Silly clutch question

[Pops67Beetle]

I have a 67 beetle stock everything with a new clutch disk and a new clutch pedal (the original broke). Since I put the engine back in I get a high pitched squeal when the clutch is fully depressed. I have adjusted and readjusted the clutch and it has about 3/8 of free play. I can’t figure out what I am doing wrong. Any ideas? I really appreciate the help.

67 beetle sedan
1500
Stock trans, original cable, new pedal disk and throw out bearing.
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When I close my eyes I’m a little kid riding in the cubby..... Priceless!

[iowegian]

Bad throw-out bearing.

[Airstream65]

X2

[Cusser]

x3
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1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2005 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[mukluk]

Probably a defective throwout bearing as noted, but since you said the squeal doesn't occur until the pedal is fully depressed, before you tear back into it you might want to increase your freeplay first to see if that stops the squeal; you may just be overcompressing the pressure plate. Your 3/8" freeplay is just under the minimum spec laid out by VW.

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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[Zundfolge1432]

If it is in fact the TO bearing and you are somewhat talented then it is entirely possible to take it apart clean and repack the bearing. I don’t know what a new aftermarket bearing costs now but I do have more confidence in a genuine German bearing.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=665572&highlight=

[rcroane]

[Pops67Beetle]

Thank you all for the information. I will readjust the free play and hope for the best. The squeal wasn’t there when my Dad garaged it in ‘86. I’ll post an update when it’s dry enough outside to get greasy. Thanks again and Happy New Year to you all.
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When I close my eyes I’m a little kid riding in the cubby..... Priceless!

[rcroane]

[ashman40]

Did you only replace the clutch disc? Not the pressure plate and TO bearing? Typically they are replaced as a set. This is to avoid having to remove the engine just months later because one of the old parts failed.

You should also consider resurfacing the flywheel so that both sides of the clutch disc have a fresh/clean friction surface to work against. Just make sure the machine shop knows what they are doing. The stock VW flywheel needs two surfaces resurfaced to maintain the proper distance between the clutch surface and the mounting surface. Unlike some cars which mount the PP to the same flywheel surface that the clutch disc rests on, ACVW flywheels have a ledge for the PP to mount to.
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AshMan40
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'67 Beetle #1 {project car that never made it to the road }
'75 Beetle 1200LS (RHD Japan model) {junked due to frame rot}
'67 Beetle #2 {2019 project car - Wish me luck!}

[Pops67Beetle]

Hi All. Thanks again for the awesome information. I readjusted the freeplay and the squeal went away. I am going to pull the engine in the early spring to replace the front engine seal and will get the pressure plate and flywheel surfaces machined. I found a garage that is very old school and knows quite a bit about the old Beetles and has the skill to make things right.
_________________
When I close my eyes I’m a little kid riding in the cubby..... Priceless!