Hopefully you guys can help. I have a 2001 3.9, 5 speed, Dakota. Just put in a new clutch kit, new bearings, disc, pressure plate and I had the fly wheel resurfaced. The problem is when I depress the clutch I hear a loud rumbling noise and it seems tough to shift. When I started the truck, for the 1st time and depressed clutch, it smelled like something burning. Clutch pedal feels fine though. Does this sound like the throwout bearing which is also brand new? Any ideas or tips? I hope I don't have to drop the transmission again. Any help is very much appreciated.

Thanks

 

When do you hear the rumbling noise?

All the time? Clutch in/out? In neutral?

 

Just when I depress the clutch.

 

It sounds like it may be the throwout bearing then.

 

Any idea what might have happened? It is brand new.

 

No, not really. Maybe it was just a bad bearing.

If you're in gear, stopped, the input shaft isn't moving so that should rule out transmission noise. The pilot bearing would be rotating but it usually doesn't rumble. The only other bearing is the throwout, release, bearing.

 

Are you sure the clutch disc went in the right way? It's possible to put them in backwards

 

The raised part of the hub faces away from the flywheel.

 

Well I thought so ,but then again.I'll know soon enough and let you guys know. I appreciate the help.

 

Well finally had a chance to re-drop the transmission. Everything looks fine by inspection. Clutch disc was put in the correct way. I am going to take all the parts back, maybe I got a bad throwout bearing? It also looks fine.
Now I'm concerned about putting it back together and having the same problem. The only other thing I can think of is maybe the clutch disc got slightly bent when installing the transmission. I wonder if maybe the trans wasn't supported 100% of the time during installation and the shaft bent the disc. The disc doesn't look like it though. What do you guys think?