I have a 2000 4.0 v6, 5 speed, my clutch has also felt a bit odd recently, it might be squeaking occasionally (kinda hard to tell whats squeaking), only really happens after I just started it

And now my main issue, the clutch feels a lot different when I push it in while in gear vs while in neutral, for example it feels like its 'normal' weight while in neutral, but while in gear it feels heavier, it happens in all gears and once I put it back in neutral it instantly feels the normal weight

I dont know when or if the last time the clutch, master/slave cylinder was replaced. Thanks in advance.

 

Noise is the throwout bearing and/or the pilot bearing, both are replaced with clutch when its time

Try bleeding the clutch system, that's about all you can do besides pulling out transmission and replacing the clutch parts


Transmission can't be disconnected from rear wheels, so transmission is always spinning at rear wheel speed(RPMs)
The clutch disconnects the engine from transmission

The pilot bearing supports the end of transmission's input shaft, outside of the pilot bearing spins at engine RPM, lets say at idle thats 750rpm
Inside of pilot bearing spins at transmission input shaft RPM, so in gear(clutch pedal up) that would be wheel speed(RPM)
With clutch pedal down the engine RPM and transmission RPM are disconnected
If you are stopped, transmission at 0 RPM, engine at 750RPM the pilot bearing is being used, outside 750 inside 0 RPMs
If trans is in gear that adds resistance to pilot bearing spinning, in Neutral less resistance

Throwout bearing allows clutch pedal and slave to release the spring pressure holding the spinning clutch disc against spinning flywheel
Slave is stationary bolted to bellhousing
Flywheel and pressure plate are at engine RPM
Throwout bearing allows stationary slave to push on spinning pressure plate springs to release clutch disc

Pilot bearing or throwout bearing can make noises when engine is running because both are needed to allow different RPMs between engine and transmission

 

thank you! Thats all super helpful