Clank, Hiss, and Jingle

[lizmcl527]

I've been getting in a lot of miles on my '41 Dodge Kingsway -- the Canadian rebadge of the Plymouth P-11 with a long-block engine -- and lately have noticed some untoward noises that I'm looking for some guidance on before I turn them over to the mechanic.

 

The first is a clanking sound I'm hearing from somewhere  toward front end -- a heavy clank like a manhole cover -- which occurs on shifting gears. It appears, not always but often, when I depress the clutch and will sometimes continue after the clutch is engaged before going away.

 

The second is a faint hissing sound that is noticeable when I'm depressing the clutch -- this is not the usual rushing-air sound from the opening of the pedal floor seal, it's in addition to this, and can also be heard when the car isn't in motion. It isn't loud, but it's new and noticeable.

 

The third is a jingle, like loose washers on a bolt. I had the radiator out earlier this week for an unrelated issue, and thought at first there was a bolt that didn't get tightened. But I've gone around and tightened everything I could find and it's still happening on occasion when I hit a bump in the road. Sometimes it can be heard when shifting gears. I thought it might be the throttle rods rattling, but they don't make that particular sound. Nor does the rod from the accelerator. I don't see any loose washers anyplace, but that's the best description of what it sounds like. (I even made doubly sure it wasn't something really stupid like my keys rattling against the steering column.)

 

Because all this seems to be tied to the clutch, I'm suspicious of the release bearing. It has about 8,000 miles on it since it was installed three years ago, and came from Bernbaum. But before I go and order a new one, does it sound like I'm on the right track here?  Thanx for any thoughts!

[Niel Hoback]

Check your rear motor mounts.

[greg g]

There was some where on the site's main pages an article about clutch noises, including a ringing or chiming of the bell housing. Sounds like your clutch release bearing might be thinking of retirement. If it screaches or sizzles when you depress and hold down the pedal, that is the usual suspect, the jingle may be it flopping about a bit when it is released.

[lizmcl527]

Rear motor mounts look tight, and I couldn't budge them to tighten them further, so I think they're OK. Going to look up that clutch article -- thanx.  Only 8000 miles seems like kind of poor durablity for a clutch release bearing, but who knows what the quality is of the stuff that's out there these days.

[TodFitch]

  On 6/8/2015 at 8:58 PM, lizmcl527 said:

Rear motor mounts look tight, and I couldn't budge them to tighten them further, so I think they're OK. . . .

Bolts tight but what about the condition of the rubber? Have they collapsed and changed the position of the transmission?

[Don Coatney]

  On 6/8/2015 at 8:58 PM, lizmcl527 said:

Rear motor mounts look tight, and I couldn't budge them to tighten them further, so I think they're OK. Going to look up that clutch article -- thanx.  Only 8000 miles seems like kind of poor durablity for a clutch release bearing, but who knows what the quality is of the stuff that's out there these days.

If there is an alignment problem the clutch release bearing will fail in short order. 

 

[soth122003]

Also if the bearing was not adjusted right from the start, it will fail prematurely.

 

Joe

[Don Coatney]

The new bearing I bought had a nylon or UHMW bushing and failed prematurely. I removed it and re-installed my original bearing that has a bronze bushing. The box pictured below has the number of the new bearing and my original bearing is sitting on top of the box. I now have a NOS bearing and will install it the next time I pull my transmission. I also made up a needle with a grease zerk so I could re-lubricate my original bearing.

 

 

 

[lizmcl527]

I got under and got a good look at the mounts -- not easy for me, because my eyes are quite bad -- and while they don't appear to be cracked or catastrophically failing, they do look a bit squashed and compressed. I had thought they were replaced when the engine was rebuilt three years ago, but in looking back on the paperwork, I don't see any documentation for that so I'm going to assume they go back at best to when the car was first restored in the '70s.

 

I've also had a bit of judder on pulling away in first gear, which would seem to fit in with all this as well.

 

I've gone ahead and ordered a new set of mounts, a new bearing and a new pilot bushing. I'm a bit concerned about what the clutch disc and pressure plate will look like -- those were also new 8000 miles ago -- but we'll see.

 

Thanx for the help!