Clutch squealing when clutching out?

When I release the clutch pedal on my '87 RX-7, I sometimes hear a squealing noise. It almost sounds like I've chirped the tires, but the noise is coming from the front. Any idea why that is happening?

Seconded - really sounds like the release bearing (throw-out bearing).

Oh, goody. I guess I should replace the clutch and have the flywheel resurfaced while I'm at it. Not looking forward to that last bit, since the flywheel is torqued down to 300lb/ft!

3 things:

Could be the throw out bearing. If it is, it will eventually get louder and you will know when you have to replace it.

Could be a clutch disc worn to the rivets. By this point, you would often get slippage and again, it will get worse and you will know when you need to replace it.

Most likely, from what you describe, it is just the clutch mating surfaces resonating on each other producing a noise similar to brake squeal. If this is the case, the harder you pull away from a stop, the more likely it is to squeal, but it doesn't get significantly worse over time. My Cherokee has been doing this for about 30K miles- a minor annoyance not worth pulling it apart for. My '95 Isuzu Trooper did it, as well.

When your rear main seal starts leaking, the noise will go away.

Don't forget the pilot bearing.

Does this happen only when the tranny is in gear? If so, trans input shaft bearing might be a bit worn.Regardless, check trans fluid level. It's not always a suddenly fail problem.

Friend's car has had this problem, and has been driving it since Dec. Overnight weather in the single digits coupled with low fluid, and the input shaft bearing started to do as you describe. It'll get repaired in the next month or so . If it's not the above, then from what you describe it sounds like the throwout bearing is loose in the fork holding it, since it happens when you release the clutch, not when you press down on the pedal, which puts the throw out bearing under pressure, it could be loose in the fork, or the fork is worn. . If the flywheel doesn't have blue-heeat marks, and is flat(check against a straight edge) you can get away with just hand sanding the disc with 80 grit paper to break the glaze. LOTS of clutches are replaced without the flywheel visiting the machine shop.

OR, the disc has just about had it, and, as was pointed out, you'll find out as the clutch starts to slip. Put the trans in 2nd, and with the engine idling and foot firmly on the brake, slowly let out the clutch. Engine should stall out without much drama. OTOH, if you hear that noise for a protracted time, esp near stalling, go order a clutch. If the disc is down to the rivets, they'll start eating into the flywheel, and then you'll have to deal with 300 ft/lb. But, yup, time to think about pulling the trans and taking a look at what's going on. My 2 cents. .

Same thing happened on my Miata. It was a pilot bearing.

The fluid was changed recently with some fresh Red Line oil and does not appear to be leaking, so I'm ruling out low fluid level as a possible cause.

I've never done transmission or clutch work aside from fluid changes. I could probably tell what a fried clutch looks like, but how would I tell if it is a bad throw-out bearing or bad pilot bearing?

You have the classic symptoms of a bad pilot bearing. Very common on RX-7s and Miatas. But it's a bit more difficult to change on the rotary engine as it's pressed into the eccentric shaft. Make sure you or your shop have the correct tool to remove it.