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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

SPEC clutch help!!!

  • Thread starter Thread starter bobc83
  • Start date Start date Jan 29, 2008

bobc83

Member
Jul 31, 2007
130
0
16
Normal,IL
Jan 29, 2008
#1
  • Jan 29, 2008
  • #1
Howdy gang

Got a problem with my '03 GT 5-speed

Just installed new SPEC flywheel,clutch(with all new goodies) pressure plate and filled up the ol' 3650 with some royal purple....

but now I get this horrible clutch assembly noise and shaking in first gear start-ups. We actually installed it twice just to make sure nothing was wrong or a defect in the parts. Once I'm in second and cruising on down the road everything is perfect and couldn't be better. I have a steeda clutch cable,quadrant and firewall adjuster to install also but I didn't for fear that something else was wrong? The clutch that came out of the car was another SPEC stage 1 clutch that did make a little noise but nothing that was even close to annoying. Everything is installed perfectly and I'm totally bummed that I spent all this money to have my stang ride even worse.
 

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.
20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 2, 2003
8,474
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223
Sea of Tranquility
Jan 30, 2008
#2
  • Jan 30, 2008
  • #2
Are you talking about the vibrating clutch pedal? The cable is probably a little stretched and isn't holding firm. Install the firewall adjuster and quadrant. Should solve your problem. If I can make suggestion though I'd get your money back on the adjustable cable. Mine failed in under a week and there have been quite a few that have had similar experiences with the Steeda cable. If you want to replace the old one just pick up a OEM from Ford.
 

mity2

I like Pro3 and all I got was this crappy CT.
Jul 24, 2003
2,872
3
48
StateCollege PA
Jan 31, 2008
#3
  • Jan 31, 2008
  • #3
whats your experiencing is called Clutch chatter. And SPEC is known to do that.
Basically, Clutch is too grippy, it does not allow it to slip. At ALL.

It only happens with first gear start off, because anyother time, you don't slip clutch.

This is main reason why I got rid of my Spec after 36 miles of use(that and TOB that came with kit failed).

Some people say that chatter will subside after 1000~2000 miles of driving.
But I know few that it didn't get any better after 10000miles.
As you stated, you had SPEC in your car. I take it it was already in car when you got the car?

Do some search. there are more then handfull of threads about Spec and Clutch chatter

Do know that clutch chatter with SPEC clutch means that Clutch is doing what it supposed to do.
It grabs.

Unless you got track only car, its hard to live with tho.
 

COramprat

...I can take it. I think.
20+ Year Stangneter
Mar 2, 2003
8,474
1,463
223
Sea of Tranquility
Jan 31, 2008
#4
  • Jan 31, 2008
  • #4
Mine has almost gone away with the new cable and firewall adjuster. I installed my Spec stage 1 a while back and the clatter drove me nuts. The stock cable broke at 180K miles so I replaced it with the Steeda. The chatter went away substantially but it crapped out in under a week and left me driving about 15 miles back home with no clutch. I put in a new OEM, adjusted it with the FW adjuster, and have no real issue with chatter.
 

281CI96Coupe

Member
Oct 30, 2006
233
0
16
Jan 31, 2008
#5
  • Jan 31, 2008
  • #5
Interesting, my buddy just got a spec stage 3+ for his KB Cobra, and it feels like stock and is partially broken in, i test drove it, it feels great.

Theres a video by triple D on streetfire.net that shows how you can "over clutch" your mustang by intalling a too aggresive clutch, its expected to have chatter for the first 500 miles properly broken in. No highway miles, or powershifting either.

It could be a few things. 1) Over Clutched Stang 2.) Not installed properly 3.) Clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster is out of wack. 4.) You just have bigger issues in the tranny.
 
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