Squeak+Click Clutch Pedal HELP

[bouj06]

ok so my 08 wrx, with an aftermarket clutch (stiff), is doing a squeaky sound when pushing and releasing the clutch pedal....like very very loud enoying...anyways so went to the dealer...didnt know what it was...paid for nothing. told me to either endure it or change the hole freaking clutch...lol
then now adding to the squeak noise is a click sound....so since its an aftermarket subaru denies the warranty...so i read the thread...so how much are we talking about for a master cylinder thing and labour?

the clutch is still good so i dont want to spend a thousand dollars on a new oem replacement clutch.

Ps. Tried to grease with white grease the spring of the cluch pedal and did absolutely nothing ...its even louder...

WHAT TO DO!!!??
Benjamin

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[Redrunner]

I am in the same boat you are in, mine is squeaking in two different places, one from the hole in the bell housing, and one from under the dash. I have lubed with white grease every moving part i could find with no success. I'm still trying and if i find something I will let you know.

[hdrox88]

Is the squeak coming from under hood or under dash? I had a similar problem in my 03 under the dash. I am not sure if the clutch pedal mechanism is set up the same as yours. I noticed you said you greased the spring, there is another pivot point for the clutch that is right above the accel. pedal and that was the noise maker for me. A little silicone spray did the trick. Again, I don't know if the new model you have will be set up different, just thought I would share just in case it helps.

[j4k3]

Mine just started from what sounds like under the dash, last night. Glad to see its common.

[dredog1984]

This is from my phone, so I apologize.

I have an '08 WRX that I took in for having a squeaky pedal. The dealer greased everything and it still squeaked. They ordered a new clutch assembly and it still squeaked. A Subaru rep happened to be at my dealer that day and said he's had a few of these come across his desk but not enough to issue a bulletin. The issue is a broken weld between the mount for the pedal and the firewall. As I type this they are dismantaling my driver's side dash to gain sufficient access to repair the welds. I wouldn't be surprised if this starts escalating to a bulletin soon. Thank God it's warranty work.***********

[razrielle]

Ive had the clutch click from day one. I think its from the switch, not too sure though, I barley hear it though because either my windows are down or my music is up, or both

[TheBrandon]

http://www.3gwrx.com/forum/index.php/topic,9261.0.html Hopefully it is not the spot welds busting in the firewall....

[dredog1984]

@TheBrandon

Great link. That is identical to my story. My dealer tried to fix it and returned my car to me with a squeaky clutch. This is even after removing my windshield to get better access. I have 3 lease payments left and i don't feel like paying them since now they're telling me they have to have a Subaru engineer come out and look at it. The GM of the dealership is going to call me on Monday. I'm requesting they forgive the final payments and then they can do whatever they want to it. I'll post again with any updates. BTW, this is an 08 with 35.5k on the odometer, so if you have one with less miles than that, get ready for some headaches.

[howielong]

My 09 legacy clutch pedal squeaks. Only in the rain though. Could this be related to all your guys issues?

[nappingcub]

Does anyone know if this is happening on just the 3rd generation imprezas or are earlier models effected? I'm a bit worried since I have a 2006 WRX and have a squeaky clutch.

Also, I found a DIY fix from someone on 3gWRX too.

http://www.3gwrx.com/forum/index.php?topic=16525.0

[kingsalami]

This is for everyone who has either experienced it, or anyone who may have bad firewall welds but has not heard it (yet). I watched this topic for about a year, but did not think I was affected….until today. I’ve definitely got the noise & it’s definitely due to broken spot welds between the clutch bracket and the firewall.

My advice to all of you is to FILE A COMPAINT NOW!

Do not attempt to fix it without filing a complaint & a warranty claim. If we all find backyard engineering solutions to this, we’re letting Subaru off the hook.

It’s obvious that quite a few people are affected, now we need to work together to get Subaru’s attention. The only way to get Subaru to take responsibility for their screw-up is for as many people as possible to make as much noise as possible about this serious safety defect. If enough people file grievances with the NHTSA, they’ll pressure Subaru into correcting it.

File Subaru Warranty Claim: https://www.subaru.com/shopping-tools/contact-us.html

File NHTSA Complaint: https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicl...nt/index.xhtml

Here’s a couple NHTSA complaints:
http://www.arfc.org/complaints/2008/...n/problem.aspx
http://www.arfc.org/complaints/2008/...e/problem.aspx

Here’s mine:
Confirmation Number (ODI Number) 10477991:

The clutch pedal on my 2009 WRX makes a loud creaking noise every time it's depressed. When I investigated the noise, I noticed that the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly (attached to the forward firewall) shifts approx 1/4 inch every time the clutch pedal is depressed. I found that the three spot welds securing the clutch pedal bracket to the forward firewall were broken. From the outside of the firewall, just under the windshield wipers, I saw the spot welds pulling away from the firewall every time the clutch pedal was depressed. This allows the entire clutch pedal bracket assembly to move, causing the creaking noise. If the bracket completely separates from the firewall, the clutch may become completely inoperative - especially dangerous while driving.

