Stiff Squeaky Clutch

I have a defender 90 1987 with a very stiff, sqeaky clutch, has anyone got any ideas how to solve this?? will WD40 do the tricK?

Well, the squeak is almost certainly either the pedal to master cylinder assembly, or the clutch lever inside the bellhousing. If the former, the WD will help (but strip, clean and grease better. If the latter, no, WD no good because you'll have to take the gearbox off to fix it.

Landy clutches are not exactly light work, even when working properly - try someone else's to see if you really do have a problem. (Other than the squeak).

My clutch doesn't squeak but it is stiff when letting it out, the pedal doesn't move smoothly and feels like it moves in stages. Is this likely to be the linkage to the master cylinder.

Sorry for butting in on the thread

dw bout it! yer ive tried it against a mates and its definatly stiffer. Thanks for the help, ill try the WD40 and if tht doesnt help i think ill have to take it apart.

Steve H said:

My clutch doesn't squeak but it is stiff when letting it out, the pedal doesn't move smoothly and feels like it moves in stages. Is this likely to be the linkage to the master cylinder.

Sorry for butting in on the thread

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You're going to have to hope so, but it could be either I'm afraid.

I had a stiff and squeaky one as well and just ignored it, then sometime later I couldn't get it into gear. turned out to be the clutch arm. punched right through it had. any way new arm, new clutch, new bearing and no squeak. sorry but I think boguing could be right.

The squeak is more than likely the rubber diaphram on the clutch master cylinder pushrod under the bonnet. Flip the bonnet up, look behind the brake servo and remove the 6 bolts / screws that hold the dust plate over the clutch master cylinder housing. Just whack some grease on the shaft under that cover and give the clutch a press a few times. Should solve the problem! Don't forget to re-fit the dust cover! Other than that, a hard clutch is how it should be unless there's a clutch servo fitted somewhere in the line.

Try fitting the master cylinder from a v8. They have a bigger bore than the ones fitted to other landrovers. This means the are lighter to operate.

yu sure about that Ratty - i reckon the bigger the bore - the more volume moved and therefore the more work involved.

The Mad Hat Man said:

yu sure about that Ratty - i reckon the bigger the bore - the more volume moved and therefore the more work involved.

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If the bigger bore is moving a smaller bore there is less pressure required. I found out when changing the master cylinder on my old v8. I bought a new cylinder on ebay "suitable for all defenders". I noticed the bore was different but fitted it anyway. It made my clutch much heavier.