Clutch Issue (Need help Diagnosing)

I've had this issue with the clutch for several months now, and it's really only a problem when the truck is cold. Once it's warmed up (driven for 10 to 15 minutes) it goes away.
When I push in the clutch it acts normal but when I release the clutch, the engagement is weird. It releases gradually until about halfway through when it will grab hard and chirp the tires. Almost like it gets hung up then releases all of the sudden. I also notice that there is a loud squeaking sound when pushing in or letting out the clutch. Not from the pedal but from the transmission. I replaced the slave cylinder yesterday thinking it was the slave going bad.....that didn't fix it.

Does this sound like the clutch is going bad or is there something I can lube in there without having to pull the transmission? When I pull the little panel off where you can see the slave cylinder rod pushing on the arm, you can hear the squeaking really well. Can I spray silicone lube in there or will that screw up the clutch?

Let me clarify, the squeakiness is always present even when warmed up but the strange clutch engagement goes away after driving for 15 mins or so.

 

So I tried getting some grease on the area the arm slides on and it made no difference.

Putting my ear up to the transmission while someone inside the truck is pushing on the clutch pedal I was able to tell the sound is coming from the Clutch assembly itself. Sounds like it's the actual diaphragm spring in the clutch assembly. I guess I'm gonna live with the strange engagement of the clutch while cold until the clutch itself needs to be replaced. Once the clutch is engaged, it holds well with no slipping at all. I will definitely be looking into an aftermarket clutch (URD) when this thing finally fails.

 

Sounds like the release bearing is jamming up and not sliding smoothly. I wouldn't wait, pull the transmission and replace everything before the quill gets damaged

 

Is there anyway to spray something in there to lube the release bearing without getting it on the clutch plates?

 

You can maybe try white lithium grease as thats not a big deal on the friction surface to get you by.

However the proper thing of course is clean up everything. Pay particular attention to the input shaft splines, clean them very well with a wire brush so there is zero rust and very sparingly lube with moly paste along with all other contact points.

To try to get you by I would spray some white lithium grease. It may work or it may not but, atleast that wouldn't compromise the friction material if it gets on there

 

I'm happy to report that the white lithium grease did the trick!!! Not only does the clutch engage normally now but it's super smooth now AND the squeak is gone too!!!

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

Happy to hear it worked for you