Clutch Install, Chatter, U joint failure

[DJCarbine]

Installed a new clutch kit, Changed the TOB, pressure plate, clutch plate, pilot bearing, and the front and rear U joints on a '66 with 3 speed. I went to take it for a test drive, and the clutch was chattering so bad it was hard to drive the car. I nurse it around the block and decide that maybe the TOB was out of place (3 finger style Pressure plate). Rip the tranny out again, re-align the TOB. Put everything back together and take it for another test drive. Still chattered like crazy.. but I decided to take it around the block a few times, maybe the new clutch just needed to seat and maybe there was some grease on the flywheel.


About 10 miles later, there was a shaking in the drivetrain. The faster I went the worse it got, untill I was limited to going about 15mph. Checked under the car, and the brand new front U joint was falling apart. I nurse the car home and the driveshaft falls out a few blocks form my house.


Now.. will a faulty U joint cause the clutch to chatter?

Likewise.. will a chattering clutch cause a U joint to fail?


I am at a loss for what is causing the chattering.... New clutch, New U joints.. what else am I missing?

And yes.. the flywheel was resurfaced.

 

[krash kendall]

Did you put the clutch in backwards?

 

[DJCarbine]

Did you put the clutch in backwards?

I was paranoid about making sure the flywheel side was definatly on the flywheel side

 

[2nd Mustang]

Did you perhaps overtorque the U joints? As I recall, the torque value is something really low, something like 14 lbs. or so. Overtorquing them can crush the bearing cups.

 

[krash kendall]

Did you have difficulty changing the u-joints, or did they perhaps seem to go in too easy (worn out bores in the yokes)?

 

[DJCarbine]

Did you have difficulty changing the u-joints, or did they perhaps seem to go in too easy (worn out bores in the yokes)?

My father put them in, He has changed his fair share of U joints and he said they went in like any other (needed a few love taps)

 

[a.vannoy]

I would guess throw out bearing, if you put the clutch in backwards its almost impossible to get it in gear so you can rule that out.

 

[06cobra]

Spend the 35-50 bucks and have your driveshaft balanced.\

clutches need about 500 miles to break in, and the old mechancial linkage system is horrible for clutch chatter on its own. Which clutch and pressure plate are you using?

 

[MustangMatt1966]

yea, i just bought a stage 2 centerforce pressure plate and disc, fidanza aluminum flywheel and tob and have had no problems when installed......i had a clutch chatter before and now it is almost totally gone...i would go over how everything was installed again, make sure its all right and try and diagnose the problem from there

 

[DJCarbine]

Spend the 35-50 bucks and have your driveshaft balanced.\

clutches need about 500 miles to break in, and the old mechancial linkage system is horrible for clutch chatter on its own. Which clutch and pressure plate are you using?

I am using a Kit I got from Mustangs Unlimited, it is labeled as a Zoom clutch kit. It was 129 Dollars, and of the 3 finger pressure plate design. The driveshaft worked flawlessly with the old clutch, and I drove it everyday. I am just thinking the U joint was bad, threw the rotating driveshaft out of balance, and then caused the clutch to chatter even worse because there was play in it.

We will see when the new U joints come in, is it even possible for a bad U joint or driveshaft balance/play issues to cause clutch chatter? I only got a few miles untill the driveshaft spun off, and it was wobbling from almost the beginning of the trip.

I just hope I can get the matter settled... I work 8 hours a day, and only having a few hours in the evening to troubleshoot an ever increasing about of work and expense is not fun. Might take it into a shop if the new U joints dont solve it

 

[a.vannoy]

Did you check driveshaft alignment , tranny mount, grease the u-joints also check that the bellhousing bolts have been tighten all the way. Sometimes the chatter can be stopped by adjusting the clutch linkage.