I've noticed a noise when I have my clutch depressed, it sounds like a loud metallic rattle that seems to be getting worse. It doesn't happen when in neutral and the clutch is out, or when in gear with the clutch out.

I'm guessing I'm going to need a new clutch soon, but does the rattle indicate anything else going bad?

Also, if I do need a new clutch, are there any worthwhile aftermarket options for a street driven car?

 

The rattle is the throw out bearing for the clutch which is bad.

 

This might be a stupid question, but is there anyway of knowing how close it is to going completely bad? The car still drives fine, its just noisy. The reason is I'm about to transport it from california to maryland and would rather do the work there than try to find a place to put in a new clutch in the next week. It just needs to be "operable" so they can drive it on and off the truck.

 

the clutch may not be bad...maybe just the bearing.

 

Will a bad bearing make it catastrophically fail at some point in the near future? Or is it the kind of thing that will just be noisy until replaced?

 

is it the throwout bearing when the rattle is in neutral, but goes away when you press the clutch in?

Tim

 

Since I got the car > 2 years ago, I have had a much quieter rattle when in neutral and clutch out, although it goes away when the clutch is in. I always thought this was a normal noise, and have had mazda dealers (ivan at sunnyvale) tell me it was normal.

This new rattle is loud enough to scare people next to me in traffic and only happens with the clutch in.

 

It sounds like a throw out bearing to me.

 

On and off the truck should be fine but I wouldn't drive it across the country.

 

I wanted to drive cross country but suspected I'd have to do alot of work to the car first... I guess I was right.

 

so is it the throwout bearing for both situations? clutch out, neutral, makes noise (more than normal) but goes away with clutch in.....as well as makes noise when clutch in?

Tim

 

same problem overhere
when i step on the clutch-pedal the rattle goes away. i gets quiter when i drove it for a while though.
i only hear this in neutral