afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

A couple days ago I installed my AWR racing swaybar mounts (awesome product!) and when I let the car back down to go for a test drive it developed a new problem... the car is never happy .

Whenever the clutch is slipping (such as from a stop in 1st) it makes a loud, high pitched squealing sound. Everything else seems fine, it still holds power and I don't hear any noise when the clutch is either fully engaged or disengaged. My first guess is the throw out bearing, but I'm sure you guys will know better. Any input is appreciated.

I was getting close to buying an ACT S/S clutch... this might speed that decision up.

OneRotor

iTrader: (3)

how many miles do you have on your clutch? i've had that happen twice on my DD, once because the plate was so worn out that i was rubbin the heads of the rivots on the flywheel, and the other was from abuse. the second time, i broke two springs in the hub and ripped the steel around one of the broken springs, which rubbed on the flywheel.

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

The mileage on the clutch is unknown, that is why I was going to buy a new clutch soon. It very well could just be worn out like you stated. Looks like I'll be ordering that new clutch tonight.

spekdah

I had the adzact same probelm and it was nothing to do with the clutch.
Have you had your main drive pulley off at any time recently??
There are certain pressure bearings that sit on the E-shaft that allow a certain amount of endplay when engaging and dis-engaging the clutch, these bearings rely on being kept in place by pressure from each end of the shaft ( they are sandwiched basically to stay in place).
If there is any release of pressure i.e the front cover/drive pulley being removed, then they can slip down and out of place hence why you will get a squeel when letting out the clutch to move from a standing start ( 1st gear).

If it is this then i suggest you get it fixed pretty quick, it wont hurt the internals for the engine ( it allows for endplay) but if the play gets too much then you will find your drive pulley may start hitting your ignition pickups or worst case scenario the pressure bearing will eventually desintergrate and the bits end up in your oil filter ( like mine did).

spekdah

check this out --->


http://www.mazdatrix.com/faq/pulley.htm

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

Well I haven't had the main drive pulley off, so I really hope the thrust bearing hasn't dropped. That wouldn't be fun to fix...

I will still check the end float just to be safe.

mgoddard1

My guess is that your pilot bearing is going bad. At any rate I'm sure you'll have to drop the transmission to fix whatever is causing the noise. The ACT S/S clutch is a good choice and it comes with a new pilot bearing and a new throwout bearing. If the clutch is worn down to the rivets you'll have to have your flywheel resurfaced so if you have your flywheel off you might as well replace the rear main oil seal and rear stationary gear o-ring. If those are orginal I guarantee you they're leaking by now.

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

I just realized that I never updated this. I went ahead and bought the ACT clutch kit, SS line, and a new clutch fork. When I removed the trans, I noticed the problem... the spring assembly on the clutch fork had broken and there were bits of the spring floating around the bell housing, hanging off the fork, etc. I don't know how it was causing the noise, but that was the only problem I noticed; everything else looked fine.

At any rate, the new ACT clutch feels really nice, although it is still not broken in because the car is in the paint booth.

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

Hmmm... OK time to bring this back...

I replaced the clutch as stated above and the noises went away for a while. I did noticed a quick sqeak on hard 1-2, 3-4 shifts every now and then, but tended to ignore it. All the bearings looked A-OK when I replaced the clutch, and new ones were installed.

So last night I drove the car and when I was leaving a parking lot it wouldn't let me into first gear, but I finally got it with a bit of a grind. The next 1-2 and 2-3 shifts were rough, and then it shifted fine.

BUT... the car squealed loudly with the clutch on the floor and the transmission in gear with the car moving. Sounds like a high pitched "squeakity-squeakity-squeakity". No abnormal noise is heard with the car sitting still, no matter how you arrange the clutch and shifter. No noise when the clutch was engaging either, only when the pedal was on the floor. With the car moving in neutral and the clutch on the floor: no noise, but as soon as I put it into gear it started yelling again.

So I finished my errands and went to drive the car home. The same noises continued for a couple miles, and then stopped. Now a similar squeal sounded when the clutch was engaging, not on the floor. Wierd? yes

And a few miles later the noises stopped completely.

So I will drive it a little more this weekend and see if the noises continue, and if they do the transmission will be coming down again.

Until then... any ideas?

DamonB

Certain the clutch fork isn't cracked?

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

I guess it could be, I installed a new 'updated' version when I put the clutch in. And wouldn't the pedal feel different? The car only had trouble shifting 3 or 4 times before it started making noise and then it shifted smooth as ever.

DamonB

Maybe, maybe not. When my fork cracked the clutch was perfectly fine sometimes, but wonky others.

My guess is either a problem with the fork or possibly the wire ring assembly on the pressure plate.

CantGoStraight

You said you replaced the pilot bearing ?? This would make gear shifts difficult, 1st gear ins't that easy to get into gear if the car is moving so I'm not so sure that is a problem unless you were stopped.

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

Yup, new pilot bearing, throwout bearing, and clutch fork were installed with the clutch kit. I drove it for a bit tonight and it made the same damn noise for 15 minutes or so and then stopped for the rest of the night. It drove fine the whole time, but that 'squeakity-squeakity-squeakity' sounds is pretty annoying. lol

The thing that confuses me is that it doesn't sound like any other bad pilot, throwout, or input shaft bearing I have heard before. Usually they make a grumbling/grinding sound.

And the bearings make no noise what-so-ever with the car sitting still (engine on of course), no matter what position the clutch and gear shifter are in.

I'm going to drive it a bit more and see if things get better or worse.

Thanks for the advice guys.

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

Another update:

It drives fine and makes no noise... UNLESS it has rained and is wet outside. Then it makes that damn squealing noise for the first 10-15 minutes I drive it. No problems shifting at all.

Wierd stuff! I'm just going to drive it and not worry about it.

afterburn27

iTrader: (5)

You win the prize!! lol I found out what the problem was the hard way.

I was driving down the interstate and went to shift from 4th to 5th gear when I noticed the clutch pedal was vibrating like crazy. No problem I thought, I'll just drive slow in 4th until I get to the rest stop 2 miles ahead. Well 30 seconds in front of the rest stop the engine started running like **** and I notice lots of oil smoke pouring out the back of my car. Uh oh....

I pulled in and the car died immediately with oil smoke pouring out of the engine bay. No fire thankfully, but the engine was covered with oil and I noticed that the front e-shaft bolt was sitting right in front of the main pulley.

I had checked the endplay and bolt around a year ago when the car first started making noise and it checked out fine... oh well


So... how f*&cked do you think my engine is? I know the thrust bearing and associated parts are probably destroyed... but hopefully there was enough oil in the engine to keep it in good shape. Looks like this is going to be a good learning experience, lol.