clutch pedal binding?

It's not so much as it being "the" fail. You can rule out items that may contribute. At least that is my thinking. I my experience from using tight tolerance tooling, just a bit of heat can cause galling.

I agree....you would think once gulled....it would stay galled.

whatever it is, it must be very slight...as it cools it goes away, overnight and it is completely gone.