The causes of clutch squeaking when depressed
The clutch plays an important role during the transmission gearshift process. The energy transfer from the engine to the transmission can occur smoothly, quickly, and easily with the clutch. It can create comfort during driving, especially for drivers with manual transmission cars.
As time goes by and the age of the vehicle, the comfort in this clutch will gradually decrease. Various problems will appear in the clutch, ranging from vibration, slippage to noises.
This article will discuss one problem in the clutch system: the clutch squeaking when the pedal is depressed/lifted. This squeaking noise will appear when we lift the clutch pedal until the pedal is completely off the foot. There is a squeaking that disappears immediately after the pedal is fully lifted.
There is also a squeaking that still appears after the pedal is depressed. So what is the cause? Check out the causes of the clutch squeaking when depressed in the following article.
I. Clutch disc assy (clutch plate) is oblique and damage
A common thing that often happens and causes a car clutch to squeaking when depressed is damage to the clutch disc component (clutch plate) as a whole. We know that this clutch plate transfers energy and rotation from the engine to the transmission by friction.
The frictional force on the clutch plate is very large and often irregular (depending on how the driver operates it). The effect can cause damage to the clutch plate so that it can cause the car clutch to make a squeaking noise when depressed.
Below are some of the damage to the clutch plate that causes the squeaking when depressed:
Weak dumper torsion spring
The torsion dumper spring reduces shock and vibration during the disconnection process from the engine to the transmission. With the torsion dumper spring, the power connection process becomes smoother, so it doesn't make a squeaking.
When the torsion dumper spring is weak, oblique, or has stretched against the disc plate, then when a shock occurs, the spring will strike directly and often make a squeaking in the car clutch when depressed.
The clutch hub and disc plate are worn out.
The clutch hub and disc plate are clutch components that are connected directly to the transmission input shaft. Worn out of the clutch hub and disc plate is often the cause of the clutch squeaking when depressed. The Clutch hub and disc plate can also become roundabout due to the bumps during clutch operation.
The clutch facing is worn out
Clutch facing is often called clutch lining. These components often worn out after a long time of use. Rivets are usually used to bind the clutch facing.
When the clutch facing is running out, the existing rivets will protrude. When we release the clutch pedal, the rivets will rub against the flywheel or clutch cover surfaces. This condition makes the clutch squeaking when depressed.
When the clutch cover clamp is strengthened, and the pedal is fully depressed, the squeaking will disappear due to reduced friction. However, suppose the clutch lining is completely worn out. In that case, the squeaking will still appear accompanied due to the clutch lining running out.
For more details about the parts and names of car clutch components, please read the article on car clutch components and their functions posted previously.
II. The flywheel and clutch cover surfaces are uneven.
The next cause of the clutch squeaking, when depressed, is the uneven surface of the flywheel and clutch cover. The surface of these two components has a very important role when there is an energy transfer from the engine to the transmission.
When releasing the clutch pedal, the surface of the clutch lining will rub against each other with the flywheel and clutch cover surfaces. When the flywheel and clutch cover surfaces are in an uneven/wavy condition, during the process of connecting the clutch disc, a strong friction squeaking will occur.
In addition to the squeaking, this condition is also accompanied by the emergence of strong vibrations from the clutch that we can feel up to the car body. This condition is often referred to as "judder" or clutch vibrating.
Read also:III. Worn out the release bearing / throwout bearing
The last thing we know that can cause a clutch squeaking when depressed is the result of worn-out release bearing or called as throwout bearing. Release bearings have grease on the inside. Over time and use, the grease in the release bearing can dry out, causing wear and tear on the bearing components inside.
When the release bearing is worn and dry, it will produce a squeaking noise which is usually quite long as long as the release bearing is still in position pressing the diaphragm spring. Therefore, the squeaking that appears due to the worn and dry release bearing occurs when the clutch pedal is depressed and when the clutch pedal is started to be pressed.