Clutch noise need help on a 30/31

O

old31

Well-known member
Any ideas?

I have a 4 year old clutch with about one and a half inches of play at the pedal. The throwout bearing only moves when the pedal is depressed about 1 and 1/2".

As soon as the pedal is pressed about 2 and 1/2" an awful metal to metal clanging starts. Its a steady clack clack clack clack, and stops when the pedal is released.

This noise started at the same time that the bendix lost a bolt. I found the bolt at the bottom of the bell housing. I guess the timing could be a coincidence, not sure.

The ring gear and teeth look good.
 
Take off the inspection plate and see if the instant the throw out bearing moves, the noise starts. And when it's cold, say in the morning see how the bearing spins with your fingers.

The grease should not allow the bearing to spin much, if it spins with a metallic sound it might be the bearing could be bad.
 
YB, I did not get the lock washer out.

Dino, There is no noise when the throwout bearing spins. The sound is not a bad bearing whine or squeal. The inspection plate has been removed.

the sound starts when the pedal is pressed maybe halfway and it is a very pronounced clack clack clack clack metal to metal sound. A sound as if 2 heavy metal pieces were hitting each other.
 
When you put the starter back on, did you change any of the starter bolts? If 1 bolt is too long it can contact the flywheel.
 
Probably coincidence and probably a failed throwout bearing as Dino suggested in Post #2. Do as he suggested to determine if it is the bearing.

It has always been easier for me to pull the engine to do a clutch job. But many people pull the rear end and then the bell housing and transmission. A lot depends on if you have a lift or not.
 
Wick, the starter bolts are the same bolts that have been installed the last 3-4 years.

NK, I am pretty sure I can prove its not the bearing by starting the engine, and depressing the clutch pedal enough to let the bearing spin and it does not have a noise. Then I press the pedal in further and the noise starts.

Also all of the pressure plate bolts are in place and have not moved since the install.

Next week i will pull the trans.
 
old31 said:
NK, I am pretty sure I can prove its not the bearing by starting the engine, and depressing the clutch pedal enough to let the bearing spin and it does not have a noise. Then I press the pedal in further and the noise starts.
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When the bearing starts to spin there is no load on it, when you "press the pedal further and the noise starts" the bearing is under load. That tells me the bearing is at fault.
 
Before you go any further, remove the starter bolts one at a time. See if the face of any of the bolts facing the flywheel is shiny from rubbing on something metal. One of those bolts will hit the ring gear if the ring gear has moved forward.

This happened to me. I had to remove the starter and tap the ring gear back on the flywheel completely. Take out the spark plugs and have an assistant slowly turn the engine with a hand crank. Tap on the ring gear with a hammer and drift until the ring is seated back on the flywheel. You will hear the tone change when you are tapping the ring gear and it is fully seated back on the flywheel.
 
Jim, thank you very much for suggesting the above. That was the problem. The problem is fixed.

The sad thing is, I did check the ring gear, but not good enough. I also remember the same noise on another car I had a few years ago, but forgot about it (old age)and the ring gear was the problem. After I beat the ring gear in it too was fixed.

Also, upon checking the inside ring gear teeth about 12 of them instead of being square are on a 45 angle from hitting the outer bendix bolt head. I hope this will hold out to be a winter project.
 
I am glad this fixed it. Less work than pulling the engine, as others suggested.

Question: Are you running this car on 12 volts? If so, did you do anything to convert the starter motor to 12 volts? (new field coils).

I have a theory that a 6 volt starter motor being run on 12 volts will knock the ring gear off over time.
 
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