The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Intermittent rattling with new clutch release bearing

Just got my new motor running. 54 car with a 235 and t5 conversion. When I re-installed the transmission I used the clutch and pressure plate that I had in there from before. It was just installed about 2 years and a few thousand miles ago. Never had any issues. Put a new release bearing in as the one that I removed just didn't feel right after I dropped it( the new one felt like it should). After I broke the cam in and went for the first run I had a rattling noise coming from the transmission/clutch area when I had the clutch pedal pushed in. It went quiet when the pedal was released. It didn't get better or worse or go away at that time. I parked it and called it a night. The next day I started the car and went for a ride and the noise was gone! Well at least temporarily. After driving around town for a while it came back, but intermittently. Whenever it does happen it was always with the clutch pedal depressed. Sometimes sitting at a red light in neutral with the clutch pedal down it would make the noise, but if I pushed the clutch in and out a few times, it would sometimes go away. Whenever it does make noise, sometimes it is worse than others, but it hasn't ever sounded so awful that I felt I should stop. I'm guessing it is the release bearing. It was brand new and sealed, but I am guessing I could have gotten a bad one maybe. Anyone have any opinions? And since I have never had one go while driving, what could be the consequences if I keep driving it and it does go all the way?

Bad bearing, as you say. Worn or wrong pilot bushing, worn tranny shaft, worn crankshaft or... throwout brg is in backwards. Possibly need clutch adjusted?

Thanks for the response. It's gonna be a bit before I get into it.

Hope you find out what's wrong.

Well, the intermittent noise is almost completely gone away and that's a good thing I suppose. Now I have a bigger problem! I was cruising down the highway and lost 5th gear. No noises at all, just felt like the trans went into neutral. I still have every other gear. Getting the transmission out on the floor of my garage is such an ordeal, but I think it's going to have to come out and back to the transmission shop. I'll let you know what all the problems are when I figure them out.

Guess you know what the rattle was now. Hope for the best.

The reason that I lost 5th gear is that there is a snap ring that holds the 5th gear in place or from sliding off. My transmission guy that rebuilt it said that even when using the proper size ring, the ring sometimes gets stretched during installation and slips off. I dunno? After a bit of internet searching, it sounds like this is a problem for the t5. Unfortunately, he told me he can't find just 1 loose clip. He tried a few places, but if I want to stop down and grab the one that slipped and see if I can find one that is the same size on my own, I can. I will do anything I have to at this point to get this done in a timely matter. I have to wait a few days for my throw out bearing, so I have time. I'm replacing it while everything is out since I was concerned with the one I removed.

Sometimes gets stretched by him? Problem with the T5?
UH, no, it's a problem when someone (professional) deforms a snap ring when installing, hello? Don't let someone put any work back on you after paying them to rebuild it. Drop it off and have them call you when it's fixed.(this must be a friend?) There are snap ring companies that sell any size snap ring/retaining ring/C clip/ E clip. It didn't come from Mars. They go by ID or OD of shaft, thickness and section widths.
Try McMaster-Carr or Smalley. McMaster has a CAD drawing of most items.

Well I got the transmission back and installed. Since I thought my throwout bearing was making noise as well, I replaced it with a new one! I finished up today, fired up the car and the throwout bearing noise is there again! I had absolutely no problems or noises before I mated this freshly rebuilt transmission to my freshly rebuilt motor. Is there any other things that I can check for. I cant really think of anything else to do. As far as I can tell, everything is adjusted properly. I'm really scratching my head here. I doubt that I could have gotten 2 bad bearings in a row.

If anything, the noise is worse than the first time. Its even slightly noisy in neutral with the pedal up. Could it be a pedal adjustment issue?

I looked in the manual and it says it could possibly be the pressure plate return springs.

How much freeplay does your clutch pedal have? You should have 3/4" - 1".

Did you check the condition of the clutch fork pivot ball?

I am going to run through all of your suggestions as soon as I get some time to spend in the garage, hopefully today. Lugnutz... I understand what you are saying about the different TO bearings. I do have the taller of the two, but that is what came out of my original 3 speed and that is what I was using with my T5 without issue beforehand as well. 52Carl, the pivot ball was in good shape. I can't remember for sure, but I believe I replaced it along with the clip when I did the T5 swap. Thanks for the quick responses, I appreciate it. It's always good to get input from people that have more experience than I do. I'll let you know what I come up with.

Well, I figured it out! Two bad throwout bearings!!! Got number 3 in and the noise is completely gone. I thought the odds of getting 2 bad ones weren't very good, but it happened. Adjusted out the clutch pedal a bit and put a heavier return spring on. It's a bit stout but it's good for now. Thanks again!!