90 F150 problems

[montesa]

More questions for car guys. I have a loud chirp when clutch is at rest (pedal up). It sounds like it's coming from the front of the motor. As soon as I put a tiny bit of pressure on the clutch pedal it stops. I mean about an 1/8 of an inch. Not enough to disengage the clutch from flywheel.

The harmonic balancer looks like its wobbling.


Anyone seen this before? With my ear to the transmission near the clutch it doesn't sound like it's coming from there. Also everything looks good with the clutch through the view hole. Don't see how the clutch could affect noise from the front of the motor.

 

[SoonerP226]

The chirp that goes away when you put pressure on the clutch pedal sounds like it’s the throwout bearing starting to go. I’ve replaced a clutch on that generation of F-150 (a ‘91 4x4), and it’s not the funnest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s not terrible, especially if you have access to a lift. There’s an access panel in the cab around the shift lever that will get you access to a bunch of stuff on the top side of the transmission.

The one thing you’ll have to do that I didn’t was bleed the hydraulics for the throwout bearing (you can disconnect the slave cylinder without having to bleed the system). I looked up the procedure at the time, and I don’t recall it being all that bad, but I’ve slept once or twice since then.

 

[montesa]

The chirp that goes away when you put pressure on the clutch pedal sounds like it’s the throwout bearing starting to go. I’ve replaced a clutch on that generation of F-150 (a ‘91 4x4), and it’s not the funnest thing I’ve ever done, but it’s not terrible, especially if you have access to a lift. There’s an access panel in the cab around the shift lever that will get you access to a bunch of stuff on the top side of the transmission.

The one thing you’ll have to do that I didn’t was bleed the hydraulics for the throwout bearing (you can disconnect the slave cylinder without having to bleed the system). I looked up the procedure at the time, and I don’t recall it being all that bad, but I’ve slept once or twice since then.

The reason I don't think it's the throw out bearing is it's always spinning in contact with the pressure plate fingers and then when you press the clutch it's under more pressure and thus more likely to make noise. Also the noise is in the front. But you may be right.

Upon further research I'm thinking it may be the crank thrust bearings have a slight bit of play which allows the wobbling harmonic balancer to contact the timing cover until there is a bit of pressure on the pressure plate fingers.