High pitched chirping coming from clutch slave piston / fork

I've got a new noise coming from my truck. 98 3.4L 5 speed.

Basically a high pitched chirping noise that goes away soon as I step on the clutch. It makes the noise while driving or at idle, in gear or in neutral. If I'm idling in neutral and its making the noise, I can step on the clutch and release it and the noise will not start again until I rev the engine up or start moving again.

I found that by greasing up the clutch slave piston and the area where it connects to the fork drastically reduced the noise and how often it occurs, however has not eliminated it 100%.

When I'm under the truck I can jiggle the fork and contact point between the fork and slave piston a small amount.

Is it normal to have play there and if repairs/replacement is required would replacing the slave cylinder be the place to start? Or the fork? Or something else...

Please advise, thanks

 

Throwout bear/clutch release bearing.

 

Any insight on why greasing the contact point between the slave piston and fork could have an effect on the noise? Through Google searching I found some instances the metal to metal contact there could cause the noise with insufficient lubrication

Obviously I'm just exploring possible causes before going straight to pull the transmission. I will crawl underneath with a stethoscope later and have someone work the clutch to try and determine the exact location of the noise.

 

Also I'll mention the clutch was replaced at a Toyota dealership by the previous owner some 3-5 years ago, I'll also be pulling up the paperwork to see if they list exactly what parts were replaced as well at that time

ALSO, the noise will come and go, is not constant. Which leads me to think it may be something other than a bad internal bearing but I could be wrong.

 

If the noise was from the contact points......the noise would only happen when the parts were moving.

You said: I can step on the clutch and release it and the noise will not start again until I rev the engine up or start moving again. Which tells me that you are disengaging and reengaging the clutch.

 

Throw out bearings are one of those parts that can last 1 year or 20 years, depending on the use of the truck.

The ONLY way to be %100 sure is to pull the transmission and have a look. Everything speculation until then.

 

throwout bearing is about the only thing that can make the noise in the transmission. everything else is bolted down pretty well. if you got the tools to do it easily, just remove the tranny and swap it.

 

Alright, I just meant that i thought if there was enough play in between those two components that vibrations might be able to cause such a noise.

That is very true. I pulled up my truck history and the clutch was replaced with Toyota parts + flywheel machined at 197k kms. So I have only put just over 33k kms since then. I'm not sure if they had replaced that bearing during this job but like you say only way to find out is pull it apart.

I can grab the clutch fork and wiggle it with my fingers easily (so it might be the pivot ball or something ?? I read about in this thread https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/transmission-bell-housing-clutch-fork-noise-help.267327/), I'll try to get a video of it but it looks like either way the trans will have to come out. Shitty.

 

I've never worked on the tacoma trans/clutch before so I'm still learning about them, thanks for the replies

 

before you put it all together, if you wan't to make sure the fork won't make any more noise, paint it with rubberized undercoating. the rubberized property of the paint absorbs vibration, negating any sound.

 

Just because the dealer did it doesn't mean it was done right. The previous owner had them do the clutch on mine. The records show a rebuild clutch plate installed, no flywheel grind, no thru out bearing. No new disk.
I am having the same sound on mine but I have the hole clutch kit ready to do it right.

 

Unfortunately true, I'm shopping around for new parts now and will be taking the trans out with help from some friends at the end of the month