Reference Links:
http://carproblemzoo.com/subaru/impr...s-problems.php
http://www.faqs.org/car/subaru-impre...power-train/#b

http://www.wrxforums.com/forums/84-d...on-needed.html
http://www.wrxforums.com/forums/37-c...inkage-45.html
http://www.wrxforums.com/forums/84-d...ewall-fix.html
http://www.wrxforums.com/forums/37-c...bly-issue.html
http://www.wrxforums.com/forums/84-d...s-story-2.html
http://www.wrxforums.com/forums/84-d...l-problem.html
http://www.wrxforums.com/forums/84-d...olt-style.html

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2128617
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2184210
http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show....php?t=2305937

[skilika505]

I noticed the clicking noise in my 09 around 40k didn't think to much of it until i had to get a new clutch. This problem does have bad consequences and will make the life of your clutch very short. My mechanic told me he has replaced clutches on some with only 10k on the odo. Take immediate and proactive actions or you'll be going nowhere fast. Luckily my bank allowed me to refi and get the funds needed to take care of this. I was almost without a paddle there. Mechanic also recommended brake support brace, to help and also prolong clutch life.

[nmalinoski]

I've got a 2009 WRX that I bought new from a dealer that eventually got a squeaky clutch on and off; it seemed to be seasonal. I'm not sure when it started but it really didn't bother me. More recently, however, I noticed that when I depressed the clutch pedal, both it and the brake pedals shifted noticeably to the left; it was a little concerning, but didn't impair my ability to drive. Just this week I discovered that when I let up on the clutch pedal, about halfway up there's a click and a slight kickback, like something's realigning itself. Overall similar behavior to what's been described in this thread.

I took it to the Subaru dealer in Victor, NY this morning, and one of their service reps identified the problem right away--he said there's a bracket under the dashboard that can come loose because the clutch pedal is stiff (To be fair, I ruined my original clutch about 1.5 to 2 years after buying the car and had to get it replaced; I'm not sure if it's a Subaru-branded clutch, but it's definitely OEM, and was just as stiff as the original clutch). For advertising themselves as one of the largest Subaru dealers in the country, they strangely doesn't have a body shop, so they referred me to a body shop down the street that they source to make the repairs. When I got the body shop to take a look at it, they confirmed that the bracket was broken, and that they had seen it several times before--most recently on a 2008 model.

As for the repairs, I was given a ballpark quote just shy of $600, because it's labor-intensive to get the dashboard out and pull back the carpet so they don't set it on fire with the welding equipment.

Sadly, my car is way out of warranty (I blew past 36k miles well before the 3-year mark, and didn't bother getting the 7-year extended warranty, which I kind of regret at this point), so unless there's some kind of notice or recall that will magically cover some or all of the repair cost, my wallet is going to be sadface.

[Cheveyboy]

Call SOA, state your case, be courteous and ask them for help.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...6#post40938366

[nmalinoski]

Originally Posted by Cheveyboy

Call SOA, state your case, be courteous and ask them for help.

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...6#post40938366

Thank you for linking to that thread; I found this post via Google, so anyone else searching for this issue that finds it will now be relayed to more recent, detailed info.

Regarding the bracket issue: after reading about half that thread, I completely agree that the lawsuits would cause more harm than good.

I just got off the phone with an SOA rep after relaying my story. I'm hoping that they'll help me out.

Obligatory banana man:

[viper_crazy]

Any word?

[minnerex]

I suspect that I have the same issue, 08 wrx @ 67k miles. I've observed the movement of the brake pedal when clutch is depressed. The clutch used to squeak intermittently. Now it makes a pop sound intermittently. I'm also having some issues shifting gears when driving. Based on my extremely limited expertise, the shifting issue has similar symptoms as worn synchros, but I've heard a few people describe similar shifting issues as a result of this firewall weld problem.

Bringing my vehicle in today, dealer has heard of the firewall issue and has fixed a few of them. dealer needs to contact the SOA rep but he said i would likely need to pay for the cost of a new clutch, and then they would pay for the weld fix.

Any advice for getting them to pay full cost? Seems silly to replace the clutch at 67k.

He said that the issue occurs as the clutch wears it begins to put more stress on the welds, causing them to break. I need to find out more about their proposed solution, seems like if they are just rewelding then its going to break again when the new clutch starts to wear out in the future. If the true issue is really a design flaw in the thickness of the firewall (as some posters have indicated) then perhaps I need to look in the class action lawsuit that some others have posted about.

Any advice is appreciated.

[Speed Assault]

Glad to see all the info and the VERY helpful links to file complaint.Thank you!

2008 wrx here at 71k
Dealer where purchased (terrible Steven Creek Subaru San Jose) told me is not under warranty after 5 yr will cost me $1800. to fix at 4 days. I tld them about it yrs ago but they ignored it and just adjusted the nut.

I read elsewhere that a owner contacted SOA and they refunded him but that was listed in 2012 for his 2009. Dont know if there is a time limit.

I removed the dash (2hrs) 2 hidden screws, remove cowl/wiper motor I saw all 6 welds are broken as well as full cracks in the clutch bracket.

