squeekee-squeekee, driving me batty!

[modena782002]

I love my 164S!! However, what ruins a thoroughly wonderful driving experience is an annoying squeek that is driving me crazy. 1st gear, Let the clutch out (squeek) beautiful noise to 6000rpm, depress clutch (squeek) into second gear-let out clutch (squeek) back up to beautiful noise, depress clutch (squeek) and so-on. The noise is coming from the clutch pedal spring. Cold weather, warm weather, damp, dry, it does not matter. I have lubed the spring and bushing area above the spring with everything from WD-40, white lithium, regular grease, liquid wrench, and good old 3 in 1 oil. Nothing seems to have any effect on it. As I depress the clutch pedal, with my fingers on the spring, I can feel a vibration on the spring itself, so I don't think that it's the bushing. This has been an ongoing problem that I have lived with for two years now. Would replacing the spring be effective? Are springs even available? Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks for any help.

[Alfissimo Int.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by modena782002 I love my 164S!! However, what ruins a thoroughly wonderful driving experience is an annoying squeek that is driving me crazy. 1st gear, Let the clutch out (squeek) beautiful noise to 6000rpm, depress clutch (squeek) into second gear-let out clutch (squeek) back up to beautiful noise, depress clutch (squeek) and so-on. The noise is coming from the clutch pedal spring. Cold weather, warm weather, damp, dry, it does not matter. I have lubed the spring and bushing area above the spring with everything from WD-40, white lithium, regular grease, liquid wrench, and good old 3 in 1 oil. Nothing seems to have any effect on it. As I depress the clutch pedal, with my fingers on the spring, I can feel a vibration on the spring itself, so I don't think that it's the bushing. This has been an ongoing problem that I have lived with for two years now. Would replacing the spring be effective? Are springs even available? Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks for any help.

[BlackAlfa]

Bought my LS last March from the South. It came with sqeaky pedals and a very hard accelerator pedal (I had to almost stand on it to make it went faster ). Stopped along the way at Alfisto Steve's place to do a quick check on things when coming back. Steve sprayed some lube into the cable and that freed it up quite a bit. But the cable has rust inside and it had not been smooth even though I lubed it a few more times later. I eventually changed that cable.

I also suffered from the sqeaky clutch (brake too I think) pedal for many months. Just like what you did, I have tried silicone spray, WD-40, ... But, the sqeak always came back.

The squeaks are gone now and the pedal feel is great ! I have done a few things. I was also suffering from clutch pedal not coming back up. To make the story short, I have changed the clutch slave and the clutch master before the clutch pedal works properly. For the squeak, I have taken all the pedals out, cleaned and re-lubed the pivot area. From what I remember, there's actually some small bearings in there for the clutch pedal. I cleaned and re-greased them. I think the noise was mostly gone after I did that.

Bob

[elite38868]

Mine does the same thing and my pedal is harder to push than my neighbor's 91' 164S. Still the slave cylinder?
Also, how hard is it to replace the slave cylinder? Has anyone described the process on the bb?

[BlackAlfa]

IMO, it could be any component along the hydraulic system. Dirt or corrosion on the master and slave cylinders wall that increase friction with the piston seal. The clutch line damper (has that been removed yet?). Old and restrictive rubber clutch hose. Dirty fluid ... Or, it could be the clutch throwout bearing area.

I would start with the pedal pivot linkage to make sure that's well lube. If you still have problem, then start looking into and replacing hydraulic components.

The slave cylinder is quite easy to change. But a little tricky to bleed it. Best to use power bleeding method.

Changing the master cylinder is a little bit more work. I did a quickie reply on "how I did it" in the 164 forum, you might want to do a search there.

Bob

[modena782002]

Thanks for all the input. I really don't think that it's the hydraulics though. The squeek is definitely from the spring/bushing area. In fact, the squeek has a spring sound to it--almost like the spring on a screen door, when stretched too far, but a few octaves lower. I have toyed with the idea of disassembling the clutch pedal, and checking the bushings. Aside from the tight quarters under the dash, how difficult is it to take the clutch pedal out, Bob?

[Alfisto Steve]

Probably bearings 10 are dry:

[BlackAlfa]

Yes, bearings 10 are probably either dry, rusted or not rotating. WD-40 is the wrong type of lubricant for them.

Aside from tight quarters, I don't recall any significant problem in taking the clutch pedal out. The only tricky part was in putting pin 6 back. There's just no room to hold that pin and get your hand up there. The trick I finally used was to use a long (several feet long) sewing thread. I threaded it through the hole in pin 6 at one end and used a cotter pin (like a needle) at the other. It was much easier to thread the cotter pin through the assembly (master cylinder fork and pedal) holes. Then I pulled the thread to get pin 6 up to position and use my hand to help it to get in place.

Here's the link to my write-up on changing the master cylinder:
http://www.digest.net/alfa/FAQ/164/f...mID2/3670.html

Bob

[Alfissimo Int.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by modena782002 Thanks for all the input. I really don't think that it's the hydraulics though. The squeek is definitely from the spring/bushing area. In fact, the squeek has a spring sound to it--almost like the spring on a screen door, when stretched too far, but a few octaves lower. I have toyed with the idea of disassembling the clutch pedal, and checking the bushings. Aside from the tight quarters under the dash, how difficult is it to take the clutch pedal out, Bob?

[elite38868]

It's most likely your Clutch Master Cylinder. I just did mine and that was the culprit. It's not the bushings in most cases.

[fbonatto]

mine was the bushing.

[elite38868]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fbonatto mine was the bushing.

[modena782002]

I'm still living with it...doesn't seem to be as bad in warm weather.

[alphalvr]

mine did the same wd40 on the clutch pedal where the arm goes through the rubber bush/bung sorted it for me.

[fbonatto]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphalvr mine did the same wd40 on the clutch pedal where the arm goes through the rubber bush/bung sorted it for me.