Clutch noise

[Corby]

I dont know if this is normal or not...... Sometimes when im driving around and im releasing the clutch it makes a grinding noise.... i dont know if this is normal or not? This is my first stick shift car but my friend who has been driving mtx's forever drove it and said "thats cool, you can here everything working"... When he was driving it it did the same thing... so I know its not me.... When i bought it from the dealership he said it had a new clutch in it. I just want to make sure i dont shoot my transmission all over the road... Thanks for any replies!!

 

[Bizzy]

Well, since this is your first manual you might practice a bit on releasing/engaging the gears of the trans. If you let up on the clutch pedal too soon when you're car is not all the way into gear it can cause a grinding noise.

Also check the fluid level of the trans just to make sure it's full. You can also try to adjust the pedal by pulling up on it with your foot. If it's loose you'll hear a click, click sound as it tightens up. When loose it can cause the clutch to not fully release the gear when you push the pedal down and that would cause some grinding noise too.

One last thing, stop listening to your friend. I'm sorry, but what he said is complete and utter idiocy. It is never "normal" for an MTX to grind when shifting through the gears. One of two things causes grinding: driver error or mechanical problems.

 

[Corby]

It will make the noise sometimes when the clutch is completely all the way let out.... Its not from letting it out too soon because ive done that before and the car shakes pretty hard.... I will have my foot on the clutch taking off from first gear and it will be all the way in gear/let out and it will make it if i still have my foot on it... like right after its all the way out... do you think it could be installation error? Or should i have one of my other friends drive it... hes kind of a genius with mechanical stuff

 

[T.O_SHO]

Check your heat sheild on your catalytic converters. It could be possible that the noise your hearing is a metal on metal "banging" rather then a grinding... Its worth a shot...

 

[Corby]

Yea i checked to see if i could lift the clutch pedal upward and nothing happened....... Its weird it doesnt make the noise all of the time..... Im replacing the y pipe and cat back whenever i get some money.... but i just want to make sure that the clutch isnt crap and ends up leaving me on the side of the road

 

[Corby]

My friend drove it and said it was probably the heat shields also.... it shifts smooth and drives fine other than that noise but it only makes the noise when im releasing the clutch. If this were the clutch is it a must fix situation or is it ok because it still shifts fine and could be the heat sheilds??

 

[masho95]

Can you compare the grinding noise to any other noise? Does it sound like trying to shift gears without pressing the clutch in?

 

[AREA 91]

I wonder if he is hearing "gear rollover"?

 

[Corby]

It almost sounds like a bee but with metal.... and sometimes after the clutch is completely let out right after its let out it makes a little noise almost sounds like its a metal fart or something

 

[Corby]

Well I don't think its the heat shields on the converters anymore because i finally got my new y pipe in and it still makes the same noise. It will also make a noise like the sound of a screw dropping whenever i push the clutch in to downshift or something....... you can also hear it if you release the clutch very slowly without giving it any gas it will still make this noise. Any other ideas as to what it could be? I will check the trans fluid tomorrow.

 

[Mr95Gl]

Well I don't think its the heat shields on the converters anymore because i finally got my new y pipe in and it still makes the same noise. It will also make a noise like the sound of a screw dropping whenever i push the clutch in to downshift or something....... you can also hear it if you release the clutch very slowly without giving it any gas it will still make this noise. Any other ideas as to what it could be? I will check the trans fluid tomorrow.

Let me guess, does it sound like a knocking noise? Clutch in, noise goes away, out comes back? My clutch was making the same noise. I thought it threw a rod when I first heard it, banged my forehead against the steering and accidentally hit the clutch and BAM noise was gone.

 

[Corby]

Yes when the clutch is in the noise does go away but I wouldn't say it sounds like a knocking noise. You know how just after the clutch is released but you still have your foot on it just a tad? Well it will make the grinding noise there and then when I let it all the way off it goes away. It sounds like a light metal grinding noise..... I wish there was some way I could film it so you guys could here it.

 

[green91SHOPlus]

Ok, I know exactly what you're talking about. Mine does that, too. I think what you're hearing is sound traveling through the tension in the clutch cable. Like, when you don't have your foot on the clutch pedal at all, the cable's loose, so it's not carrying the noise from the transmission at all. But when you put your foot on it enough to tighten the cable, the sound travels through the cable from the transmission and gets amplified through the pedal assembly to the point where you can hear it. Kinda like the old fashioned "string and two cans" trick. So there's an explaination for the sound, at least. My throwout bearing's bad, because when I'm in neutral and let out the clutch all of the way, there's a kind of chatter noise that I can hear, so maybe you've got the same problem, even though that person claimed it had a new clutch in it...

