Any ideas ... troubleshooting a clickety clunk

[clueless1]

quick update ... it seems pretty intermittent ... there was no sound at all this morning (cold start followed by 10 min drive).

all very good ideas, but sure about the interaction of these noises with the clutch (eg why would a loose brake cable sound go away when I engaged the clutch?). Pretty sure its not IMS ... sound is way too slow when I am creeping along (like one click every 2 or 3 seconds). And its just not there at all at idle. My first initial impression (which might be quite wrong, I was in the drivers seat) was that the sound was coming from the right rear wheel well.

Was wondering about the tranny mount??? ... otherwise can't figure out what that could be if engaging the clutch (or coasting in neutral) takes the sound away?

[extanker]

look to see if the bolts are loose on the axle

[Lil bastard]

I say DMF - Dual Mass Flywheel. It could be worse.

Cheers!

[insite]

when you hear the sound, does the frequency increase / decrease with engine speed (RPM), or with vehicle speed (MPH)?

and what model / year / trans?

[clueless1]

The frequency increases with vehicle speed (not RPMs). So if 'no noise when depressing clutch' means trans not engine, then 'varies with speed not rpm' means ? i'm wondering about axle to cv joint?

Sounds like something is knocking, but its difficult for me to describe well.

Its a 2001S with a 6 speed manual

[insite]

you mentioned that it stops when you're out of gear or when the clutch is pressed. what about when you vary load? does it go away when you get on the gas? when you let off? how about in corners; does it go away? get worse?

[clueless1]

Nope, does not seem to change with gas (nor brake), nor around corners (although it was harder for me to assess the latter on my short drive to work today). My newest description for the sound today is like a cracking sound.