Clutch problem just came up

[jamnut87]

For the past few days, it seems that when i take off in 1st or back up that there is a really light vibration/rattle in the clutch pedal right at the very top of pedal travel. The clutch maybe has 3-4k miles on it. Its a King Cobra Clutch, aftermarket quadrant and firewall adjuster, ram pilot bearing, and a new TO bearing. The flywheel was also replace with one from ford racing. I pulled the inspection cover and nothing looks bad, tried to turn driveshaft by hand (recently did new gear install so i had to check if that was moving smooth). It doesn't do this in any other gears accept first and reverse. The only thing ive actually done recently was a new transmission mount (rubber) and a trickflow diff cover.

Any suggestions as to what this might be?

I searched clutch chatter but i guess that isnt what i have cause the symptoms were different.

Thanks,
David

 

[HISSIN50]

David, it actually does sound like clutch chatter. We tend to engage and disengage the clutch pedal slower in 1st and reverse, which is why we feel it. Gear changes made at speed are quick and the drivetrain more easily absorbs any vibes.

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

I have to concur with JT on this one. If you drive it really easy for a few hundred miles, you may be able to reverse the problem, as long as your clutch isn't contaminated. Basically, all the same steps that you had to take with the initial break-in period would need to be repeated. I've done this on a relatively new clutch before (about the same mileage as yours) and had good luck with it, so I figured I'd throw it out there.

 

[jamnut87]

so there's no real PROBLEM that will come out of it right?

just try to be easy on it like the break in and that may fix?

if this didn't work would a new TO bearing be in order or clutch too?

what exactly causes clutch chatter?

I know i ask alot of questions but i like to know whats going on

Thanks again,
David

p.s. Kinda sucks cause i was planning on taking it to the track for the first time at fun ford weekend next sat

 

[BlownFiveLiter]

I don't know of any real problem that can come out of it, but the vibration may cause some issues down the road. The break-in thing worked for me, but that's possibly a case by case thing. If there's any contamination on your clutch that's causing it, no amount of babying it will help unfortunately. Clutch chatter is caused by three things that come to mind. Contamination of the clutch friction surface (grease, oil, etc), heat, and glazing of the clutch itself, which is usually secondary to heat. If taking it easy doesn't solve it, you might be able to salvage the clutch if you can give the flywheel and pressure plate a decent cleanup job with some sandpaper or emery cloth to remove the glazing, but chances are if it's at that point, you'd need a new clutch. If you're replacing it, a new TO bearing is always good measure, even though yours is low mileage. If it was a heat related issue, it may have had heat transfer through the pressure plate fingers and fail prematurely.

 

[jamnut87]

I'm gonna change the description of the problem a little.. its more of a "click" feel at the top of pedal travel (maybe 1-3 click feelings) only when taking off and reverse

vibration/rattle didn't seem the right way to say it when i thought about it

sorry

thanks
david