Nasty noise when engaging clutch...
 

I drive a 1998 3.0L manual ranger, and when engaging the clutch it makes a nasty scratching noise, or when I just hold down the clutch pedal. What could this be? The whole clutch, or just maybe bad bearing?? :indiffere

Did it slowly come on or all of the sudden. Release bearing could be shot. Does it sound fine when you're off the pedal?

Well it kinda came on slowly yes, it had gotten worse lately. And when im off the clutch or fully in gear it doesnt do it...

sounds like a TOB problem, do you rest your foot on the clutch when you drive around?

No. When in gear or neutral i keep my foot completely off...

so when clutch is pushed in its a scratching noise?? hmm.. if its a screeching noise thats a throw-out bearing.

It's the throw out bearing very easy to change out.

Pull your tranny

Well I dont know much about transmissions, just a basic idea of how it works. So im trying to figure out what it could be so i dont fix something i dont have to...And if it was the TOB would it also be difficult to put into gear occasionally?

That would mean the slave cylinder is going.
Time to replace the clutch ,pressure plate, slave cylinder (which should include the throwout bearing) and pilot bearing.

I am getting ready to do a clutch job on mine at 106K. It has a rattle (not scratching) just as the clutch is engaging. No rattle when fully disengaged nor when fully engaged. As soon as the pressure plate is providing a force against the disc the rattle stops. I think it is in the pressure plate somewhere. I saw on my new pressure plate there is some kind of self adjusting mechanism on it and it looks like if the disc get worn too much this self adjusting mechanism could rattle under certain conditions.

I am pulling the old clutch out on Saturday and will be able to get look at it to see if I can figure out what is rattling. Everything is getting replaced so the rattle should go away even if I can't figure out what is causing it.

meangrean,I think your problem is the TO bearing. Once you get in there to replace it, you would be wise to replace all the clutch components because they are mostly like worn to the point they need to be replaced anyway. You don't want to have to pull the transmission again just to replace something else.

Im trying to milk this as long as I can because im off at school right now. Will it just fail and leave me stranded or can i make it a few more weeks ya think?

I would have to also say it could possibly be a throwout bearing as well, but something to consider, had this happen on a ford escort 5spd. The ignition switch was shorted out and every time the clutch petal was depressed (closing the starter circuit) the starter would engage making an awful grinding noise. So I guess first depict if it could possibly be that too so while running the engine try to "start" it again and see if it has a similar if not exact same sound. It took all of my auto class, along with my teacher to figure that one out as we pulled the tranny, replaced the clutch, pressure plate, throwout bearing and such and after reinstallation it still made the sound. There was shavings of metal in the case and we couldnt figure out why until my teacher finally thought about the clutch switch closing the starter circuit.

So to answer your question, if it is the throwout, it should be fine as the bearing just gets loose and incurs "rough spots" in the metal to metal contact area (ball bearings to mating surface) thats where noise comes from in bearings. You no longer have a perfectly ground surface on which the balls are supposed to ride on. The balls themselves can also become rough and oblique. Hope you understand that a little bit and it helps.

That is interesting. But it usually gets louder as I shift into gear...Ill try what you said and see wha happens.

Like I said, just from your description, it sounds like the bearing but hey, in the car world, you can never assume! There are always a million other crazy things it could be.

I know! Thats why im trying to narrow it down before i take it to a shop...

I always like asking the tech's (I work at a stealership) what was wrong with something if I had a little part in helping them, just because I like to know...just something I could use as background information if anyone ever asked me about something their car was doing, then I might have a place to start..idk.

Thats what I will do. I worked at a dealership as well over summer but im off at School right now, so once i start my break for the holidays im gonna go talk to them...

Lucky you, Im going to school full time and I drive to work straight after....kinda sucks but hey going hunting this weekend!

Yeah, I will deff need a job next semester, funds are running low. lol

But hey, a good weekend away is always good!

i had that sound and thought it was the throw out bearing, went and bought a slave and pulled the trans, ended up being one of the dampening springs in the clutch disc broke and was lodged between the flywheel and friction meterial. could also be the pilot bearing

I am going through a similar case. my truck is making a screeching noise when i press the clutch all the way in but if i release it a little then it goes away. I have changed my 93 trans out w/ a 92 (slightly different slaves) Also hard to get in gear (any gear, grinds in rev.) Replaced slave cyl and TOB when i did the trans. then again a week later. Same sound. I have bled the system a couple of times, maybe not enough though? I like the pilot bearing idea. I think i will try that. Any other ideas?

My problem was the throw out bearing. The bearing itself was OK but the inside diameter (plastic) that fits against the slave (plastic) was worn. That allowed the throw out bearing to flop around making the rattling noise.

The clutch looked like it would go another 100,000 miles but I replaced it anyway. It engages so smooooth and quiet now.

Transmissions aren't really all that hard to pull out in these trucks. Quite simple. I have it down to 2 hours to take out from jacking the truck up to pulling the trans out the bottom.

Thanks, looks like I will be changing the clutch and pilot bearing this weekend