CHECK THIS OUT !
WHAT GETS ME is that there is a Strong Metal bracket that is not used for anything and Welded to the Round Dash beam. This BRACKET has two small holes and is ONLY 1/2" away from the bracket holding the Clutch/brake assembly it should be bolted to the clutch bracket assembly to reinforce the forward pressure. It would be very easy to make a metal plate and bolt this between.
This would reinforce the EXTREME Pressure moving towards the bracket and driver.
I am going to fab a metal plate to Tie the two together.

I submitted a letter to SOA Subaru of America and will continue with complaints.

[vicsvx]

Can anyone tell me what exactly I need to look for? I haven't had time to look hard at the problem but every now and again I hear distinctive "click" from the clutch pedal just as the pedal is fully released. I've heard of the cracked weld issue and had a friend take his 08sti apart to weld the pedal assembly as well as the firewall.

He didn't explain his symptoms and what to look/listen for. Also my "click" has been intermitten. I have noticed my dfirewall flexing when the clutch is depressed... Is that normal? If not how should I go about fixing it? I'm way out of warranty and I haven't had any recalls /TSB about the problem.

I will look a little harder once I know exactly what to look for and if I seen the cracks I will make a complaint to SOA and on NHSD.

BTW I drive an 08 sti

[SubieB]

Let me share my experience. I have a 2009 Subaru WRX and had the infamous clutch click and squeak. My car had 68000 miles and was out of warranty. I hope to address everyone's issues and let them know that this is possible. First I will start by saying my car is not modded at all other than an access port. So when it started I did hours and hours of research with many trips to the dealer. End of story is that the welds had pulled through the firewall where it holds the clutch/brake pedal assembly. Yes they are combined. And the way I figured this out was that I watched my brake pedal when I pressed the clutch and you can see the pedal shift to the side by about a half an inch. Also when it clicks you can have someone press your clutch and put your head under the hood and listen by the clutch slave cylinder and you can also watch the metal flex. Or if your ambitious rip apart the top of the dash with the gauge cluster completely out and you can see the broken welds or tears in the metal.. Now with that said.. Even out of warranty this is a FACTORY DEFECT... Subaru will pay to repair this!!! As they did mine. U.S. Subaru of America blows but with enough phone calls to them they eventually decided with a field engineer that this compromised the safety of the vehicle and paid for the repair. And guess what no more click or squeak. But take heed that if your car is highly modified in any way the likely hood of this repair being paid for is slim but try your luck it can't hurt. If they will not pay for it then well.. The only way to repair this is to completely take out the dashboard and have the metal and the welds professionally repaired. The welding and supporting of this repair is fairly easy as I am a seasoned mechanic both cars and aircraft however if you are not a welder and great at it... Take it to a professional with the dashboard out... It will be a lot better than you and safer I that case also a bit cheaper.

[mountainmanSTI]

I received a notification from Subaru of America that they are offering free labor for inspection and repairs of 2008,2009, and eary 2010 WRX & STI models for this defect.

They are also offering reimbursement for anybody who has paid to have the spot welds or clutch assembly fixed.

Unfortunately, there isn't a claim # or reference number for this form. But reach out to Subaru Customer Service @ 800 782 2783 and reference:

"Warranty extension for pedal bracket cracks or breake around the spot welds on 2008, 2009, and early production 2010 WRX or STI"

[mxer]

Originally Posted by mountainmanSTI

I received a notification from Subaru of America that they are offering free labor for inspection and repairs of 2008,2009, and eary 2010 WRX & STI models for this defect.

They are also offering reimbursement for anybody who has paid to have the spot welds or clutch assembly fixed.

Unfortunately, there isn't a claim # or reference number for this form. But reach out to Subaru Customer Service @ 800 782 2783 and reference:

"Warranty extension for pedal bracket cracks or breake around the spot welds on 2008, 2009, and early production 2010 WRX or STI"

Reread it. Most likely your car is out of their extended warranty and they will say FU.

[YoungFade]

Has anyone been able to have Subaru pay for the pedal bracket defect?

I realized that I have this issue and now trying to get this resolved through Subaru. I have to talk to the customer service representative again on Tuesday. Since their "free inspection and repair" expired in 12/5/15, the Subaru dealership told me I have to pay $275 just for an inspection lol. What a joke!

[rlarsen462]

I'm also not entirely convinced this problem was resolved after 2010...my 2016 STI clutch with 1500 miles on it has some creaking at the top of the travel and a click in the middle of the travel. Brake pedal barely moves to the left when you work the clutch but it's definitely moving. Got underneath and couldn't see anything overtly obvious.

I'm guessing they're still using crappy spot welds. Going to keep an eye on it.

[trakmasterrs]

i just started noticing the squeak (2011 STi) on the clutch pedal I haven't checked if the spot welds on the firewall are bad, not sure where to look....do I rip apart the carpet area under the dash where the pedals are or look in the engine bay, under car?

also, I read that getting a master cylinder brace from Grimm Speed supposedly helps?