Tacoma clutch noise (not the pedal squeak)

Last weekend my truck started making a noise between shifts. It's really only audible once the transmission has warmed up and the rpms are above 1500 or so when the clutch is engaged / disengaged.it doesn't matter if the truck is moving or if the trans is in gear or neutral

My throw out bearing has been chirping for several years now so I suspect that is what it is and was going to tear things down but was messing with it and realized the noise is not really audible outside the cab (I tried to record from under the truck) and sounds more like it's coming from under the dash. Here's an example, it gets louder when the clutch is partially or fully pressed.

Am I wrong for thinking it's the TOB, or should I investigate something else? Part of why I am asking is because it's cold as fawk in my uninsulated garage and I don't want to drop the transmission if I'm missing something stupid

 

@Speedytech7

 

Cracked clutch release fork? It also feels like the pedal is vibrating. 1st is difficult to shift into unless stopped

 

I can barely hear it even with headphones but it might be your clutch fork needs lube. Mine needs lube at least every couple of years, more often if I'm wheeling a lot in dusty or wet conditions.

 

How do you do that and what do you lube it with?

 

I haven't considered that, but it does sound rotational between gears as it starts loud and quiets as the rpms drop

 

If it's a damaged shift fork it will be harder to shift gears. Or if it's bent. Sometimes they crack. I've heard of people spraying stuff into the hole where the slave pushes the end of the fork but Idk. I would think it could leave hot spots on something but I have never done it. If your pedal is vibrating it could just be a worn clutch maybe? How many miles on it? These pickups make all kinds of noise that are always there. I have a chirp and everything is new in my 5 speed including the clutch. Well "newish" lol it is hard to hear the noise and it might sound different in person. The vibrating clutch pedal though? That would hint towards the clutch not riding correctly one would think.

 

The clutch is 5 years old with 43k miles of stop and go, mountain highways, and wheeling on it so I wouldn't be surprised if it is wearing out but it still hooks up fine and I haven't noticed it slipping. The pedal only vibrates even when it is not engaged, though.

 

OEM clutch? That's not a lot of miles but.. if you wheel it. Just sounds like some worn out clutch issues to me honestly. Go Marlin Crawler kit.

 

I usually use white lithium grease and I have to be very careful not to spray it onto the flywheel.

 

Yeah if you spray too carelessly you can get lube on the flywheel, which is a big no no.

 

@Sub-Zero came over and helped me figure out that one bell housing bolt on the driver side is loose. It does sound like the throw out bearing is making noise but maybe it isn't seated even

 

I lube my tob with fluid film regularly (every 2-9 months) on my 2nd gen. Those tob's squeak and you can feel the added resistance on engagement / disengagement of the clutch. I just hose down the tob and get the input shaft spinning to distribute the oil.

 

Well, 4 of the bell housing bolts were finger tight. The TDC one is missing completely.

I got all 4 as tight as I could and greased the fork and it's a lot quiter and there no vibration. I'm guessing the pilot bearing and input bearing were not happy with the motor twisting when the clutch was engaged.


It does sound like there is some bearing noise when the clutch is engaged in neutral still.

 

Have you tried turning it off and on again?

 

I put about 150 miles on it yesterday and it seems like it's hanging in there alright.