New Clutch EMERGENCY!

[No.11]

ok so I put in the new clutch this week. took it to work today because I just had to...had no other car. first thing i notice is that it makes some noise similar to TOB (new ford). Also, when I accelerate it sounds as if it slips or something. Also, after I stop and put it in neutral, it makes a noise that sounds like a train on train tracks. I haven't wanted to mash it or anything, gotta break it in, but this is ridiculous!

Worst part is, I canNOT go into 2nd and 4th gear, and even in 1st it sometimes feels like it's gonna pop out of gear. Actually it feels like it pops in and out at the beginning of acceleration.

Parts I installed were:

RAM HDX Clutch
Ford Racing Flywheel
Ford Clutch Ball Stud
Ford Clutch Fork
Ford Racing Pilot Bearing
Ford Racing Throwout Bearing (kept the RAM off my car)
Ford Steel Throwout Bearing Retainer
Ford Racing Aluminum Driveshaft

What could have gone wrong? Btw previously the throwout bearing had taken a dump, literally took it out in pieces, with roller bearings falling out and everything. Anyone have any idea as to what I might have screwed up?

1990 Mustang LX 5.0 Hatch

 

[No.11]

Could it just be by shift stops shifted while I had the car off? Maybe a bratty nephew messed with my MGW shifter's stops while it was sitting off the transmission in the garage?

 

[No.11]

Sorry for the triple post but...what about low fluid? I only put about 1 1/4 quarts because it spilled a little out the fill hole after that...but it wasn't gushing out and I didn't put my finger in to check... this was all after I dropped the 5 quart bottle from the roof of the car, just narrowly missing the interior, and spilling it all over the garage floor which I had kept immaculate up to that point.

I just read that it needs 2.8 quarts, so I'm hella low!!!

AHHHH stupid stupid stupid!!!

 

[Noobz347]

Do you have a firewall adjuster and aftermarket quadrant?

 

[No.11]

Yes sir. I'm using a BBK (Grip) quadrant and firewall adjuster, and a Maximum Motorsports OEM style cable. I also have the Maximum Motorsports quadrant and firewall adjuster ready to install. I had previously run the aforementioned setup without problems.

 

[Noobz347]

Ok... not ALL of your symptoms point to an adjustment problem but many of them do:

Also, when I accelerate it sounds as if it slips or something.

Also, after I stop and put it in neutral, it makes a noise that sounds like a train on train tracks.

Worst part is, I canNOT go into 2nd and 4th gear, and even in 1st it sometimes feels like it's gonna pop out of gear.

Actually it feels like it pops in and out at the beginning of acceleration.

These are the items that CAN be affected by a clutch that is not adjusted right.

These items combined with your other symptoms make me think that your clutch fork might not be sitting on the pivot ball correctly.

If/when you tear it apart again, REPLACE THE THROWOUT BEARING. Yes... again. Don't use an FMS TOB. Use an OEM Ford bearing (from the dealership).

Good Luck.

 

[No.11]

would it be possible to adjust the fork on the pivot ball without removing the transmission again? just loosen up the cable, maybe remove it from the fork, and then push it up into the clips properly or something? if the input shaft is in, there's no chance of the disk being out of alignment, right? I did align it with alignment tool during install.

 

[Noobz347]

Yes... if you remove the dust cover and cable, you should be able to get an inspection mirror and flashlight in there to see if that is the problem. If it is, you should be able to get it into the fork retainer without having to dissassemble the whole thing.

 

[No.11]

Thank you sir! So, to do list:

1. Pass by O'Reilly and get some ATF
2. Fill transmission.
3. Inspect fork
4. Pray
5. (Optional) Cry if it fails

 

[Noobz347]

Thank you sir! So, to do list:

1. Pass by O'Reilly and get some ATF
2. Fill transmission.
3. Inspect fork
4. Pray
5. (Optional) Cry if it fails

In that order.

 

[87-t-top-gt]

REPLACE THE THROWOUT BEARING. Yes... again. Don't use an FMS TOB. Use an OEM Ford bearing (from the dealership).

Good Luck.

Why? I'm curious because I got the frpp tob, havent installed the damn tranny yet though.

 

[Noobz347]

Why? I'm curious because I got the frpp tob, havent installed the damn tranny yet though.

Because the OEM TOB has the LEAST amount of problems with being bad out of the box. They're just more consistent and more durable than the aftermarket pieces.

It's not to say that you shouldn't install the FMS bearing that you have (I've gotten OEM bearings from FMS on occasion too). The OEM bearing seems to hold up better than most aftermarket, "Heavy Duty" bearings.

Since the OP is getting strange noises that might or might not be the result of a bad bearing, and if he has to pull it all apart again anyway, an OEM bearing offers the best chances of not having to do it again a third time.

 

[f8tlfiveo]

I put a new steel retainer in and a ram hdx clutch.. Had problems going into gear.. Everything was adjusted properly.. The bearing retainer stuck out too far and did not let my clutch disc disengage completely.. I cut a 1/4 inch off the end of the retainer.. Problem solved. If you take the trans out and the disc looks all beat up right outside the splines you might want to cut some off. These two things shouldn't be hitting each other. My bearing retainer shaft actually was starting to come out of the hole it was pressed into because of the disc hitting it. Good luck..

 

[No.11]

the hardest part of working on your own car is owning up to the fact that you screwed something up, and you have to start all over again. fml

regardless of whether it's out of adjustment, I can already see the TOB coming apart. It HAS to come out... just don't know what I might have done wrong. all new stuff, fork and tob seemed to be in properly. maybe it went all out of whack when I was putting the transmission through it? anyway here's the inside and the damage. does the fork look too far away from the TOB in this pic?

 

[No.11]

anyone know how much a ford TOB is at the dealer? I can ask for one from an 04 gt, correct? same one?

 

[No.11]

anybody?

 

[No.11]

Called Central Ford in my hometown of South Gate, CA. An OEM throwout bearing is only $50, that's less than what I paid for the ford racing piece, that's just awesome! for future reference if anyobe needs one, part number is F7Z-7548-AA. same bearing from 79-04.

Anyone have anything to say about what looks wrong in the picture above???

 

[ViperPunk]

no idea but that price is legit!

 

[f8tlfiveo]

the hardest part of working on your own car is owning up to the fact that you screwed something up, and you have to start all over again. fml

regardless of whether it's out of adjustment, I can already see the TOB coming apart. It HAS to come out... just don't know what I might have done wrong. all new stuff, fork and tob seemed to be in properly. maybe it went all out of whack when I was putting the transmission through it? anyway here's the inside and the damage. does the fork look too far away from the TOB in this pic?

nothing looks wrong to me..

 

[No.11]

So on the bearing, the rubber doesn't look like it's coming apart?

any chance this problem is related in any way to the transmission itself? maybe something wrong on the input shaft side? something I didn't do right when I installed the new bearing retainer?