05 LJ Manual Clutch Pedal Rattle

freebo86

TJ Enthusiast
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Since I've gotten my LJ, 4.5 years ago there is this rattle where the actual pedal itself rattles over bumps. This is not related to it being depressed or not so its not throwout bearing related or anything but it appears that the actual pedal down below has slack in it where when certain bumps are hit it allows the pedal to rattle against the firewall or something.

Sometimes the rattling depending on the bump honestly makes the Jeep feel like a tin can from the rattling. Extremely annoying, I've looked down below in the linkages and see there is some freeplay but has anyone else experienced this? If I am anticipated a bump if I put my foot to the back of the clutch and pull it back towards me (steering column) the rattling doesn't occur. This is a 05 LJ, NSG370 transmission (6 speed) and the jeep only has 19k miles on it so I highly doubt stuff is worn out at this point.

Anyone hoping someone else has experienced something like this with the 6speed, I've found some results but those all seem to be related with the clutch pressed in etc. or some other transmission fault mine simply seems to be a linkage issue and I am wondering how much play there should be in those pedal linkages.
 
i am not sure what the actual spec is as it is not adjustable, but it should have free play. There shouldn't be more than a quarter inch for sure. i would think if it was the actual linkage that is rattling that would be pretty easy to spot. When you crawl under can you wiggle the clutch pedal rod back and fourth. You should be able to but just trace amounts. I am talking like 1/8 inch or so. But you should see if it is hitting the firewall. If it is so loose you are hitting the firewall, would day your hydraulics probably need to be replaced. If not I would check other things like clutch pedal bushings.

Check you clutch pedal itself and see if it has a lot of side to side movement. Maybe you have a bad clutch pedal bushing? See if you can crawl under there and wiggle the clutch pedal and see if you can duplicate the noise.
 
i am not sure what the actual spec is as it is not adjustable, but it should have free play. There shouldn't be more than a quarter inch for sure. i would think if it was the actual linkage that is rattling that would be pretty easy to spot. When you crawl under can you wiggle the clutch pedal rod back and fourth. You should be able to but just trace amounts. I am talking like 1/8 inch or so. But you should see if it is hitting the firewall. If it is so loose you are hitting the firewall, would day your hydraulics probably need to be replaced. If not I would check other things like clutch pedal bushings.

Check you clutch pedal itself and see if it has a lot of side to side movement. Maybe you have a bad clutch pedal bushing? See if you can crawl under there and wiggle the clutch pedal and see if you can duplicate the noise.

There is play side to side and even back and forth. What is this bushing you are referring to? I will get under the steering today and record a quick video of the play on the pedals.
 
I have never seen this problem or even heard of it so I can't give you an exact diagnosis, but I am talking about whatever the clutch pedal pivots on. There might be a bushing in there or maybe it is just the clutch pedal itself that is worn out. I think what you need to do is narrow down the actual issue then go for there.

I mean if it rattles on your clutch pedal when you hit a bump, it seems like that might be an easy thing to simulate so you can narrow it down.

My thought was that whatever your clutch pedal is sitting on there may be a bushing or something on there, but it could just be the pedal itself. Again though if it is loud enough that it is rattling your brain when you drive it, it seams like you should be able to simulate that same situation with a mallet or something under the dash.

Maybe it is something like a cable or wire that is bouncing off of your clutch pedal but doesn't follow it when you have it depressed. Look for out of sorts hanging wires or something that doesn't look right.

Follow the pedal from top to bottom and see if something is rubbing against it somewhere.

another thing to check is see what under your dash moves when you push the clutch in and out. Maybe the pedal assembly itself is loose and then flexes and tightens up when the cluteh is depressed.

Sorry I can't be much help, just throwing things out, that I might try if that was happening to me.
 
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There is play side to side and even back and forth. What is this bushing you are referring to? I will get under the steering today and record a quick video of the play on the pedals.
There should be 2 plastic bearings/bushings on the clutch pedal. I'll check today to make sure there is one where the end of the master push rod connects to the pedal but there is one up on the top of the pedal on the pivot bolt. If there is side to side play, I would suspect that one.
 
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If I am anticipated a bump if I put my foot to the back of the clutch and pull it back towards me (steering column) the rattling doesn't occur.

