I don't know much about drivetrain issues but just to clarify, you say it's a rattle?

If you are sitting still, car not moving w/ engine running, you hear the rattle and then when you engage the clutch while in neutral the sound goes away - is that correct?

If you mean that you hear a rattle and then when you start to take off while in 1st/reverse that the sound goes away but it doesn't go away when you let the pedal out in neutral, than I'd think it could possibly be something else.
Like something loose, whether a splash shield (prob. not) or something else in the engine bay :hsdunno:

Just throwing it out there.

 

Good lookin' out on the suggestions.

When I'm in actually driving in any gear, I hear a cricket-like rattling noise. Just driving normally. When I barely push in the clutch, the sound goes away. I let my foot off of the clutch, and the sound comes back. It's definitely coming from the tranny. Throwout bearing sounds right, however I'd love to know what ABOUT the throwout baring is making the "rattle-cricket" sound. You guys think one of the rings inside has come loose? The car does have some vibration due to Energy Suspension inserts on the side mounts, but not on the tranny mount. WAY too much vibration from that.

 

Oh, OK.

I thought when you said "engage the clutch" that you meant beginning to let the pedal out so that the clutch bites.

It would seem you meant "engage" as in pushing on the pedal which I would think of as disengaging the clutch.
Just a different way of wording things, I was confused.

That's why I thought what you were describing was the opposite of what you'd expect w/ TOB going out, but that's obviously not the case.

No help from me on the more specific questions I'm afraid :shrug:

 

If it makes the noise when the clutch is pressed in, I would guess the throw out bearing. If it stops making the noise when the clutch pedal pressed in, I would have the input shaft bearing checked.

 

Thanks for the new insight. I went to search for a picture of an input shaft bearing, and found one that was jacked. You think mine could look like this one?

http://www.performanceforum.com/wesv...trans/0465.jpg

I'd post the link, but I don't feel like resizing it.

 

I don't think yours should be that bad. But it is possible that some of the balls may have moved.

 

Well, I was planning on having the 5th gear placed in this tranny from an lx/dx. I'm looking for less rpm @ 75mph. Maybe I should just switch out the tranny outright. I have an Si tranny in there now. You think I'd hate the switch? It's a daily beater.

 

Your tranny is fine. If it were the input bearing, it would be making noise a few seconds after the clutch was depressed.

As soon as you touch the clutch pedal, you preload the throwout bearing, causing the noise to stop. Trust me on this one, it is the POS throwout bearing that aftermarket companies package with their clutches.

 

Thanks, Schmoo!!! I'll rest better on this one.

 

lol i told you this 9 posts ago, you coulda rested easy two nights ago. :squint: