56 Plate Ford Focus 1.6 Petrol Clutch Rattle

Hey,

After some advice :)

We had our clutch replaced at around 103,000 miles (not too bad for a heavily used car in a hilly, pot-holey place). From memory we didn't really notice it needed doing until after a one service it was picked up that it was wearing and then we noticed in 3/4th gear it occasionally started slipping. It sounded very slightly rattley ever since we owned it (from 15,000) but always had. We got it replaced once it had started slipping.

So, now at 131,000ish miles and I've been noticing at the start pulling away in 1st a very slight rattle at the biting point, but mainly that in 3/4/5thth going up hill/under load the clutch will sound quite rattley/clickly.

Strangely it goes through parts of a drive sounding rattley going up a hill/under load, and then maybe a bit later in the same drive, or a different day it won't at all. It has not slipped but I'm pretty sure the rattling has increased in the last year or so, which is why I'm asking for advice:

So I'm after your experiences of:

1) Are Ford Focus MK2 slightly rattly with their clutches (it's always seemed a little bit esp. in 3rd under load for me)

2) Can the plates wear at different rates around, so some parts might rattle and others not when under load (explaining the inconsistency)

3) Assume clutch is auto-adjusting (or is this something that could be adjusted)?

Thanks in advance for advice or tips,

James.