Clutch Replacement

[jpctln]

Another question...

I installed the steel retainer with the original shim and race, and the input shaft does not spin freely. SHOULD the input shaft spin freely with the steel retainer installed @15ft lbs? Mine doesn't.

 

[jrichker]

Another question...

I installed the steel retainer with the original shim and race, and the input shaft does not spin freely. SHOULD the input shaft spin freely with the steel retainer installed @15ft lbs? Mine doesn't.

Yes.

I recommend that you download the FREE service manual if you have not already done so.

The input shaft will spin freely if the shims are properly sized to take up the front to back play in the input shaft. Measure the play without the shims in place by pushing and pulling on the input shaft. You are going to need the dial indicator to do it right. You can make shims from brass shim stock or have a machine shop make them for you.

 

[jpctln]

Well I did a little comparing with the old aluminum retainer and the new steel retainer and the shim. The old retainer with the shim allows the shaft to spin freely and has slight endplay (which is ideal, no?). The new retainer with the shim is too tight and does not allow the shaft to spin, and locks it in place. I put the steel retainer in without the shim and there was too much play in it, so I'm thinking I need somewhere in between the stock ~1mm shim and no shim at all, so I guess a thinner shim. I'm not doing anything with a dial indicator...I'm just kind of closing my eyes and wiggling it for now. Where would I be able to get a shim kit locally or how would I go about grinding down the original one.

 

[jpctln]

Alright disregard the last post. I shimmed the retainer so there is just a tiny bit of drag with no play and got everything all back together. The clutch feels amazing...it is about as light and smooth as the gas pedal. It shifts flawlessly, but jerks a little on a normal speed 1st gear takeoff. I don't know if it's just still seating itself or breaking in or what, but it's not that huge of a deal either way. Sometimes when I take off a little slower it doesn't even do it. I'm running stock cable and quadrant, and pulled the pedal up a few times to adjust it to the new clutch. Let me know what you think.

 

[MUSTANGJOE]

I did my own clutch install and i'll never do it again!I would'nt imagine how you can pull it off just with jackstands..you guys are crazy

 

[93 teal terror]

What clutch did you end up going with?

 

[jpctln]

It's a Valeo King Cobra. I really like the feel of it so far. The only issue is the jerky 1st gear takeoff.

 

[HISSIN50]

do you normally suffer from idle surge?

nice work!

 

[jpctln]

I don't know what idle surge is, but sometimes at a cold start, when I rev it up to 2 or 3k, it kind of stays there for a couple few seconds before it comes back down (my foot was off the pedal). What causes that?

Is there any way to fix this 1st gear clutch chatter though? Hopefully it'll go away when it's broken in?... I hope so.

 

[HISSIN50]

idle surge seems to encompass a few different problems. basically it is where the idle (normally warm idle) hunts a little bit - esp if one gets the car warm, stops for a few minutes, then starts back again. first gear takeoffs where no gas is applied (parking lots, etc), can be a pain. it is like the car is bucking while rolling along at idle.

otherwise, i might guess the clutch is breaking in - while clutches dont need to go through a burnishing like brakes, they still need to get 'comfy'. let us know how the take-off thing goes.
good luck.