 

[Mr95Gl]

Yeah I forgot to mention in my previous post that the chattering noise i'm hearing is the TOB. Should definately check that out. After awhile, it'll destroy the clutch at the most inconvienent time.

 

[Corby]

Ok, I know exactly what you're talking about. Mine does that, too. I think what you're hearing is sound traveling through the tension in the clutch cable. Like, when you don't have your foot on the clutch pedal at all, the cable's loose, so it's not carrying the noise from the transmission at all. But when you put your foot on it enough to tighten the cable, the sound travels through the cable from the transmission and gets amplified through the pedal assembly to the point where you can hear it. Kinda like the old fashioned "string and two cans" trick. So there's an explaination for the sound, at least. My throwout bearing's bad, because when I'm in neutral and let out the clutch all of the way, there's a kind of chatter noise that I can hear, so maybe you've got the same problem, even though that person claimed it had a new clutch in it...

I think that's it! I thought it might have alot to do with the pedal.... what should I do.... is this something I have to worry about?? The car shifts fine and the clutch feels good... its just that damn noise worry's me.

Oh and what exactly is a TOB?

 

[green91SHOPlus]

You oughta try checking the fluid level in the transmission. I'm pretty sure that low fluid level would be reason enough to beable to clearly hear the gears in movement. But as far as the whole pedal thing, I'm pretty sure there's nothing that can be done about it. I could be very wrong though, of course. I really don't know much about transmissions. I basically just know about what I've had to fix on the dumb car, haha. A "TOB" is a throw-out bearing. Just in case you're wondering exactly what a TOB does, here's a link explaining a clutch system, in case you don't already know. My throw-out bearing is bad, so it chatters when I leave the car out of gear and let the clutch out.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/clutch.htm

Most of the time I wish I could just sell the damned car and get something that isn't a ford. I'm having to fix something every week, quite literally. I think my biggest streak was about three weeks without having to fix or adjust anything in the past four months. But in addition to having to do my rod bearings VERY soon, I'm going to have to probably pull the motor to replace the TOB and clutch, and more than likely replace the whole transmission, itself. Despite all of the near-constant maintenance, I still find myself addicted to the car because of that wonderful engine. I like to think of the SHO like this: "Crap tightly packed around a diamond." The crap is the ford aspect, and the diamond is the engine itself, obviously.

 

[green91SHOPlus]

Oh man, haha. I've DEFINITELY got a hole somewhere in my transmission housing. I added fluid to the thing last night, and it was totally dry. (a total bitch with just a flashlight while in a wet driveway at night with a flexible tube funnel that's too short; all while having to get it done as fast as possible for a trip) After I set out for my trip, I noticed smoke afew miles down the road. I pull into a gas station, take out my trusty mag-light, and there's tranny fluid dripping onto the ground. Not a steady drip, either. The kind of drip that you see if it was sloshed against a wall. A firewall... But everything works fine, except for having to wait for my gears to spin down to go into first. So I went ahead and drove the 150+ mile trip. I had made the trip one time afew days before, knowing the tranny was completely dry, too. Either I'm lucky nothing locked up, or the good Lord has been watching over me. I prefer the latter. But here I am, in need of a swap, again. Just afew months after I set the engine back in. I've got a good tranny to drop in, but I'm just not looking forward to pulling that engine again. Most of the time I want to sell the dumb car...

 

[Howdy_Doody]

Sorry to hear about your problems, green91shoplus. Now back to corby's car. I think you'll find this to be the problem, it seems to be an issue on the 94 and 95 MTX:

http://www.shotimes.com/php-bin/mod...le=article&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0&sid=97

BTW, I have the same problem and even with some foam rubber stuffed up in the pedal I still get the buzz. Ford had the same problem with the Mustang and came out with a fork insulator. I'm still investigating this.

 

[Corby]

Thanks for all the help, I wish I could describe it better, but my car makes the noise only during take off and shifting gears, I checked the tranny fluid(first time for an mtx) my auto teacher showed me how and he said it was fine because fluid leaked out when loosening the bolt. The car shifts real nice and other than the noise and it sometimes being a bitch to get into reverse its a great car. I'm just worried and hope it wont turn into a huge problem.

 

[dpsutphin]

Your noise is probably the throw out bearing. Some people and/or shops will replace the clutch without doing the throw out bearing which isn't really a good idea, but saves $50-$100 or so in cost.

If that is what it is, it is one of those things that may just make a little noise for years, or go out completely in a couple of weeks. Basically, the less strain you put on it (no burnouts, speed shifts, etc.) the longer it will last.

As for getting the car into reverse, it is a common problem. Try putting it into 3rd then going directly to reverse double-clutching it trucker style (let the clutch all the way out quickly in neutral, then back in to go to reverse). This usually works on mine when it gets stubborn. It is also easier to get into reverse with the engine off if that is practical for the situation when you need reverse.