Clutch lever help

The rubber boot around the clutch lever going into the transmission is torn up. How much movement is supposed to be in the lever. I can move it up and down and side to side. The clutch is engaging great and trans. is shifting good. I have a high pitch noise at cruising speed and when I let off the gas there is a "rattling" (best I can describe sound) sound. Could this be a bearing in the clutch pressure plate assembly. It does to seem to getting worse, however, I can drive my jeep. It is a 1976 cj5 V8. Any advise!!

 

might check the sheetmetal cover <behind the engine, in front of the flywheel, on the bottom> might be loose and rattling

 

The clutch lever on mine pivots on a metal ball, and there is a little play. (Not to say that it's right.)

I had a "buzzing" sound at certain RPM's and discovered that it was coming from the cover on the front of the bell housing. You could try running without it and see if it stops.

 

Does the clutch lever have a return spring on it. The spring should pull the throwout bearing away from pressure plate.

 

Sounds like the throwout bearing is going bad.