Clutch Install, Chatter, U joint failure

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 said:

Did you put the clutch in backwards?

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

krash kendall said:

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

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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)

06cobra said:

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?

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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