Clutch Problem(I think....)
 

I was driving my 89 vert when I decended to play a bit. I dumped the clutch at 4.5 k and it went almost nowhere. I've done this before and have had no problems with any of my 7's. I could smell clutch after that, so of course my first thought is that the clutch is on its way out and I need to buy a new one. But I drove it a bit longer and I had no problems with it. I grabs fine and no problems putting it in gear or changing gears. Since that incident around certain RPM's (about 2300) I hear a noise that is hard to explain. It sounds like finger nails on a chalkboard and every once in awhile a popping noise(almost like hitting a spoon on a pan type of noise) My thoughts are that one of the springs broke or popped off of the clutch disc but I have never heard of this personaly.

The vert is a 89 5-speed with about 8k on the motor and the clutch disc was replaced when the motor was put in.(a stock unit from mazda)

Any help or idea please...............

Does this noise happen when you are pressing in the clutch?

No, its more on deceleration. But also when accelerating but at random times(but not really a certain RPM's, just random). The clicking noise sounds more like a driveshaft with bad U-joint(had one before on one of my other 7). Its not that b/c I checked. I'm going to just get a new clutch assembly(of course a performance one) but I just want to know what the problem is before I put and expensive clutch on it. Has anybody ever had this problem??

I'm not 100% on this one, but be sure to inspect your release bearing on it's way out. The only thing I can think of is if you damaged that.

I'll just try replacing everything when it comes time. Its not getting any worse so I'll see how it goes the next few days.

Anyone know what happens when a release bearing goes bad? I know what the throwout bearing sounds like when it goes bad, but I have never had a release bearing go out before. I was talking to a buddy of mine and he said it might be on the way out. Now I'm starting to smell the clutch while driving sometimes. That and its making the noise more often now.

Anybody have any info?

I think your Clutch is Pretty well done...The Noise: I think the noise it is the rivets that hold the Clutch material to the disc...A Release Bearing IS a Throw out bearing..the PILOT bearing is the Bearing in the Eccentric shaft that "pilots" the Transmission Shaft into the Eccentric Shaft.If that goes then the Clutch will Not like to Disengage,and you get a Sticky Clutch(if you lift your rear wheels Off the ground and Put the Car in neutral,the wheels will turn..Indicating either Bad pilot bearing OR bad clutch adjustment)..If you are Hearing alot of Rumble(when you Take your Foot OFF the clutch,after putting it in Gear),then I am gonna say the Throw out is Bad..My old thro out Bearing came out IN Pieces!..just plopped out onto the Ground..and it only had 6 thousand Kilometers on it...anyhow,there ya go..a reply,from a Dude that has changed Six transmissions,on the Same car!.. NOT because of My driving though..Some bad parts,Old parts and a TII transmission swap!..Cheers,STYX!~

After pulling the tansmission and seeing that the clutch was fine I looked closer at the driveshaft. That was the problem. Well now I have a performance clutch and new bearings and new trans mount and a good used driveshaft. Thanks for the help everybody.