you gotta listen carefully from where the sound is coming , if its only the paddle then it might be due to dry end or if it has a rubber bush at the end , it may have ended its job , did you try to move the paddle right-left ? if its swing more than usual then its the end
U'd be lucky if its only the paddle that makes noise otherwise sometimes the cylinder seals are eaten away by time and produces such noise (either master or secondary near the transmission)
try to clean the end by either a lube/WD40 and then apply a bit of grease for testing , if its works then you are good to go if NOT then we can think of something else