'96 2.3L Slight Grinding Sound following Clutch Replacement?
 

Update:
I'm about 95% certain the cause is the metal plate between the transmission and the engine being warped slightly, and making contact with the flywheel when its spinning. I'm not going to worry about this anymore- chances are that the flywheel will wear down the plate where the contact is being made eventually and the noise will go away.


Over the long weekend I replaced the clutch in my ranger following some issues that were clearly the clutch going out. My truck now runs better than it has in years! (158k miles on the first clutch).

Following the replacement however, I'm getting a very slight grinding sound (almost sounds like running water) while I'm moving, but only after the first time I shift gears. The pitch of the grinding sound changes depending on what gear I'm in, and stops when I am not moving or clutch-in.

I know that we forgot to replace the pilot bearing, but since we didn't take the old one out (I believe it would be with the flywheel, correct?) I should still have the old one in there. So I'm not convinced that this is the problem.

A friend of mine is telling me that its the "pressure plate wearing smooth". I'm not sure if he is correct, or whether this is a good or bad thing if he is correct, or normal for that matter.

One thing that has not been dealt with is that I need to go get my transmission fluid topped off, but I don't think the sound has to do with that.

Any ideas? How concerned should I be?