[jakeru]

My recommendation - do a little testing to verify the actual source of the noise, and don't assume your first impressions are necessarily accurate.

I also have what on first glance, appeared to be a groaning clutch pedal (which I can also feel by foot). It groans when pedal is pressed and released. On first impression, I thought surely it was originating from the pedal cluster...

However, operating the clutch with the door open, and engine switched off, the source of the noise is clearly from underneath/behind the car, back in the engine/transaxle area. (Probably from the moving clutch parts that the slave cylinder actuates). I believe in my case the groaning feel must be telegraphing through the the hydraulic lines to the pedal. With engine on and door closed, there is so much noise coming from the engine/transaxle area, it was have been impossible to diagnose the source as coming from back there.

So, I recommend trying to reproduce the noise with the engine switched off, ideally in a reasonably quiet environment with a second person listening from outside the car, (or at least with door open and sticking your head outside as you actuate the pedal and listen).

Hope this helps, and ultimately puts you on the right direction for a fix! Cheers.