2010 Lancer - clutch noise

[inquirer]

The car is a 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer with a manual gearbox. I get a high pitch squealing from the clutch under the following conditions:

1. The engine has been fully warmed up
2. It never happens with the clutch pedal released when the car is stopped
3. It happens at the point the clutch bites. I can exaggerate the noise if I hold the brake and I intentionally slip the clutch.
4. It sometimes happen while driving in low gears (1st or 2nd), with the clutch pedal fully released, if I'm not mistaken during light acceleration.

There are no signs of any clutch disc slipping while driving.

Is this the release bearing that's noisy?

 

[Lubener]

I had a pilot bearing do that before. Throw out bearing would be noisy when the clutch is disengaged (pedal pressed in).

 

[inquirer]

I had a pilot bearing do that before. Throw out bearing would be noisy when the clutch is disengaged (pedal pressed in).

That's what I knew too, but I asked 2 car mechanics and no one said the cause could be a pilot bearing.

The first one who tested the car himself and heard the noise while slipping the clutch said it's the release bearing.

The 2nd who didn't hear it, because the car was not fully warmed up when I slipped the clutch for him, but I described the symptoms to him said it's either the release bearing or the disc itself.

Do pilot bearings produce high pitch squealing noises when they fail?

 

[nwjones18]

In the end you're going to be replacing it with a full clutch kit anyway, so does it really matter? I had a release bearing give some very odd symptoms on my Mazda; it would shudder/make noise badly when releasing the clutch to get underway. I didn't know exactly what was wrong at the time, but I knew I was doing a clutch so might as well get on with it.

 

[inquirer]

In the end you're going to be replacing it with a full clutch kit anyway, so does it really matter? I had a release bearing give some very odd symptoms on my Mazda; it would shudder/make noise badly when releasing the clutch to get underway. I didn't know exactly what was wrong at the time, but I knew I was doing a clutch so might as well get on with it.

Should I replace it? I have no other issues with the clutch, except the noise. If it's the disc, I would say that the issue is just cosmetic. If it's a bearing that's something that should be addressed in the near future.

And of course if it's a pilot bearing that's something that's not included in the clutch kit, so it won't get replaced as a standard procedure. I'm not sure if the pilot bearing can be checked when the clutch has been removed.

 

[nwjones18]

Should I replace it? I have no other issues with the clutch, except the noise. If it's the disc, I would say that the issue is just cosmetic. If it's a bearing that's something that should be addressed in the near future.

And of course if it's a pilot bearing that's something that's not included in the clutch kit, so it won't get replaced as a standard procedure. I'm not sure if the pilot bearing can be checked when the clutch has been removed.

Not sure on your model, but the couple of clutch kits I've used included a pilot bearing. Cost of labor vs cost of parts (cheap) I would never go in there and not replace all components. Just my opinion..

 

[inquirer]

Not sure on your model, but the couple of clutch kits I've used included a pilot bearing. Cost of labor vs cost of parts (cheap) I would never go in there and not replace all components. Just my opinion..

A pilot bearing definitely isn't a part of the Lancer's clutch kit and that's true for other cars I know too.

Of course, it can be bought separately though. I know people who change other things too like main seals, after a certain mileage. Generally speaking that's a good thing, but I have read for leaks that occurred after a change, when there was no leak before with the factory seal.

Anyway, what I have to first address is if there is really a need for the clutch to get replaced. If it's the disc then I would wait, if its a bearing I wouldn't.

 

[Oliveoil2]

Miles on your car? Miles on this clutch? Sounds like a TO bearing giving up.

 

[inquirer]

Miles on your car? Miles on this clutch? Sounds like a TO bearing giving up.

This clutch kit (clutch disc, plate and release bearing) has about 63.000 miles.

The car has about 122.000 miles. The pilot bearing has never been changed.

I guess it should be a bearing, because symptom No. 4 can not arise from the disc. If it did slipping would be felt.