Squeaky Clutch Pedal, after bronze bearings

[PeteD]

My 914 is almost done! Amazing how much better a coat a paint will make the engine run.

Driving it yesterday, all of a sudden, a new sound appeared when I step on the clutch. It sounds just like a squeegee on kinda dry glass. Only when I press down, not on the return up. I have long since installed the Weltmeister bronze bearing set for the pedal cluster. So, I went and sprayed some LPS and WD-40 in to see if that might help. 75 miles or so later, with lots of shifting, no change. Before I tear down, clean, and regrease the pedal cluster, does anyone have any suggestions?

Many thanks,

Pete

[JP Noonan]

First off don't use WD-40 as a lubricant. I had a chem profesor back in Akron (rubber capital on the world, a.k.a. our river caught on fire in '75) that was telling us WD-40 got sued for false advertising it as a lubricant. He showed us how bad WD-40 worked on one of those bearing/race machines. It is mostly alcohol. A fellow lister pointed out that the "WD" stands for water displacement, that is all it is good for, breaking the surface tension of water and then appling a light anti-rust coat of oil on the metal. Not enough to lubricate.

Sorry, to off like that, but I digress...


The creaking might be the pedal cluster, but with new bushings I'd look elsewhere. See if the mounting bolts are tight, see if the floor pan moves at all (RUST!!!!) when the pedal is pushed. Look at the return spring to see if it is rusty. If not see if the noise is coming from the center tunnel, this might be the clutch tube starting to crack.

When you replaced the pedal bushings did the kit come with the small bushing that the cable clevis pivot on?

[PeteD]

Jim,

Thanks for the reply.

(As for WD-40, you are right, but I am pretty fond of it as it is yet another invention of a fellow graduate of Georgia Tech {who is probably a lot richer than the rest of us by now}).

The kit did have all of the bushings if I remember correctly, it has been quite a while since I installed them.

There is no rust on the floor that I am aware of, but will certainly double check. This car has lived in Kansas and Colorado for its entire life and for the last 15 years has never been on a snowy road and only a few times caught in the rain, so rust is not a big problem. But I won't make any assumptions here, I'll check.

I hate to think about the clutch cable tube breaking. I hear that is a nasty job. (and right after I glued in the new carpet too...)

Thanks again,

Pete

[wjdunn3]

Hey PeteD,
Check the clerance around the pedal stem and the slot on the fiber-board cover that goes over the pedal cluster area. I also had a squeak develop when working the clutch pedal and found that it was rubbing the pedal cluster cover. To fix I just adjusted the position on the cover a little and re-tightened.

[PeteD]

What I have determined it is not so far.
-not, interference with floor board/pedal assembly cover
-not, rusted floor
-not, loose pedal assembly

Once the clutch cable is released at both ends, the pedal assembly does not make noise and has no observable freeplay.

I am starting to fear that the problem may be the clutch cable tube in the tunnel. Gulmp. Any good words on fixing that? I seem to remember there being an article on that somewhere? Any leads?

I think I'll go pull the clutch cable out and inspect it for rubbing spots, then grease and replace it and see if that helps, but I am starting to suspect the tube... darnit.

Thanks again.

Pete

[PeteD]

Grease is the word.

Pulled out the shifter and found the clutch tube to be rigidly mounted.

Pulled out the clutch cable and found it to be totally dry; without grease. Greased it and problem went away. No rubbing or noises to be heard at all.

Never was able to touch or see the front end of the clutch tube, but as far in as I could reach it was firm.

Thanks for the ideas and support guys.