Neutral gear rattle

[Firecat F7 Viper]

I have the neutral gear rattle on my 98 GTS.
I have gotten used to the noise at stoplights and stop and go traffic but am kind of tired of explaining to my friends or any new passengers that ride with me that this noise is normal.
They always ask me what that chatter is or "what's the matter with your car".
I have since started to leave the clutch pedal to the floor while waiting for lights to change rather then putting car in neutral with foot off clutch. This procedure gets rid of the noise but my question is: Will holding clutch pedal down for extended periods of time damage or weaken anything in the clutch or pressure plate? Am I better off putting car in neutral and putting up with the what's wrong with your car questions or is it safe to keep clutch depressed?

 

[Jerry Dobson]

I go through the same thing.

I never press the clutch unless I am shifting or stopping. Once at a standstill, you should be in neutral.

Yes, you will wear out the throwout bearing by holding the clutch in all the time.

Your car comes with Dexron III in the tranny. Switching to gear lube helps, but not much.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

I agree with Jerry on all points.

And there is a TSB on a Mopar fluid upgrade from the original Dexron.

 

[ViperJoe]

Listen to a race car at idle, same if not more mechanical music. Just tell tham what it really is....
a race car, not some heavily insulated soundproofed luxobarge.

 

[kverges]

ride in their car and ask them if it's on and when they pull away from a stoplight if you should get out and push