I recently replaced my clutch to include the disc, pressure plate, & throwout bearing. It works much better, now. Engagement point is not at the floor, transmission goes into gear easily, etc.

But it makes a racket. Sort of a clattering noise in all gears and in neutral. Gets worse or better at different speeds, but only goes away when I push the pedal to release it. I crawled under to listen with the engine idling, and the noise is definitely coming from the clutch housing.

This was my first clutch job and I imagine I must have messed something up, but I don't know exactly what. I have the idea that the noise may be related to the throwout bearing somehow, but I'd like to have some more specific ideas what to look for before I jack the truck up and take it apart again.

My truck is an 86 F150 with 300 L6, T-18, and external slave cylinder.

Thanks for reading and especially thanks to those who reply.

 

It wouldn't be the throw out bearing because it only turns when the pedal is depressed.
Did you try grabbing the lever where the slave presses against it? Does that have an effect? When you bought the t/o bearing did it come with the carrier or did you have to press in on?

My suspicion is that it is not the clutch. When the clutch is engaged it becomes a single turning mass and no parts are moving except that the entire assembly spins with the flywheel. Is there any possibility that there is something foreign in there? Could a couple of bolts have been left loose? Is there any vibration?

Check the oil in the transmission?

Random thoughts but maybe give you an idea.

 

Something foreign?!! Ack! I hadn't even thought of that. I hope not. I don't think so... I hope not!

Actually, I did grab hold of the clutch release lever because it was dancing all over the place. When I held onto it, the noise quieted somewhat.

If by carrier you mean the thin-walled metal sleeve that was inside old throwout bearing, I inserted it in the new throwout bearing. Didn't require any pressing, though...

 

If the lever was dancing around, you may have gotten a bad pressure plate.. Like maybe one of the fingers is high causing it to touch the t/o bearing while it is turning.

 

It may be the input bearing in the tranny as well. When you replaced the clutch, did you notice if there was any movement in the input shaft?

 

I didn't notice any movement of the input shaft. It seemed very solidly in place so it would only rotate. I will admit that I wasn't specifically looking for movement of the input shaft, so I may well have overlooked it. I will specifically check it when I have it apart again this weekend.

So far, I'm to check the following:

1. Transmission oil - because it is the easiest thing to get to, I'll rule that out first. I changed the transmission oil and expect it to be okay, but I'll check the level anyway to be sure.
2. Remove the slave cylinder and the boot around the release lever. Look and feel through the hole to check the release lever, throwout bearing and carrier, check for the presence of foreign objects.
3. If I've found nothing so far, pull the transmission again and check for play of the input shaft.
4. Pull the clutch housing and check the pressure plate fingers. The new pressure plate looked perfect when I installed it, but maybe I'm failing to recognize something that isn't right.

Thanks to both of you for your input.

Anyone else have any ideas?

My father-in-law will be in town this weekend, and he has more experience than I have, so I'll show it to him, too.

 

I have the same noise, It sounds like scrapeing metal, but very faint. However, I have had no issues with it so far.

Though I am haveing crappy tranny problems now. =*(