T Mac

I read several noise threads but didn't see or flat-out missed any on this specific issue. I've got an '07 2 door 6 speed with about 40000 miles that is perfectly quiet for about the first 30 or 40 minutes of a drive (including any trip from home to a shop) but if I go to the mountains it develops a loud ticking sound either in gear or with the clutch out by the time I reach a trail. It sounds like a very fast second hand on a wind-up watch. If I put the clutch down or let the Jeep sit for a night, it goes away. I get it in 2 wheel drive, 4 hi and 4 low. When its cold, the clutch does pop sometimes when I depress the pedal. I took it to a shop who said its a bearing and time for a new clutch, but the quote was a shock so I'm not ready to sign off on that yet. The dealer is looking at in on Friday for a second opinion. Any thoughts?

Oh, and I put this question into the Modified Tech in case any of my mods are related to the noise, but feel free to move it if its the wrong spot.

Thanks.

8/25/1- edit: After going to a few shops, I got the best price from the dealer (Go on Broadway in Denver) for a new clutch assembly and that solved the problem. It was the throwout bearing but I decided to go for a whole new assembly given the small difference in labor costs of just the TO bearing vs the clutch.