play to the cable, not only the noise will stop but even the clutch wouldn't slip anymore.

If the bearing was worn or stuck the chirping squeaky noise should begin at the moment he push the pedal. As he says the noise stops when he push or even lightly put his foot on the pedal.

In this case the clutch plate fingers are touching the bearing and the noise is caused by the vibration in the bearing-seat and the fork, once you push the pedal the vibration stops.

Of course a mechanic will say the clutch has to be replaced, but in my opinion it could be unnecessary.

 

Urban.

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  • 2 years later...

I'm about two years too late on this thread, but the same thing happens to me as does to fill. If i even slightly touch the pedal (just the slightest bit) the chirping goes away. The car shifts fine, doesn't slip, only complaint is the cold shudder, but I'm noit convinced that that will go away with a new clutch. Is there a way to maybe tighten the clutch cable a slight bit to act like my foot is just touching the pedal. The slight amount I have to touch the pedal to make it go away, I know couldn't be engaging the clutch. It hardly even takes tyhe slack out of the pedal.

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Yep, two nuts. A 10 an 12 mm hex reside on the other end of your clutch cable. Center and rear of the engine room. Loosen them and tighthen the 12mm one full turn, and use the 10mm to lock it into place.

 

Depending on your model, there maybe an air filter box in your way.

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My personal opinion of a chirping is that it is a failing TO bearing. The failing bearing chirps. The constant chirping means that the bearing is spinning. The bearing should stop spinning when the clutch is out (your foot is off the clutch). While this in itself is not horrible, since most of these bearings are pretty large and mounted so that they shed heat pretty well, the clutch slippage is a good reason to go in there and resolve all the issues.

 

 

FYI - I’ve run chirping TO bearings for over 20,000 miles without failure. At least one sounded horrible, like marbles in a can, for many miles, but I didn’t have the time to do it, or the money to have someone else do it. It waited for me and the bearing didn’t look bad, although it didn’t roll particularly smoothly after I cleaned it. That was a 1972 Chevy Vega GT, so I suspect the Subie TO bearing would take even more abuse before detonating. Then again, it could let go tomorrow – nobody knows for sure.

 

 

If this were my car, I’d be looking at finding a good time in the near future for getting it done. No rush, just do it yourself or find a good place you trust. If the clutch really is starting to slip, why wait? At best, you put off the inevitable. At worse, you could get stranded or overheat and warp the pressure plate, so it can’t be refaced.

 

 

Jack

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The clutch isn't slipping.

 

The noise goes away when I push the clutch in or even just hardly touch the pedal. When I'm shifting, it doesn't make the noise, only when I'm not touching the pedal. Everything I've read about a bad TO bearing is that it makes the noise when the clutch pedal is down. I'm not doubting it, just trying to figure it out becasue its the opposite of what I've read and what i think you're describing. It shift and drives fine. No problem getting into gear, no slippage only a little cold studder.

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my 85 rx has a new clutch plate and throw out bearing and is far from stock

i had the "chitters" also until this morning

my spring that pulls the clutch fork forward to help release any pressure off the throwout bearing had come off

thus resulting in the throw out bearing just faintly touching the the pressure plate fingers and well.. slight metal on metal action results in the chirpy/chitttery noise

added a spring to the clutch fork and the motor and no more chirpy

 

now mind you my clutch throw out and pressure plate are fairly new

on a ea82 tubo motor .. but i would bet you might have the same problem

but i could be wrong

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