Here's a belated update. I wasn't able to really do anything yesterday but here's what I found out.
The brand of clutch (kit) is Luk (Luke), not Exedy. The kit included a clutch disc, pressure plate, throw-out bearing, and new flywheel. I have the (a) damaged pressure plate and clutch disc FWIW. I'm guessing probably NOT new clips. Luckily, they do offer a 12 month/12k warranty but I'll have to think about that.
What I observed while driving is:
-Noise is quieter than I first realized. I couldn't hear it with the windows open, had to put them up to hear it more from underneath or within than from outside. That seems weird, but would explain why I may not have heard it as much until now when windows are up when driving.
-I heard the noise throughout the pedal stroke. No different from barely pressed to fully pressed in.
What I observed under the hood:
-Josh, I tried looking down past the boot into the clutch fork, but just couldn't see down in there. My rubber boot was split some so I didn't want to tug on it too much. Only saw about an inch in there.
-Is there supposed to be a spring above the adjusted nut? I've seen that in the Fsm's, and wonder how much that would help the side-to-side play in the release lever.
-the cable is binding/kinking right at the top of the pedal stroke. Watching the adjuster end, I can see and feel it shift every time so that will be changed. Thanks WTDash.
-When I move the release lever side to side, or barely back and forth, I hear a small clunking from in the housing area. Not terrible, but not right. While moving the release lever side to side, I can make this sound go away if I push into housing (toward the bottom of the car), or more pronounced if I pull it back (towards hood). I tried making a 30sec video of this movement and sound. Let me know if that might help.
I was almost dismissing it as me being a hypo-"car"-driac and paying too much attention to everything, until I felt the noise contact from the release lever. This is not right. I'm now leaning hard towards the clips from how it sounds and the fact they weren't replaced.
I may just have a shop check it so I can have a second opinion when/if I take it back to the original shop.
One question, so I might be able to rule it out, I was thinking my slightly grinding syncros, and newly popping out gear might be the noise. Like Pilot bearing, input shaft stuff, but would that sound go away when idling, or stopped?
Sorry guys for the series of novels
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)