Transmission sounds?

[Decepticon-FITES.net]

So I have had my '09 Versa Hatchback since September. Less than 20k miles on it and it's a 6spd manual. Recently, it started making a strange sound. It sounds like a loud 'click' coming from the bottom of the car. It happens whenever I reverse, then brake and it also happens when I move forward then brake BUT say if I reverse then brake and it makes the sound, if I continue in reverse and brake it does NOT make the sound. Same thing in forward as well.

I thought it was a loose brake pad or something locking into place when I brake...hence why it only happens once in each direction until I change directions and brake.

So I took it to my dealer. To my surprise they said it was the transmission and they replaced it. According to them, they put it on the lift and without the weight of the car on the transmission (their words) it rattled...a lot. Enough to have them replace it.

Picked it up today and the original noise is still there...only louder. And when I tried to shift out of 1st into 2nd the gears grinded as if I was trying to shove it into 1st without using the clutch (can't find it grind it kind of noise). Now I have been used to the clutch in this car and it just didn't feel the same.

I immediately went back to the dealer and explained....the rep heard the noise but I couldn't get the grinding noise to happen again.

So here's my question(s):

Does the original sound seem like a transmission issue?

And would the clutch seem a bit stiffer when new transmission is installed?

[Promise Land]

It sounds like the original sound was related to the clutch, not the transmission itself. Maybe the pressure plate or something with the linkage since both require use of the clutch to go in either direction. Maybe, just hypothetical here, the pressure bled off a little between using the clutch it would pressurize when you pressed the clutch pedal in. It wouldn't be under pressure if you're not using the clutch.

The clutch being stiffer should be related to the clutch pressure plate, not the transmission. The amount of force to push the clutch pedal down will vary over time due to the springs wearing. It will be hard at the beginning and tend to decrease a little over time.

[Decepticon-FITES.net]

I forgot to mention that the noise happens when the car is in neutral when I brake. Not sure if that would make a difference.

[Decepticon-FITES.net]

Just got the car back and all is well. According to the tech the axle was not lubed properly. No more odd noises. And the clutch feels normal... thank gawd!