Clutch noise diagnosis Options

[solidxsnake]

Not a Celica, but still Toyota related haha(and I trust you guys much more than other forums).

Last week my friend needed to borrow my car (he doesn't drive stick but sort of knows how to) so I let him. He got into a nightmare situation (bumper-to-bumper traffic, uphill) for someone who isn't too familiar with a standard car, and he at one point called me during this drive telling me there was smoke coming from under the hood and a burning smell. No loss of power or anything else, no lights in the dash. The smoke eventually went away and he made it to work after I told him to just take it easy there and if anything else seems really bad to pull over again. Later that night i met up with him and checked the car out. I got to it and it smelled pretty god awful, and the clutch pedal felt a tad bit softer and engaged slightly smoother/softer than before (it's an '02 Corolla S 5spd, 119k miles with original clutch, I'm the second owner). However, I've been driving it around for the past week or so with no issues. In fact, the clutch feels as it did before (or I just got used to it being slightly softer). The smell from the car was a strong burning smell, not a fluid, but not rubber. I'm assuming it was just that he burned/glazed the clutch quite a bit (but it's not slipping/having any other issues). The smell lingered for 3-5 days after that night. No smoke or anything after he called me and told me he saw some smoke.

Anyhow, we decided I'd replace the clutch at some point soon if it posed a problem. At the moment it has been fine. However, last night I noticed a small whirring noise coming from the car. It happens when the clutch is fully engaged (pedal out), no matter the gear (neutral included). Which leads me to believe it has to do with either the TO bearing or the input-shaft bearing. It changes with engine speed, and disappears instantly the second I put any pressure on the pedal. I mean any pressure, I can just touch the pedal and the second the free-play is used up the sound goes away (obviously I don't drive it like that, though).

I'm probably going to go ahead and replace the clutch over the winter at some point, but I feel like this new noise I'm hearing is not clutch related (but more transmission related) and as such, a coincidental issue to the clutch glazing. I would just like some input as to whether or not I am looking into more serious repairs than just a clutch/plate/TO bearing replacement.

Side note, what clutches would you recommend? Car is completely stock so I don't need anything special. From what I've gathered, Excedy makes the OEM clutch for this car so I was planning on just grabbing that. I believe I found Excedy OEM replacement clutch kits going for around $150 (clutch disk, pressure plate, TO bearing and alignment tool). Sound about right? What online/retail sources do you recommend for picking up an OEM or good aftermarket clutch kit?

[solidxsnake]

Additional noise I just noticed:

Whenever I press the pedal down, a consistent squeak occurs, engine on or off. It's definitely coming from outside the car. Hoping it's just a matter of lubrication and not a problem with the clutch hydraulics. Any input?

[presure2]

throw out bearing.

[solidxsnake]

Side note, what clutches would you recommend? Car is completely stock so I don't need anything special. From what I've gathered, Excedy makes the OEM clutch for this car so I was planning on just grabbing that. I believe I found Excedy OEM replacement clutch kits going for around $150 (clutch disk, pressure plate, TO bearing and alignment tool). Sound about right? What online/retail sources do you recommend for picking up an OEM or good aftermarket clutch kit?

[presure2]

Side note, what clutches would you recommend? Car is completely stock so I don't need anything special. From what I've gathered, Excedy makes the OEM clutch for this car so I was planning on just grabbing that. I believe I found Excedy OEM replacement clutch kits going for around $150 (clutch disk, pressure plate, TO bearing and alignment tool). Sound about right? What online/retail sources do you recommend for picking up an OEM or good aftermarket clutch kit?

get your local toyota dealer to give you a discount.
or call art @ concelli (there is a link in the GD forum)
you can get an OEM clutch kit for ~180$.

[Random_Stranger]

Not to hop on your thread, but I figure since we have non-Celicas with possibly a clutch issue, one of my MR2s is doing something like that. When I push in the clutch, the RPMs drop and often the car will just stall/die. I am almost certain it is the clutch. The part that got me thinking about it when I read this was how you said when you push in the clutch you hear a noise. Mine is kinda like a chatter, which I think is the Throw Out Bearing as well. When I had my clutch replaced on my Celica at 145k miles, the owner of the transmission shop said they tend to last about 80k miles on average per vehicle.

[presure2]

if the car dies when you push in the clutch, that usually points to thrust washers being bad.

[Random_Stranger]

if the car dies when you push in the clutch, that usually points to thrust washers being bad.

Oh for real? If there is a complete clutch kit that claims to have all supporting parts, such as the thrust bearings, would that include those?