Clutch noise

[Oddball343]

car is an 83 GTI with an 84 GTI tranny(5spd). With the engine running when I push in the clutch pedal I get a weird rattling noise. Sounds like the release bearing to me. Replaced the release bearing today and still makes the same noise. Also when the pedal is pushed in the idle comes down a bit. Anyone have any ideas? Thanks

[stevethefolkie]

a knackered pressure plate OR bent release fork could cause the rattle -

[Oddball343]

Before I took out the tranny I had someone sit in the car and operate the clutch with the car running. I took off the inspection cover on the top of the tranny and noticed that when the clutch is pushed in the entire flywheel/pressure plate assembly moves towards the motor. Normally I would assume this is not supposed to happen. Am I right??
I took out the tranny anyways to check everything out. Clutch looks good, flywheel has a couple of little marks on the inside where the clutch outside edges could have been hitting, everything was bolted up tight.
When taking it all off I noticed the crank moved a little bit (in and out, not up and down/side to side). Will be taking off the oil pan tomorrow to see if I can see anything else wrong. Anything I should be worried about?

[stevethefolkie]

The only motion you should see, when looking down through the hole, is the throwout bearing pressing against the "fingers" (for lack of a better term) of the pressure plate and the pressure plate releasing from the clutch disk (you may be able to see part of the release forks also, it's been a while). You really shouldn't be able to see anything else move -

Is it possible that the gland nut that holds the flywheel to the crank snout is loose or knackered - so the flywheel is moving around a bit on the end of the crankshaft?

[Oddball343]

Pulled the pil pan and main caps. #3 main bearing (has thrust shoulder), has the shoulder almost completely worn off. Crank has been wearing into the main cap and more than likely into the block. All this after probably around 20K since a previous owner built the motor. I'm thinking it's completely f'ed and will either need a complete rebuild with new crank or a 2.0L swap.
Ohh the joys of used cars.

[stevethefolkie]

Sorry to hear that - but hey - at least now you know. When you mentioned that the crank was moving when the clutch was engaged it just didn't sound good ....

Best of luck with 'er

Steve