Clutch noise

[Powjetta]

I did some searching but was unable to find a description of my noise.  Maybe it's because I haven't had this apart yet.
Today on the way home I had a new rattle that sounded like a light exhaust leak, sometimes with the other noise you couldn't here it, but only when using the clutch to shift gears.  No noise when stopped pushing the clutch pedal.  No noise when cruising or flogging.  I don't know much about a throwout bearing as I looked at the Bentley and apparently you have to take the trans off to get at the clutch.
I did a rough check of the end play on the crank and it was darn tight, I would guess about 5 thousands without setting up the dial indicator.  Am I paranoid or has anyone else heard this type of noise?  
Assuming the worst, how many hours is it to get at the clutch?

[craiggroombridge]

were you turning a cornner when the noise happend? if so it most likeily is an axle, a release bearing would make noise sitting still foot on clutch.
that is what I'm used to but others will help as well

Craig

[jtanguay]

right now i'm getting some noise when i depress the clutch pedal while sitting still... mind you the weather was pretty cold at the time and the tranny never had time to warm-up.  its a really faint noise.. but noticeable.

[burn_your_money]

I also have some high pitched noise coming from my front end. It's at very high BPM and I usually can't hear it.

[Powjetta]

I got it again this morning, it seems like a throwout bearing.  I can hear it at higher RPMs, not at idle but definitely related to pushing in the clutch.  Some kind of rattle related to engine speed and I can feel it in the pedal very slightly.
This couldn't be the #3 main in the end play on the crank, could it?
Thanks, Dave

[jtanguay]

jake had a post mentioning that starting the car with the clutch pedal depressed could damage the engine... better start searching for it!

edit: i found it!

http://vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=1694&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=clutch&start=30

its near the middle...

I learned that starting the engine with the clutch pedal depressed is hard on thrust bearings, and I will be changing my ways. Doing this loads the thrust bearing at a time when there is no oil pressure.

You can "fix" the switch so the car will start wit your foot off the clutch, I did it witha smal piece of wire bent into a "U" shape and held it into the plug for the clutch switch with a zip tie.

and finally:

Also, a good reminder seeing that this could be caused by clutch pushrod loading over time, is to stop the habit of holding your foot on the clutch at a stoplight. I've never done it as I was always told not to while learning but I know a LOT of people who do.

some VERY good information on that post...

[burn_your_money]

So in the winter you are going to want to make sure that you have the correct tranny fluid, too thick and you'll have to depress the clutch correct?

[dover]

hmmm... I have bad habits [surprise]

my 85 golf makes a huge racket at idle
goes away if
RPM goes up or
clutch pedal is depressed

also: car has 180,000 miles and although clutch doesn`t slip it chatters like hell in reverse... I haven't crawled around under it yet

[jtanguay]

another relevant thread thanks to QuickTD:

http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=69

[jtanguay]

So in the winter you are going to want to make sure that you have the correct tranny fluid, too thick and you'll have to depress the clutch correct?

well as long as you use the synthetic fluid from VW, or similar... and do not depress the clutch at first startup!

[Powjetta]

Thanks for the pointer to that post by QuickTD that is very similar to what I've got.  I wonder if he found what it was?  Mine makes noise as I push the clutch to shift up or down and it makes the noise as the pedal goes down and as it comes back up, unrelated to engine speed.  I think it's in the clutch or transmission as it is quiet cold.  I checked and added a little bit of trans oil last night with no difference.
BTW I always try to start in neutral with no foot on the clutch.  It is exciting when I forget and start in gear heading for the car in front of me.  But I've only put 12K miles on this one the PO had a lot more influence than I.

[QuickTD]

I posted a follow up in the other thread. Nothing very enlightening I'm afraid. The good news is mine still runs fine many thousand of KM later...

[Powjetta]

Thanks for the update, I plan to turn up the radio and keep on driving.  Does anyone have picture of the weights for the clutch actuating arm mentioned in the update to QuickTDs rod post?