If you take off the inspection cover, is the throw-out bearing contacting the fingers of the pressure plate? It shouldn't be! It should be about 1/4 away. If it is touching, grab the linkage and pull and see if its just the gravity of the pedal that causing the contact (if so install a stronger return spring under the car--not the one under the dash).
But if you find the throw out bearing is in STRONG contact with the fingers then THERE's the problem. Figure out why, pedal linkage must be binding up somewhere.