Clutch Squeal / Judder

[VeeFour]

Hmmm, this is an odd one, so don't really know where to start looking.

On my way home from work today (took the '5 as the sun was out), I was coming up to a roundabout and noticed a bit of a squeal from the car as I pressed the clutch.

This was accompanied by a judder as I pulled away from the roundabout.

I kept driving, but it got worse every time I needed to stop, with the squeal being joined by a whirring noise.

I've just been out to have another go, having given the car around 90 mins. to cool down and it's doing the same thing.

However, with the hand brake on, I stuck the car in 5th and let out the clutch slowly - the engine stalled - so the clutch itself doesn't appear to be slipping.

Looks like the 'box will have to be dropped to look at the release bearing / spigot bearing.... but d'you reckon I should be replacing the clutch at the same time?

(Want to give my mechanic a bit of notice of what he needs to order when I go and pay the bill for my Alfa tomorrow morning.... old cars are an expensive hobby!)

[Howard-]

I'd point my finger of accusation at the clutch slave cylinder, personally. It's a notorious failure point on the MX5s but it's not a difficult or expensive replacement.

[Gizmo!]

Howard- said:

I'd point my finger of accusation at the clutch slave cylinder, personally. It's a notorious failure point on the MX5s but it's not a difficult or expensive replacement.

Good place to start, certainly.


Since I got mine going again the clutch has been a bit weird: an inch of no resistance at all and then really stiff. It's going into the garage in the next week anyway so I guess they'll work out if anything's amiss, or whether I've just been used to the OH's Alfa.