Wierd noise...clutch???

[Josh S.]

Hey dudes-I am getting this weird noise underneath when I'm in first gear off the line. It sounds like something is losing grip or something when I let out the clutch. I know nothing about clutches, so I could be way off. This never happened until a while after I got my 33's. I haven't regeared yet, so I have to slip the clutch a bit more than usual with 33's and 3.73's. I don't lose any power or have unusual high-revs with the clutch out, but I have a feeling something bad is going to happen soon if I don't take care of this.

Let me try to explain the noise...It is kind of a metallicy like slippage, with a hint of a vibration or slight rattling. It occurs only when I take off of the line in first, under mild to heavy gassing it while letting the clutch out.

If anyone has any idea what this is, I would apreciate it greatly. Maybe throwout bearing?(whatever the hell that is)

 

[TDG]

I had sort of the same noise on my 92 with 3.08s and the auto, whenever coming off the line it made a rattling noise that sounds like it's coming from underneath in the transmission area. I never did find until the day when I got bored and put some new motor mounts on that I laying around for the hell of it, the drivers side mount, which is the mount under tension came out in about 3 pieces. It's something you might want to take a look at, with the 33"s and stock gears I'm sure the engine torques over (rocks) pretty good and has probably ripped that drivers side mount up.

Just a guess since the only time I ever got noise on mine was in first while starting out.

 

[dgibson]

It might sound weird, but a lot of the time the cover will get loose around the catalytic converter. Mine was loose and made noises when coming off the line and all. One day it just fell off. No more noise, no more problem.

 

[Josh S.]

Yah I've thought about the cat thing, but its more of a squealing kind of noise, like if something was losing traction.

I'll check out those motor mounts. How much for new ones?

 

[TDG]

Oh squealing kind of noise, the motor mount would make a rattling sound low pitched than the cat shield. Any chance you might have burned the clutch disc? Usually accompanied by a buring smell while slipping the clutch. Any oil leaking out from between the engine and the bell housing? Even though it's not slipping yet doesn't mean there there isn't a little bit of oil on the disc and it's causing some weird noises.. just areas to check.

 

[JoshC]

Might be the fingers on your Pressure plate. The pressure plate is what the clutch disc presses against and the fingers on the plate are what the throw out bearing presses against. I had a 98 Ranger that did that when i bought it new. They said the fingers were just week and when i had to slip the clutch a little bit whether i was off road or just at a stop light on a hill it would make that noise. Just a thought though.

Happy trails!!

 

[Josh S.]

I could have quite possibly burned out something in the clutch lately. I have to slip the clutch a lot more now that I have the 33's. I noticed some oil of some sort nearby the engine oil drainplug, so maybe its the clutch oil. i will check more closely on the leaky oil situation tonight or tomorrow. What would it take to replace my stock stuff w/ a centerforce II maybe...? Is something likely to break soon, causing me to be stranded?

 

[TDG]

Oil on the drain plug is pretty normal, look at where the engine and transmission come together, if you see oil coming from that area then you may have a bad seal somewhere. It is posible that the clutch disc may be shot, in that case you might want to think about a regear before you throw money at the clutch to prevent this from happening again. I work in SantaAna PM me if you would like me to take a look at it.

 

[JoshC]

Re gearing it is definantly what i would do along with the clutch. Clutch fluid is just brake fluid. It is clear unless it is really really dirty. If it is leaking then you'd have a hard time shifting gears and getting it to go in gear because of lack of pressure from the leak. Replacing the clutch is not a fun job. You've gotta pull the tranny out and get everything lined back up. If you do have this job done, go ahead and replace everything with new stuff. The whole clutch pack which is the disc and pressure plate, then change out the slave cylinder, it should have the throw out bearing already on it. And i would also have my fly wheel turned when you have everything apart. Good luck!

Happy trails!!

 

[Josh S.]

Yah, I know I really really need to regear soon, but I have the lack-of-cash syndrome. The clutch seems to be holding up good for now, so I'll wait till something goes terribly wrong first.

TDG-yah we should hookup if you want, even just to say watsup. I live off of fairhaven, between glasell and tustin ave. Peace

 

[Evil Republican]

Mine make a grinding twang kind of noise when speeding up...

I think "and hope" it is the metal cover because it quit for a long time when I tightened it down with a bungee...

Time to add another because the sound is back...

 

[MagellanSky]

im having exact same problem with noise. no leaks on mine either. everyone ive talked to say throw out bearing and replace clutch. getting mine done in about a month before i get stranded. also starting to get difficult to shift gears. hope fixing clutch will solve that problem also.