Thread: Noisy clutch release when cold

Originally Posted by Patonga01

My '99 Td5 has a squawking noise in the clutch. It is only evident when it is first started for the day and only does it as the clutch is released the first couple of times. It sounds as if it is in the release bearing but the bearing is not rattling and otherwise operates perfectly. It has been doing this for about 5 or 6 years and is no worse now that when it first appeared. Anybody have any ideas?

Sounds like the spigot bush and is a common problem I believe. It happens to me the morning after I've been driving at speed for a long time (like on trip) and/or when it is cold in the morning (around zero). Mine makes the noise every time I depress the clutch pedal for a few minutes till things warm up. Its a disconcerting noise but my mechanic is quite unconcerned about it. Scared the heck out of me the first time it happened on day 2 of a 6 week trek!

Sound like exactly the same problem. The boss at a LR workshop in Nerang said not to worry about it "just fix it when the trans. or clutch has to come out." Said he had never heard of it letting anybody down. thanks for your reply.

Mine's just started doing it too. Haven't picked a pattern in it yet, but I suspect it's when driving at speed the previous day and/or cooler nights. i wouldn't say squeaking though - more a groaning / light grinding sound. Goes away after a minute or so.

I have/had this problem for 2 1/2 years. I wasn't worried about it but then thought I'd fix it (mainly because of the noise and people looking at me). Ordered a new thrust bearing with a alloy carrier and new spigot bush, organised to borrow a mates transmission jack......and its stopped doing it!!

It hasn't done it for 6 months now.....not sure if its a good sign or not haha.

I had exactly the same kind of noise. My mechanic told me that it is most likely diaphgram on the clutch cover, or rather the pins of the diaphgram on the clutch cover. He also said don't worry about it :-)

Since my disco has almost 200tkm, I decided to replace the clutch anyway. After pulling it out, there was only a bit friction material left. Took a weekend, but clutch has much better feel. Before I had to depress it with huge force, now it is like 30% force than before.

But what I discovered while being there is the push rod, that was almost going through the fork. The ring inside the fork (where the push rod is seated) collapsed and the push rod's outer ball was almost worn out. I replaced the whole clutch assembly delivered from UK for $200 plus postage.

My clutch has been doing that for 7 years so far,hasn't brorken yet (touch wood)