Weird Clutch problem after tranny install and Drag racing.

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frontierguy25

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Mar 26, 2007
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OK guys, I got my new tranny in and it shifts great. I put it and drove it around a little bit about 10 miles in my neighborhood then drove it 40 miles to the drag strip. I decided to make a pass and the first pass was ok, just spun out of the hole (street tires with 35psi) and my car was fine. The second pass I launch a little harder and just shot out of the hole, I actually was lined up with a MKIV with MT DR's and took him out of the hole. But I couldn't switch to second gear. I couldn't get it in any other gear so I revved it and it went into fourth, took it back and parked it.

When I parked it I could put it in gear when the motor was off and it would go into every gear. Now when I tried to start it, it wouldn't go in gear unless I put it in first gear then started it and drove off. On the way home, I could shift but only if I revved it up and shifted, If I let the rpms fall to below 2300 it wouldn't shift and I would have to stop and start the process over. So I got it in 5th gear as fast as I could and drove the highway for 40 miles until my exit. This is where I'm stumped. When I had to downshift to 2nd gear to take the turn from the light I had to rev it up and shit to second and as soon as I did that, it felt like it was perfectly fine. I then came to a stop at the next light and all was good, shifting great again and I drove home just fine. and all day yesterday was fine like normal.

It alsmost felt like the disk fused to the flywheel then unfused?
Anyone have suggestions??

Thanks
 
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frontierguy25

New Member
Mar 26, 2007
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I have the same clutch still, my transmissions first gear went out so I just swapped out the tranny. My clutch has 10k miles on it. When I looked at it and my flywheel they both looked fine. I just cleaned up everything and reinstalled it. I didn't use anything other than brake cleaner on the flywheel and clutch and it was just enough to put on a rag and wipe them down and then I let it dry for a couple of hours.
 
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frontierguy25

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Mar 26, 2007
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lilazni3uoy;1039488 said:
i would look at your slave cyl, it might be sticking so your having a hard time engaging/disengaging
Click to expand...

What's weird is I drove it all day yesterday and didn't have any problem at all. I did have to buy a new clutch line for the slave cylinder because I broke my stock one finally. Everything seems to be fine with that.
 
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AJ'S 88NA

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Jul 26, 2007
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Sounds like maybe your throw out bearing maybe hanging up.

That must have been a mess when you "shit' in 2nd gear :)
 
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IJ.

Grumpy Old Man
Mar 30, 2005
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Sounds exactly like it had welded itself together then broke free on the trip home.

The biggest telltale was firing it up and it drove away in gear.

Maybe take a roll of TP next time for those 2nd gear shits? ;)
 
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frontierguy25

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Mar 26, 2007
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chevyeater;1040040 said:
That is what happens to all clutches that are not carbon on carbon when they are slipped too much.
Click to expand...

See what is weird is I didn't really slip the clutch on that launch. Do you think that It could be something else not letting the clutch give free, like the pressure plate not being pushed all the way back and freeing up the disk?
 
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speedfreak426

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Mar 31, 2008
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I had the EXACT same problem with my clutch, may be a different cause for you, but its worth checking.

Most clutches have springs in them to dampen shocks, but mine had rubbers.

The rubbers had all broken (dryrot and abuse lol.) the 20 or so broken pieces got stuck everywhere, ie; between the disk and pp, and also in the springs in the pressure plate not allowing it to apply full force, so it would slip. But also since there was rubber stuck in other parts it could also not release all the way and rubber was stuck in between the disk and pp. I would have to shut off the car and then start it while in gear becasue I couldnt get the clutch to disengage enough, also same to switch gears, it was useless, I just had to rev match.

Replaced the clutch and it was fine, I had to replace both the disk and pp becasue the springs had begun to bend becasue of stuff being stuck in there.







Well this may not be the same as your problem, but mine had the exact same symptoms.
Good luck, keep us updated
 
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frontierguy25

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Mar 26, 2007
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Thanks Speedfreak. When I changed out the transmission, I looked over the clutch, pressure plate and disk and everything looked fine. All the springs and everything. There wasn't even that much wear on the plate, disk and flywheel. I cleaned them all off With Brake cleaner and then used a green brillow pad to make sure it would be a little rough again and not smooth.

I also looked at the Pilot bearing and throw out bearing and they looked fine as well. The only thing that I had to change was the clutch cable to the slave cylinder because I broke it. I did have one made for to replace it.
 
Facime

Facime

Leather work expert
Jun 1, 2006
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I dont know if its good or bad but I never like to use any chemical (liquid solvent or otherwise) on the disk material. PP and flywheel yeah, but if the disk is greasy to begin with, cleaning it with brake cleaner isnt going to help. Im thinking that would just help the oil penetrate right into the pores of the material even more.
 
Poodles

Poodles

I play with fire
Jul 22, 2006
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Depends on the material used...

But as the materials are very close (if not the same) as those used in brakes, it's always been a no-brainer for me...

But I only cleaned the flywheel as it's the only thing I had to actual touch to install...
 
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