Squealing noises from 355 - clutch related | FerrariChat
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Squealing noises from 355 - clutch related

Discussion in '348/355' started by tomw, Jan 20, 2014.

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  1. tomw

    tomw Formula 3

    Feb 25, 2004
    2,413
    London
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    Tom
    #1 tomw, Jan 20, 2014
    Yesterday I drove my (manual) 355 for the first time in a few months. As I started the engine (clutch in) there was a loud squealing noise, like an alternator belt or similar but louder, which went away as I took my foot off the clutch. I let the car idle for a bit and all seemed fine so I put it down to an alternator belt and went for a gentle drive. After ~5 miles of everything behaving itself, I could hear a slight squealing when I was sat stationary in neutral which went away when I put the clutch in.

    By this point I decided I should probably head home and when nearly back, I started to get the very loud squealing with the clutch fully in again.

    I assume this is the clutch release bearing? Seems odd that it varied between making horrible noises with clutch in or out, or is that normal? Pretty annoying as it was in rude health when I last drove it..

    On the plus side, avoiding changing gear too much reminded me how well behaved the 355 is in high gears!
     
  2. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

    Sep 17, 2006
    1,083
    Atlanta
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    Mark
    #2 mwhitesell, Jan 21, 2014
    It could be that your clutch is completely worn down to a rivet in the friction plate.
    Or something is leaking onto the plate.
    If the release bearing completely failed, you would have lost the clutch completely.
    Either way. Pop it off and see. Very easy to do. I had a seal go bad on mine, so it's apart now waiting on a part to arrive.
     
  3. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Dec 7, 2003
    16,470
    Winston Salem, NC
    #3 Ricambi America, Jan 21, 2014
    ^ Should be in your hands today. USPS was not running yesterday because of MLK Day.
     
  4. mwhitesell

    mwhitesell Formula 3

    Sep 17, 2006
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    Atlanta
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    #4 mwhitesell, Jan 21, 2014
    Don't worry Daniel. This gave me time to use the anti blue and gold stuff and shine the chrome on the exhaust and cats. That Blue-job stuff is great. You guys should carry it.
    It's also too cold to drive for another month or so....
    So I'm looking for other projects.
     
  5. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    Dec 1, 2004
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    Bruce Bogart
    #5 plugzit, Jan 21, 2014
    99% chance your throwout bearing is bad.
     
  6. PaulW_968

    PaulW_968 Karting

    Jan 12, 2014
    58
    Chicago Area
    #6 PaulW_968, Jan 21, 2014
    Is there a chance that the throwout bearing just needs to be exercised a bit so that any corrosion on the races can be cleaned up and the grease allowed to heat up and flow to re-lubricate the bearing?

    To do this, you could just start the car, and while in the garage just exercise the clutch in and out, and leave it in a bit so that the bearing gets some heat into it. Obviously if it gets a lot worse, stop and determine what is going on.

    Electric motors frequently do this after sitting for extended periods of time without running. You just have to run them to get the grease warm enough to lubricate the bearing and the squealing goes away.

    Or the bearing on the clutch could just be out of grease for now and needs replacement.
     
  7. plugzit

    plugzit F1 Veteran
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    #7 plugzit, Jan 21, 2014
    I guess it's possible, but my experience says the bearing is dead. Sometimes a dry dead bearing will "self-lubricate" with heat, not a good thing. It'll fool you into believing it's ok, then fail catastrophically by welding itself or coming completely apart.
     
  8. bobzdar

    bobzdar F1 Veteran

    Sep 22, 2008
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    Pete
    #8 bobzdar, Jan 21, 2014
    Mine did that when the throwout bearing died. It started out just making a little noise but eventually it sounded like a stuck pig anytime I touched the clutch. Replaced it with the Hill bearing and put a new clutch disc in as the old one was worn.

    If you catch the issue early enough, you may be able to get it rebuilt by spherics, but mine was too far gone to rebuild by the time I took it out.
     
  9. tomw

    tomw Formula 3

    Feb 25, 2004
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    #9 tomw, Jan 21, 2014
    Cheers guys, probably going to try to get it towed to my usual specialist later this week. Hill's bearing was on the short-list if that's what it was.
     
  10. tomw

    tomw Formula 3

    Feb 25, 2004
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    #10 tomw, Mar 26, 2014
    A bit of closure on this thread for those searching for similar symptoms in future.

    I finally had it all taken apart yesterday (did I really post this 2 months ago?!) and it was indeed the release bearing that was shot. It'd leaked fluid over the friction plate too which may explain why it sounded so bad with the clutch in AND out...

    Anyway, looking forward to getting it back with a fresh clutch and Hill bearing bits!
     

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