What is the reason for the squeaking sound when stepping on the clutch in a car?
3 Answers
The reasons for the squeaking sound when stepping on the clutch in a car are: 1. Excessive wear of the clutch release bearing; 2. Failure of the diaphragm spring; 3. Poor lubrication; 4. Loose or damaged clutch; 5. Broken or excessively worn clutch release lever; 6. Broken adjustment bolt of the release lever. The solutions for the squeaking sound when stepping on the clutch are: 1. Lubricate the release bearing with grease; 2. Replace the clutch pedal assembly; 3. Check the working condition of the clutch release lever; 4. Inspect whether the clutch spring is damaged. Types of clutches: electromagnetic clutch, magnetic particle clutch, friction clutch, and hydraulic clutch.
Last time my car made a squeaking noise when I pressed the clutch, and after a lot of trouble, I found out it was the steel plate in the clutch pressure plate that had come loose. The mechanic said that driving with the clutch partially engaged for long periods is particularly damaging to the pressure plate, as the small springs inside can deform. The fork can also squeak if it's lacking oil, just like the sound of an old door hinge needing lubrication. Also, the linkage joint connected to the pedal was worn out, causing a metallic scraping sound against the sheet metal when pressed. The worst fear is the release bearing failing, as this kind of noise comes with vibrations. It's best not to delay too long; if all three components fail, you'd have to remove the transmission for repairs.
I've been running a repair shop for over a decade and see this issue daily. It's mostly caused by worn clutch pressure plates - when the edges of the friction discs become uneven, they'll squeak. There's another less-known situation: if the large bolts securing the pressure plate loosen, they can also produce this high-frequency metal scraping sound. I recommend checking the lubrication condition of the clutch release fork. Last time we had a car here making noise precisely because the fork lacked grease. Don't forget to inspect the lubrication of the pedal assembly's pivot pins - when those run dry, the grinding sound becomes particularly shrill.
