I'm new on these forums, but I recently bought a 1996 4x4 2-door Cherokee with the 2.5 and it has a manual transmission. It needed some work, but I got a really good deal on it. I thought I was done for now when I replaced the clutch master and slave cylinder and clutch line, but after I started it up with the new system in I noticed a problem. Whether the clutch pedal is depressed or not there is a bad rubbing/chattering sound and smoke is coming out somewhere around the driver side of the bellhousing. I started the Jeep without the slave in it before I put the new one in and it sounded normal.

I have a few guesses about what could be wrong. 1. Possibly brake fluid got on the clutch plate. I kinda doubt this though because it would've been doing the same thing when I started it without the slave in. 2. The plastic tabs broke off from the slave and lodged in the clutch. 3. The clutch was already worn badly and the new slave is just putting extra pressure on it now and making it obvious. 4. The fork is screwed up where the slave pushes against it or the slave is barely off on it. It didn't seem right when I took the slave out because the fork was so loose and when I pushed back on it with my finger there was a loose parts sound.

Any good ideas on what it could be?

 

I'm thinking squealing might describe the noise better. Also the smoke could be coming off the exhaust pipe.