Just a quick ( ish ) post that may help others, although not aware any others have experienced this problem.
Ruby ( our 1.2 500 ) developed a terrible squeak from the operation of the clutch after a short distance of driving.
Noise was from under the bonnet rather than inside the cabin.
Initially assumed it was the clutch release mechanism in the gearbox and put it on the list of things to do, remove gearbox = big job.
She was due an oil change, so whilst doing this got someone to operate the clutch while I felt the clutch components. I could ' feel ' the noise, however it felt worse when holding the ( plastic! )slave cylinder.
I removed the cylinder ( leaving hydraulic line connected ), removed the dust cover and had a look inside.
The piston was down the far end, with a few squirts of silicone spray the piston slowly juddered up the cylinder.
I then worked it back and forth a few times and packed in some silicone grease ( with the piston pushed back in )
Reassembled, a test drive revealed silence and a slightly smoother/lighter feeling clutch pedal operation.
Ruby ( our 1.2 500 ) developed a terrible squeak from the operation of the clutch after a short distance of driving.
Noise was from under the bonnet rather than inside the cabin.
Initially assumed it was the clutch release mechanism in the gearbox and put it on the list of things to do, remove gearbox = big job.
She was due an oil change, so whilst doing this got someone to operate the clutch while I felt the clutch components. I could ' feel ' the noise, however it felt worse when holding the ( plastic! )slave cylinder.
I removed the cylinder ( leaving hydraulic line connected ), removed the dust cover and had a look inside.
The piston was down the far end, with a few squirts of silicone spray the piston slowly juddered up the cylinder.
I then worked it back and forth a few times and packed in some silicone grease ( with the piston pushed back in )
Reassembled, a test drive revealed silence and a slightly smoother/lighter feeling clutch pedal operation.