I have been experiencing a strange squeal (could also possibly be described as a mild metallic scrape with even a little ticking) over the past few days when I am driving. It is not always there, almost never at highway speeds. It only appears when the clutch is engaged and I moving, never during idle. If it is happening and I depress the clutch the noise goes away. Driving performance is not effected by the sound at all.

I am puzzled by this noise since anything I can think of that would create it should effect driving. Could it be as simple as a really bad belt noise? It's not like any belt noise I have heard before and a belt noise should be heard at least occasionally under idle or when I clutching. Possibly a bad u joint? I do have some clunking, but I am pretty sure that is just my bushings, but I suppose it could be a loose u joint. Maybe even a bad wheel bearing. One of my first thoughts was a brake pad clip was boken and scraping badly on a rotor, at least that what the sound is like. But like I said acceleration, clutching, shifting, steering, or braking are not effected or diminished.

Any ideas? I'm going to try and trouble shoot it this evening, and any nods toward what to look at would be helpful.

Thanks.