+1 on Neil's recommendation.

I had been having clutch creaking and friction for a while.
Eventually, I noticed that my clutch bracket was bending out and
rubbing against the lever arm.  The PO had added a metal strap to
help, but even so, it seemed the vectors were all wrong, i.e.,
activating the clutch would always cause the bracket to want to flex
out into the lever (seems like a poor design).  I re-did the strap so
it now attaches on the side opposite the transmission.  Under load, it
will now tend to flex the bracket into the transmission (or at least
less out).   The clutch operates much more smoothly now.

Alex