Technical Stiff/Squeaky Clutch

[lsmith12345]

Hi guys, the clutch on my 2007 Panda Dynamic feels a bit stiff. Not necessarily hard to press but stiffer than it should be for the clutch it is. Once the car warms up and gets going, the clutch starts squeaking quite loudly but still works perfectly fine. Any suggestions as to what is wrong? Thanks

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Hi guys, the clutch on my 2007 Panda Dynamic feels a bit stiff. Not necessarily hard to press but stiffer than it should be for the clutch it is. Once the car warms up and gets going, the clutch starts squeaking quite loudly but still works perfectly fine. Any suggestions as to what is wrong? Thanks

Very commonly reported problem. Most probably the clutch slave cylinder. It lives on top of the gearbox under the battery tray. Try to peel back the edge of it's rubber dust seal and squirt in some silicone lub spray - or similar. If it goes away you know you're soon going to need a cylinder. Often the master will be all right but sometimes it needs done too.

Edit, I'm assuming you mean it squeaks when you push the pedal?

 

[koalar]

Yep start with the slave, diagnose as per instructed above

I did spot theres are some stupid video on YouTube where they only grease the push rod, this will do absolutely nothing

Remove the dust cap and grease inside on the cylinder wall

 

[zeppelins]

As the experts above, it'll be the cylinder. I had mine changed this week.

It'll be squeaky for a while. Then your pedal will start to return more slowly after the engine's hot. Few months of ignoring it and it'll stick even more, then eventually you'll sitting still when a traffic light goes green waiting 10 seconds for a clutch pedal to return.

Then you'll take it to a garage and instruct them to change the slave cylinder. They'll probably try bleeding first but usually changing the cylinder is an inevitability.

At least that was my experience with it haha

 

[lsmith12345]

As the experts above, it'll be the cylinder. I had mine changed this week.

It'll be squeaky for a while. Then your pedal will start to return more slowly after the engine's hot. Few months of ignoring it and it'll stick even more, then eventually you'll sitting still when a traffic light goes green waiting 10 seconds for a clutch pedal to return.

Then you'll take it to a garage and instruct them to change the slave cylinder. They'll probably try bleeding first but usually changing the cylinder is an inevitability.

At least that was my experience with it haha

hahaha I see. The car isn’t on the road and is just used on private land so thankfully no traffic light danger lol.. so grease inside the slave cylinder opening and if it goes away it’s knackered then? thanks haha
Do you have any pictures or anything to show exactly where the grease needs to go? Thankyou

 

[koalar]

Location and changing here

 

[lsmith12345]

Thanks.. this is the same panda you helped diagnose the faulty alternator on a couple months back by the way

 

[koalar]

Nope not my video

 

[lsmith12345]

Nope not my video

No you helped me on the forums haha

 

[koalar]

Remove this rubber protector, and spray some silicone grease inside

500ml is around £5 and is enough to last a life time, useful stuff around the house, plastic gear and so on, as well as things on the car which might get wet

It's this part that goes dry

If you are going to keep the car long term then by all means change the slave at your leisure


Once it's work in a bit, it normally lasts months or even years, so if your planning to change the car there's normally no point in changing, swings and roundabouts

 

[lsmith12345]

Yeah that’s perfect Thankyou. No the car has been off the road for about 5 years and just gets thrashed about on private land so the slave cylinder can completely break before I change it haha.. I have some silicone grease somewhere. When I get to the car at the weekend I will do what you said. Just pull the rubber piece back is it and spray in? Thanks

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Yeah that’s perfect Thankyou. No the car has been off the road for about 5 years and just gets thrashed about on private land so the slave cylinder can completely break before I change it haha.. I have some silicone grease somewhere. When I get to the car at the weekend I will do what you said. Just pull the rubber piece back is it and spray in? Thanks

Note that we recommend silicone spray? If you use a mineral oil based lubricant then you risk damage to stuff like the seal which is rubber.

 

[lsmith12345]

Note that we recommend silicone spray? If you use a mineral oil based lubricant then you risk damage to stuff like the seal which is rubber.

I meant to type silicone spray. Don’t know how it got changed to grease

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

I meant to type silicone spray. Don’t know how it got changed to grease

I'm sure it wouldn't matter if it was grease or oil as long as it wasn't something which was going to attack the fluid seal. From my point of view all I'm interested in is proving that it's the cylinder which needs to be changed.

 

[lsmith12345]

I'm sure it wouldn't matter if it was grease or oil as long as it wasn't something which was going to attack the fluid seal. From my point of view all I'm interested in is proving that it's the cylinder which needs to be changed.

Well yeah I’m guessing it is the slave cylinder but I’m not really bothered at the end of the day as long as I can stop the squealing for a little while because as I said the car isn't on the road and hasn’t been for quite some time.. it is silicone spray I’m gonna be using so it should be harmless to the seal

 

[lsmith12345]

Well yeah I’m guessing it is the slave cylinder but I’m not really bothered at the end of the day as long as I can stop the squealing for a little while because as I said the car isn't on the road and hasn’t been for quite some time.. it is silicone spray I’m gonna be using so it should be harmless to the seal

Well it’s definitely the slave cylinder.. a bit of silicone spray made the squeaking go away, but then it soon returned.. will be ordering one at some point soon