I've been working and chasing this vibration on my 1995 5.0 for longer than I want to admit. The issue that originally started this was just a noisy throwout bearing, so rationally I bought an all new Ford performance flywheel, throwout bearing, and pilot bearing. A mcloud street pro clutch and pressure plate kit and mcloud clutch fork. Adjustable clutch cable too, and even a short throw shifter to give me something to look forward to. I installed it all myself on jack stands. it all went smoothly, alignment pins stayed in and everything went back together without any force or curse words. I torque specd everything correctly to my knowledge. When I finally start the car, there's a very noticeable vibration through the whole car. Clutch in, vibration. Clutch out in neutral, vibration. In gear clutch out, vibration. I assumed i had not torqued the flywheel or pressure plate correctly so I took off the transmission again and ran the car with only the pressure plate clutch flywheel assembly attached, and it did not vibrate at all. That's when I looked at the mcloud clutch fork and throwout bearing and noticed the mcloud fork does not let the throwout bearing pivot properly, and it was keeping the bearing at an angle, not flat. I also noticed the mcloud pressure plate fingers are shorter than the stock clutch. So the clutch fork was coming in at a further angle to reach the new pressure plate. And since the fork wouldn't even let the bearing pivot, the bearing was at crazy angle.. I assumed this was my problem. So I fixed it by ordering an adjustable pivot stud and also a new Ford performance clutch fork. I was able to extend the pivot stud and fix the geometry of the fork. Believing I fixed my issue I put everything back together and what do you know, vibration is still here. I've been trying to test and think of what this could be before taking everything apart again. I backed off the clutch fork and bearing while it was running to be sure, and since the vibration kept going I know it's not my fork causing it. I heard it could be a problem with my pilot bearing, but I've already tested the car where I start it and just never let the clutch out, and it still vibrates. So I would think that would isolate my problem to just the pressure plate and flywheel assembly. But again, I tested it with the trans completely off and there was no vibration. I've read through so many forums at this point and nothing's making sense for me. Thanks for reading all this and id appreciate any ideas someone has.
Vibration after new clutch
- Thread starter nipple_looker
- Start date
Welcome to 
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So the problem wasn't present before the swap, or was it? And your checks were done with or without the driveshaft to eliminate driveshaft issues? My first instinct is something to do with the input shaft of the transmission. Whether that's the pilot bushing, a bad bearing, or the input shaft is somehow bent or misaligned, your description leads me there.
Other than that, what is the age of the transmission - all original or has it been rebuilt? Assuming it has the correct input shaft and is engaging the pilot bearing, maybe it also needs some attention.
I'm sure someone will be along to offer their advice as well.
!So the problem wasn't present before the swap, or was it? And your checks were done with or without the driveshaft to eliminate driveshaft issues? My first instinct is something to do with the input shaft of the transmission. Whether that's the pilot bushing, a bad bearing, or the input shaft is somehow bent or misaligned, your description leads me there.
Other than that, what is the age of the transmission - all original or has it been rebuilt? Assuming it has the correct input shaft and is engaging the pilot bearing, maybe it also needs some attention.
I'm sure someone will be along to offer their advice as well.
It was not vibrating before attempting this job. It's the original transmission with the car, 114,000 miles. Holding the clutch in and in first gear, shouldn't that completely stop the transmission from spinning? When I do that the vibration stays the same. Wouldn't this clear any possibility of the transmission or pilot shaft being the problem?Welcome to
So the problem wasn't present before the swap, or was it? And your checks were done with or without the driveshaft to eliminate driveshaft issues? My first instinct is something to do with the input shaft of the transmission. Whether that's the pilot bushing, a bad bearing, or the input shaft is somehow bent or misaligned, your description leads me there.
Other than that, what is the age of the transmission - all original or has it been rebuilt? Assuming it has the correct input shaft and is engaging the pilot bearing, maybe it also needs some attention.
I'm sure someone will be along to offer their advice as well.
The more I think about what you're saying the more I think it's some sort of alignment issue with the input shaft.
Were all of the mating surfaces cleaned as best you could before reinstalling everything? When you installed the transmission, did it seat cleanly before bolting it in or did you need to drive the bolts to seat it? People who brought up the pilot bushing were probably right - if it's worn it'll cause some alignment issues which in turn will cause vibrations.
Were all of the mating surfaces cleaned as best you could before reinstalling everything? When you installed the transmission, did it seat cleanly before bolting it in or did you need to drive the bolts to seat it? People who brought up the pilot bushing were probably right - if it's worn it'll cause some alignment issues which in turn will cause vibrations.
Did you use the correct flywheel weight?
If the engine is stock, you need a 50oz. flywheel.
If the engine is stock, you need a 50oz. flywheel.
