So, thanks to the great advice in another T4R thread, I successfully defeated the obnoxious squeak that many Toyota owners faced with the horseshoe-shaped bushing in the clutch pedal assembly.

Happy with my fix, I have now noticed that when I push the clutch in, I hear a squeal/moan from outside the car (not under the dash sounding as with the bushing).

I'm guessing that it's been doing this for a while, I just never heard it or it was masked by the medal on medal squeal from the pedal.

The moan/squeal is only audible when pushing the pedal down. If you hold the pedal down it stops and doesn't make noise when returning to height. It's also more noticeable w/ the door open and engine off [because the engine and insulation isn't masking the sound]

Slave cylinder? Throw-out bearing? I'm stumped and couldn't find any search-results.

Any insight?

1996 4Runner
4x4
5 speed
3.4
150k

I believe if it squeals when you push the pedal in it's likely the throw-out bearing, but if it squeals when you let off the pedal it's the pilot bearing. Not saying that's it, but if it's one of those, it's probably the throw-out.

Just spray some WD-40 and white grease up at the pedal assembly, watch out for wires, that ususally does the trick for me.

Correct. It's only when I push the pedal in.

Looks like I'll be doing some more research on throw-out bearings...

Thank you.

I did that when trying to solve the first squeak (the notorious spring bushing); however, I'm almost positive that it's coming from outside of the firewall--as opposed to under the dash, or inside the firewall.

Thanks for the suggestion.