This is the EXACT same thing I hear too. The rattle drives me crazy when I go over bumps or washboard roads. I haven’t attempted to address it yet because its just atheistic. Funny that I do the same thing you do and hold it w my foot in the same manner!



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There should be 2 plastic bearings/bushings on the clutch pedal. I'll check today to make sure there is one where the end of the master push rod connects to the pedal but there is one up on the top of the pedal on the pivot bolt. If there is side to side play, I would suspect that one.

Thanks, let me know! It's been pouring outsides like no other so I didn't get a chance to record my video.

This is the EXACT same thing I hear too. The rattle drives me crazy when I go over bumps or washboard roads. I haven’t attempted to address it yet because its just atheistic. Funny that I do the same thing you do and hold it w my foot in the same manner!

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Okay so I am not the only one! Depending on the bump the intensity of this rattle can really make the jeep sound ragged out and just cheap. Would really like to firm up this pedal from this occurring.
 
Looking into and taking pics of my pedal assembly this weekend, to post here, and see what is ‘off’ if anything at all.


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There should be 2 plastic bearings/bushings on the clutch pedal. I'll check today to make sure there is one where the end of the master push rod connects to the pedal but there is one up on the top of the pedal on the pivot bolt. If there is side to side play, I would suspect that one.


Did you ever have a chance to check this out? This rattle is driving me insane
 
Simple fix, take the doors off, turn the radio up, and there will be no more noise!

Not a bad idea. However, sometimes the no doors or radio full tilt isn't an option. The fact I know this rattle is there lol still won't help with the doors off!
 
Not a bad idea. However, sometimes the no doors or radio full tilt isn't an option. The fact I know this rattle is there lol still won't help with the doors off!

Ive been meaning to post a quick video of the rattling pedals in mine. Its literally the only noise my TJ makes when going over washboard roads, along w my keys rattling. But those pedals drive me mad. Cant help it.....mild ocd lol


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Ive been meaning to post a quick video of the rattling pedals in mine. Its literally the only noise my TJ makes when going over washboard roads, along w my keys rattling. But those pedals drive me mad. Cant help it.....mild ocd lol


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What year is your TJ? I went under it again today to look at the pedal assemble basically the pedal has wiggle room back and forth inside the cylinder that the piston pushes into..
 
So I just fixed a clutch rattle by accident. I am not sure what you are experiencing because I have never actually heard a clutch rattle, but here is my experience quick and dirty:

Last monthish we were up in Moab, and I started getting a rattle only in first gear at take-off. It kind of sounded like something in the dash like in the radio area, but maybe clutch pedal. It only happened in first gear at take off and it sounded like something knocking against the firewall. It went away in 2nd and up.

I also had an issue where the transfer case started popping out of 4lo on the trip. I was fine because 4high worked. Anyway I was going to fix the popping out of 4lo with a transfer cast cable. As I was replacing it I pulled the skid plate and found the trans mount was completely wasted. Like there was no mount. So I continued replacing all of my linkage with a cable and put a new mount in it.

Here is what I think. I don't think I really needed the cable. I think when I would take off from a stop since the mount was wasted it would shake back and forth and cause a rattle(probably resonating from the linkage hence the rattling sound on the firewall. Also I think when I was trying to put it in 4low instead of actually shifting into 4lo it actually moved the transfer case over.

I probably could have fixed all of my issues with a mount, but now if my mount breaks the cable will still shift so I would be screwed on a trail if I do break my mount.

So long story short check your trans mount. I mean pull your skid plate off and physically check it. It is free and not tough to do. If your experiencing something like what I was experiencing. My rattle is completely gone now. Quiet as a church mouse.

Now to tackle my high speed vibration issue next.
 
Hmm, I doubt its my trans mount but I'll check it. This sound is coming from the firewall right behind the pedals.
 
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Pull the pedal, you will see the problem, it will be obvious. It’s not an easy task, I would pull the back and driver seat so you are comfortable. The retaining clips are a pain, good luck.
 
Did you ever have a chance to check this out? This rattle is driving me insane
Yes, the pedals are welded to tubes that fit over a long bolt and there is a plastic bearing/bushing at each end of the tube. There is a tube for the brake pedal and one for the clutch pedal.
 
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