Easy method to grease the clutch fork ball

downhillbik3r · Jul 6, 2018

Greased my clutch fork the other day. This write up was a great help. But, I performed it a little bit differently. My fork was extremely loud and obnoxious.

1. Move the boot out of the way.
2. I was able to push the fork towards the slave cylinder and move it enough to create a small gap between the fork and the ball it pivots on.
3. I then took a grease gun with a "needle" style end long enough to reach the clutch fork ball and squirted some grease between the clutch fork and the ball. Easy peasy, no need to remove the slave cylinder.

The clutch fork is now silent and pedal feel is much better.

casey2012 · Jul 6, 2018

iroh[OP] initial post: ↑

I hate squeaking. It makes my Toyota sound like a (insert your despised domestic of choice). I really had hoped I had this licked when I pulled the tranny off last year and got the fork/ball/new throwout bearing all clean and greased. Well, gosh darn it, 10k miles later and my moly grease was apparently not up to par.

Note, this is for the super duper clutch squeak that some of us get; not that wimpy creaking that comes from the plastic on the pedal under the dash, like so:

(video from last year, but it sounded almost this bad again already)

https://youtu.be/1AWqhYEu_zY

Woah, not the way I like my truck to turn heads. I could hear it with every shift... how annoying! Let's fix it.

Things needed:
-3/8" ratchet with 12mm socket
-grease rag
-good grease in a tub or tube. I'm trying high-temp wheel bearing grease this time
-drinking straw, get one for free next time you go to Mickey Ds
-scissors
-portable light if you're doing it in the driveway at 1am like me
-I can't stand beer but some people work better with it

So first thing to do is make sure the truck won't roll over you so chock a wheel, set the ebrake, and put it in gear. Engine off, duh! Grab that ratchet and crawl under the truck behind the driver's side front tire. The top of the clutch slave cylinder has 2 bolts on the top you can't really see, take 'em out and move the slave cylinder out of the way a bit. The clutch line can bend a little but don't get carried away.

With that out of the way, take off the rubber dust boot that's around the fork. You should be left with this:

Ack. Dry already.

Take that straw and cut the end twice with the scissors, like so

Then dip it 1/4" into your tub or tube of grease. That gives you a small blob of grease inside the straw to work with. You shouldn't need (or want) too much in there.

Note we're not using spray grease. Bad stuff to be spraying around the clutch! Hence the straw.

I held the fork away from the ball with one hand and snuck the business end of that straw between the two with the other. That ball is only in about 2" from the opening so it's not difficult. Move it around a bit like a paintbrush to get better coverage, then pinch it between 'em and pull to squeeze the rest out. Move the fork back and forth a bunch of times to make sure it's spread well on the ball.

The straw works great because it can bend into the space you need the grease to go, it's dirt cheap, and you'd have to be really silly to somehow lose it in the bell housing.

Put the boot back on, put a small dab of grease into the pocket on the end of the fork for the slave's ball (prevents rust), bolt the slave cylinder back up, and enjoy the squeak free ride.

Easy peasy! Silent shifting again.

That sure felt like a long write-up for a 15 minute job... oh well, feels good having it fixed (again).
Click to expand...

i used engine assemble lube made by lucas no more noise been about a year now

Portlander · Oct 22, 2018

downhillbik3r said: ↑

Greased my clutch fork the other day. This write up was a great help. But, I performed it a little bit differently. My fork was extremely loud and obnoxious.

1. Move the boot out of the way.
2. I was able to push the fork towards the slave cylinder and move it enough to create a small gap between the fork and the ball it pivots on.
3. I then took a grease gun with a "needle" style end long enough to reach the clutch fork ball and squirted some grease between the clutch fork and the ball. Easy peasy, no need to remove the slave cylinder.

The clutch fork is now silent and pedal feel is much better.
Click to expand...

Just did this technique -- excellent. Used Mobilgrease XHP 222 Special I had preloaded.

Wulf · Dec 15, 2018

Just did this, straw was an awesome idea

Bowers86 · Mar 2, 2019

I have a question regarding this process. I tried to lube mine today and couldnt really get the fork away from the pivot/ball. Is there any trick to getting that space to place lube in between the two? Since the fork pivots on that point, how much space can be achieved?

Portlander · Mar 2, 2019

Bowers86 said: ↑

Since the fork pivots on that point, how much space can be achieved?
Click to expand...

You push the clutch fork towards the slave cylinder such that it no longer pivots on the point you mention. There will be enough of a gap to use something like a long needle grease gun fitting.

Bowers86 · Mar 7, 2019

Maybe I’ll have to press harder next time, thanks. For now I think I got enough grease in there to stop the squeaking temporarily. When the weather warms I’ll try again.

eon_blue · Mar 7, 2019

Wulf said: ↑

Just did this, straw was an awesome idea
Click to expand...

Same procedure for us 1st gens too I imagine?

Wulf · Mar 7, 2019

eon_blue said: ↑

Same procedure for us 1st gens too I imagine?
Click to expand...

Yup. Worked better than trying to use a spray can of whatever oil

eon_blue · Mar 7, 2019

Wulf said: ↑

Yup. Worked better than trying to use a spray can of whatever oil
Click to expand...

I'll have to do this next time my clutch starts creaking. Both times it resolved itself after awhile but it probably could use some grease.

Bowers86 · Mar 16, 2019

Portlander said: ↑

You push the clutch fork towards the slave cylinder such that it no longer pivots on the point you mention. There will be enough of a gap to use something like a long needle grease gun fitting.
Click to expand...

With the decent weather I was finally able to jump back underneath. Doing it in a cold dark garage definitely didnt do me any favors. The moly grease I put in there worked like a charm, hopefully it'll last a while but easy enough to do when it's not miserable.

forana · Mar 28, 2019

Any info for the 6sp tranny and how to do this?

Ramphonic · Jun 11, 2019

I couldn't get the straw in between even with the slave moved out of the way.. Squeak back one later

Pandatruck · Jul 7, 2019

ya Know, my clutch pedal squeaks a bit too, but it’s kind of endearing, in a way...

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Easy method to grease the clutch fork ball

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