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New Clutch Noise

NJBronk

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Oct 11, 2022
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I finally got everything back together and overcame a few small hiccups trying to get the Bronco back on the road. Finally time for a test drive, and I hear this sound when I depress the clutch:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7Ai1ccQBRxjoNy5z6

The sounds comes when I push the pedal and then goes away when I release.

Could the (new) throwout bearing have come off the fork while installing? Not sure how that would be possible. Doesn't sound like the bearing itself is bad, but it's a really weird sound. Anything I could/should check before taking the whole transmission out again?
 
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73azbronco

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sounds like bearing is spinning and hitting fork, got a borescope? Cheap at HF. Or mechanic mirror and flashlight
 
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NJBronk

NJBronk

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sounds like bearing is spinning and hitting fork, got a borescope? Cheap at HF. Or mechanic mirror and flashlight

So meaning it's not clipped onto the fork properly, or the bearing is broken / crooked? I can try to get a look in there, but would the resolution involve removing the transmission anyway?
 
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NJBronk

NJBronk

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I was able to get a picture of the bearing side. Looks like maybe a gap between the bearing and fork, so I’m thinking the clips came off, but hard to tell.

Good excuse for a new tool (boroscope); I’ll try to see the other side where the clips would be over the fork. Then try to wriggle the fork back onto the bearing before tearing everything back apart.

IMG_5838.jpeg
 

DirtDonk

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It’s an often forgotten wear item.
Or I should say a service item, because it needs to be greased as part of the regular grease regimen.

That’s a horrible sound! Don’t think I’ve ever heard a clutch make that noise.
Only thing I can think of that is clutch related, would be a disintegrating disc. Or a bolt head hitting something.

It sure sounds like a non-clutch noise to me though. Can you use a stethoscope to determine if it’s engine or transmission related instead?
Reason I ask, is because when you depress the clutch multiple things happen.
Including disengaging the disc and transmission, but more importantly, pushing forward on the crankshaft.
Hmm, if it was some kind of an external bolt, such as for the starter, I would think it would get worse when you were depress the clutch pedal, rather than better.

Can you duplicate it just by spinning the engine over by hand? Obviously won’t be as severe, but maybe you can hear a click when it gets to a certain point.
 

JB Fab

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I was able to get a picture of the bearing side. Looks like maybe a gap between the bearing and fork, so I’m thinking the clips came off, but hard to tell.

Good excuse for a new tool (boroscope); I’ll try to see the other side where the clips would be over the fork. Then try to wriggle the fork back onto the bearing before tearing everything back apart.

View attachment 962883
Off topic, but what borescpe?
 
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NJBronk

NJBronk

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Borescope for the win! (https://a.co/d/09uhmiB4), and thanks to Amazon for overnight shipping.

I must have had the fork pulled out from the bellhousing too much. I was able to push it back onto the clips and noise is gone! So glad I didn’t need to remove the transmission!

Here’s the clip off the fork:

IMG_5851.jpeg


Then repositioned:

IMG_5845.jpeg

First drive of the year coming up!
 
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