Clutch chatter...Brand New Clutch!

[tygr1]

Ok, so I needed a new clutch. Having a problem with the arteries in my leg, I opted for the King Cobra kit for the easy pedal.

Now, the clutch has some chatter when leaving in 1st gear! I hate this! I thought I was VERY easy on break-in. It now has about 350 miles on it...will the little bit of chatter go away?

Any tips or tricks or advice (aside from going with a GOOD clutch, as I expect to hear from some of you...LOL)?

Thanks a million!!

 

[cmb91LX]

I bought that POS King Cobra setup and it comes packaged as Valeo and it is not very good. From the instant the car was started after replacement I have had chatter. We took it apart and checked and even replaced the TOB but it still chatters and doesnt hold very well 2 years later, TO ME. In my experience once you replace the factory clutch setup you will lose that factory pedal feel unless you get an adjustable cable and firewall adjuster to set to your liking.

 

[tygr1]

Bitchen'.

I should have talked to you first!

 

[cmb91LX]

no worries, mine has been chattering for , like I said, almost 2 years and it is still hanging in there. you may want to check your TOB just in case, it may need to be replaced or lubed. Does your clutch pedal shake also?

 

[tygr1]

No pedal shake...everything was just replaced, disc, pilot brg, pp, tob, and flywhl surfaced, tranny fluid changed, everything greased...pedal is smooth as silk but for this low rpm, 1st gear chatter if I don't give it plenty of gas.

It's definitely workable...for me...I just hate clutch chatter! That shudder in the car just pisses me off. REALLY impresses the wife when she goes for a ride with me...you know?

 

[cmb91LX]

No pedal shake...everything was just replaced, disc, pilot brg, pp, tob, and flywhl surfaced, tranny fluid changed, everything greased...pedal is smooth as silk but for this low rpm, 1st gear chatter if I don't give it plenty of gas.

It's definitely workable...for me...I just hate clutch chatter! That shudder in the car just pisses me off. REALLY impresses the wife when she goes for a ride with me...you know?

I understand completely.

 

[huesmann]

Did you do the install yourself? And did it chatter from the word go, or develop over time?

 

[tygr1]

Pro install...developed during first 25 miles...got a little worse...seems to be worse when warm or hot...stabilized...not getting any worse for sure...350 miles now...I really DON'T think I scuffed the disc.

I'm hoping it will burn in right and go away some or all.

 

[Tylerb59]

I installed a Spec Stage III in my 99 and it was chattering like crazy when I first started the car up. I thought I severely screwed up the install by putting something backwards for example, but it's just a part of the break in process.

The S3 is a much more aggressive clutch then stock, and I don't know how to compare it to the King Cobra. The chattering disapated over time to a point probably around 700 miles where it wasn't noticeable. Occasionally in neutral it'd make a little noise but make sure you break in the clutch probably by taking it easy by not shifting hard for 500 miles and shifting as much as possible with city driving.

500 straight miles on the highway just won't cut it.

You're mostly breaking in the pressure plate fingers and the wear between the clutch disk and pressure plate / flywheel.

When I installed the clutch, I also installed an aluminum flywheel and that seemed to take longer to 'break in' then the clutch. In fact, it'd vibrate a TON up high in the RPMS enough that it scared me I had the alignment off. A few hundred miles after the clutch was about broken in the flywheel must started to act normal and not vibrate like crazy.

So ... Expect the chattering because it's normal. Just take it easy for a while! If someone else did it and you're genuinely concerned, take it in and have them check it to verify if this is something you should be concerned about ... as if there is more going on then just chattering.

Good luck.

 

[tygr1]

Maybe it was there from minute one...so excited about the lighter pedal, I didn't really notice .

 

[tygr1]

Tylerb59...thanks a bunch!!

 

[Joel's98GT]

mine chattered for a long time (spec stage II) about 9 months then just faded away.
now only chatters when really hot.

 

[huesmann]

Just hope your mechanic didn't put a big fat greasy thumbprint on the friction surface.