Clutch Vibration/Rattle

[72f100]

Whenever my clutch pedal is out (3ontree), there is a loud vibration sort of rattle noise. Whenever the clutch is in, everything is fine, no rattle. I'm not very familiar with clutches; anybody know what this might be?

[FORDification]

Throwout bearing, more than likely.

[averagef250]

I've had pressure plates with loose bolts and/or missing parts give similiar symptoms. Many times the throwout bearing will growl when the pedal is depressed if it is bad and be silent when it is released. If the pedal freeplay is correct, the throwout bearing cannot make noise when the clutch pedal is released.

[72f100]

If that is the problem, what would it take to get it fixed?

[fordman]

remove the trans and replace the bad part.

[averagef250]

Not to mention any names, but ZOOM pressure plates have got to be the biggest piles of junk ever made. I've seen several of them that have fallen apart.

[390Nut]

[jor]

If that is the problem, what would it take to get it fixed?

If it is just the freeplay adjustment, the fix is simple. You need to get a book for instruction but basically, you just loosen one nut, give another nut a few turns until the clutch pedal has the right amount of free plan and finally, tighten the first nut. This will fix it if your throwout bearing is just rattling around down there.

If it's more serious (throwout needs replacement or the more unlikely loose pressure plate bolts), as fordman said, you gotta take that heavy transmission out! Anyhow, here are a few photos that show you what you are dealing with. Notwithstanding the file names, they show you the clutch lever that holds the throwout bearing, the throwout bearing and a loose bolt on a pressure plate. Good luck and let us know how it goes.
jor

[averagef250]

Factory shop manuals give excellent detail on freeplay adjustment as well. The freeplay specs are different for every make of vehicle, but for the sake of keeping things simple, if you don't have about 3/4" to 1" of easy,effortless pedal travel at the top before you feel some resistance you should adjust the freeplay.

[72f100]

Thanks guys. It did turn out to be the throwout bearing. Because I didn't have the time to fix it myself, I had to take the truck down to my local tranny shop. They also found that the clutch disc, pressure plate, and flywheel were pretty screwed up. So it all got fixed and now it's a whole new truck! It's very smooth and entirely awesome. Thanks for all the advice!