91vert

I have this annoying chirping noise when my car is in neutral at idle. If I barely press the clutch pedal it stops.

I thought it might be the release bearing in clutch fork, but I don't even think I'm pushing the clutch in far enough to make the slave cylinder move it. I mean I'm literally pushing it down less than a half inch for the noise to stop.

Other than the chirping there are no other strange noises realted to the tranny/clutch. The tranny was just rebuilt about 4000 miles ago.

You guys have any thoughts on what it might be?

rico05

Release bearing is bad. Mine did the same thing, and when I pulled my engine, it was TRASHED. Just go to Napa and buy one, $33. Drop the tranny and install it. It should only take a day to do!! Good luck!!

Roshambo

Release (Throwout) bearing is bad when the clutch pedal is pressed to the floor and it starts making noise. That's when the T/O bearing is in use, to seperate the clutch disc from the flywheel and going against the pressure plate to dis-engage the clutch.

It sounds like the pilot bearing to me. This happened to me and gradually the car will be harder and harder to shift and you will find that sometimes the clutch doesn't fully dis-engaged causing some horrific grinding. Get someone to check it in detail.

91vert

I was hoping it would not be the pilot bearing. I've heard they are a bitch to get out sometimes.

This sucks.....I don't want to tear all of this **** apart just to change that one bearing....UGHHH!! It is ALWAYS something with this car and I barely drive the damn thing!!!!

Roy James

well, its just a noise man, leave it alone if you dont feel like tearing it down, its not going to really hurt anything. They make pullers for Pilot bearins and im pretty sure a parts store will free rent one out to you. T/O bearings are cake to change though. but, check this, if you barly slap the clutch in...and it stops, it would be your T/O bearing, the T/O bearing is just a lil off balence and clipping the pressure plate fingers making a "chirp chirp" like hell, you tap it, put pressure on the T/O and the pressure plate fingers and it kinda deadens the noise out. If the noise wasnt effected by the clutch pedal at all.. i would say Pilot bearing. Im no mech though, but this is EXACTLY what was wrong when i put my new clutch in and used the old T/o bearing... i put a new one in... like butter. Good luck

rxseven

Actually, i got that same noise when I had a new release bearing, pilot and clutch installed. After i put about 2k miles on the clutch it went away. i have no problems shifting by the way and it now been about 5k miles since. If it goes away by just barely pressing down the clutch pedal, you can just adjust the pedal slightly.

Ziggy682

My car does the same thing, and I've been trying to figure out exactly what it is.

91vert

Maybe I'll try to adjust the pedal play to see if that will get rid of the noise.

Seems like the wrong way to fix this problem, but a lot easier than tearing the tranny out.

I'm going to try that today and I'll let you all know what happens.

nima_taba

**** I just posted for the exact same problem!

Yeah this is really annoying me...it gives the car such a shitty sound. So if the sound dissapears when you press the clutch just a touch....is it the pilot bearing or the throwout bearing??
And is it gonna start to cause problems with shifting?

Thanks
Nima

rxseven

I believe it is just the throwout rattling against fingers and should be no problem to just adjust out.

nima_taba

I just went and adjusted those two bolts on the clutch pedal, and the rattling is gone! Now I can hear the sweet purr of my rotary again....

Thanks,
Nima

nima_taba

Hey, I fixed this issue yesterday by adjusting my clutch pedal. The sound is now gone. But now, it seems like my car is much harder to shift and more prone to grinding. I adjusted the clutch in a way that there will be more pressure on the master cylinder when the clutch is at rest.

I didn't think it would affect my car in this manner. Any ideas why...and is this a bad thing for my tranny? I'm running redline.

Nima

rxseven

nima taba,
is this a new clutch?

nima_taba

No, this is the original clutch on the car, although it has only 32,000 miles on it. It started to chirp a thousand miles ago...

Nima

nima_taba

ttt ^

adamlewis

My friends miata makes the same noise. On the miata forum, they say its the release arm ( ... I dont think thats the technical term .. but it pushes on the throwout bearing ... ) They put motorcycle chain grease on it, and it went away. Just a thought

91vert

I ended up adjusting my pedal just to the point where it feels like it starts to firm up and my chirping is gone now too.

Sniper_X

search my posts for the word PILOT and you will have no problem getting the bearing out.

I promise.

DONT GRIND IT OUT!

Makes a big mess, takes longer, and is dangerous to the E-Shaft.....

Chris Ng

Just a warning.. I mentioned this in Nima's other thread.. if you decide to get rid of the pilot bearing noise by adjusting your clutch pedal freeplay, you are just asking for premature clutch failure.. you are basically loading up the clutch to get rid of the noise... more or less like driving around with your foot on the clutch pedal.. your clutch disc will soon wear quite quickly

adamlewis

That is 100% RIGHT! DO NOT do that to get rid of the noise.

von

Its ok if u only do it really slightly. Thats what the two nuts are for... I just did a clutch job and the T/O may not be damaged just misadjusted and too far from the realease levers making a tac tac noise or whatever you guys say it sounds like. So adjusting it slightly will not move the pressure plate levers im sure.

91vert

I just adjusted my pedal to where there is no loose play in it. I still have to push the clutch down about 2 inches to get it to disengage and it is not slipping or anything. I went out and puched the thing on some pretty steep hills and it is pulling fine.

I think I know much is too far to make the clutch wear premarturely.

powermalex

My 86RX7 Sports does the same thing. After driving it hard the noise goes away. I only drive the car less than 3K a year so I'm sure the lub just needs to circulate around the bearings.