Just food for thought but the next time you have the transmission out of the car check the input shaft end play. Acceptable range for used bearing is 0.002” to 0.005”. My TKO always had a vibration and it took years to figure out it was the end play. Not saying this is it but with the miles you have on that T5 it probably will need some shims.
All the mating surfaces were cleaned very flat and the trans went in easily without even guiding it with the bolts. My pilot bearing is new, but the old was chewed up pretty bad and actually fell out when I took off the old clutch. Didn't have to pull it. It scarred up the hole where the pilot bearing goes into a bit, but the new one hammered in straight and tight so I think that's fine. My pilot shaft has a bit of side to side play. How could my transmission be the problem if the vibration occurs even with clutch in and input shaft not spinning? The vibration does not change if clutch is in or out, or if it's in gear or not. And when I have the trans off it doesn't vibrate at all. I feel like my symptoms are enough to clearly know what it is but I just can't figure it out.
Check your receipts for the flywheel part number and verify how it's weighted. The vibration sounds like it's completely RPM dependent, personally I wouldn't put too much clout into the fact that it appears to go away with the trans disconnected.
Remove and double check the flywheel.
Remove and double check the flywheel.
@nipple_looker - what does “pilot shaft” mean? Are you talking about the portion on the transmission input shaft that is machined down to go into the pilot bearing? If so it should fit snugly into the pilot bearing.
keel
Active Member
I had a very similar issue in the past that turned out to be an improperly balanced flywheel. (I had ordered the correct one but the manufacturer made some kind of mistake.) Had a bad vibration that was RPM dependent and wouldn't go away with clutch or shifter inputs.
I would be pretty confident in saying that this is your issue except for the fact that you said the vibration went away with just the flywheel and pressure plate installed. Can you go into more detail about how you set up that test?
I would be pretty confident in saying that this is your issue except for the fact that you said the vibration went away with just the flywheel and pressure plate installed. Can you go into more detail about how you set up that test?
CAMTWO1070
Active Member
If you have a roller bearing style pilot bearing that could be your issue as on my car the transmission snout wasnt totally lined up and i actually pushed the center right out of the pilot bearing and that gave me a pretty wicked vibration....
I tested it with transmission and exhaust off and no vibration. So I'm sure it's not a flywheel or pressure plate inbalance.
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Could you tell me more about this? With all my diagnosis nothing is making sense other than something like this. but I don't understand how that bearing could throw it off center, its just hammered in there I didn't think I could mess that up. I've already tested the clutch, pressure plate, and flywheel are balanced and im getting vibration with clutch in or out with no change, that makes me think you could be right, it could be something with the pilot bearing throwing it off, but how?
If you removed the trans and the center of the pilot bearing was still where it was supposed to be then this is not your problem. You could try indexing the bell housing to see if that is shifted.
Let me toss a wrench into the mess, do you have the pressure clutch assembly that has three or for fingers (can't remember type) or fingers all around? Hopefully you got the many fingered type (that is not a CT attempt, but it is pretty good 
) you can watch the fingers move as the bolts are tightened down, no out of place fingers? You may not notice anything till you install the trans and the plate has a fixed drive a weak plate spring or springs can make the plate wobble, you may see witness markes on the plate surfaces, a bad pilot bearing can act the same way, check the end of the imput shaft for unusual marks/lines, check play as suggested, eye ball that pilot bearing for damage,.you using pilot bearing or pilot bushing?
Oh and checking bell housing runout is a great suggestion too.
) you can watch the fingers move as the bolts are tightened down, no out of place fingers? You may not notice anything till you install the trans and the plate has a fixed drive a weak plate spring or springs can make the plate wobble, you may see witness markes on the plate surfaces, a bad pilot bearing can act the same way, check the end of the imput shaft for unusual marks/lines, check play as suggested, eye ball that pilot bearing for damage,.you using pilot bearing or pilot bushing?Oh and checking bell housing runout is a great suggestion too.
Following. I have the same symptoms. Thinking of pulling it all apart tomorrow. Hope its simple, like a pilot bearing in my case.
How does one properly measure end play in the input shaft? Also, no one answered his question about how it could be the input shaft if the input shaft is stationary while getting the vibration, i.e. clutch pedal pressed, trans in gear. So, the input is not spinning, nor is the clutch disk, and if the snout is in the pilot, I don't understand how it would be the source of what feels like a balance problem.
If I go in that far, and I find myself in your shoes, without any obvious clue, I'm taking my stuff to a mchinist to check the balance.
How does one properly measure end play in the input shaft? Also, no one answered his question about how it could be the input shaft if the input shaft is stationary while getting the vibration, i.e. clutch pedal pressed, trans in gear. So, the input is not spinning, nor is the clutch disk, and if the snout is in the pilot, I don't understand how it would be the source of what feels like a balance problem.
If I go in that far, and I find myself in your shoes, without any obvious clue, I'm taking my stuff to a mchinist to check the balance.
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