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What the heck is wrong with my new clutch?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Night Shifter
  • Start date Start date Jul 9, 2007
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Night Shifter

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2005
1,710
27
59
Daytona
Jul 9, 2007
#1
  • Jul 9, 2007
  • #1
I just replaced my clutch in my car and now i have a weird problem.

I went from the king cobra to a Stage 2(unnamed cause i want an honest answer and not one bashing the brand) with an aluminum flywheel. During the break in period it was completely fine. After the break in i drove to W.V. From FL and back. I stayed there for a week before i drove back. When i stopped for gas along the way i noticed my clutch got really heavy to the poine where i almost had to stand on it to push it in.

Now that im back from my trip it will go from normal stage 2 clutch pedal feel to extremely heavy and adjust out. I have the whole steeda clutch adj. kit so i don't see how this thing is adjusing itself.

If i drive down my road in 1st gear it will get really heavy and the release point of the clutch will be all the way out. sometimes it will do this if im driving down the road behind a slow car and im in third, and it always does it after a short or long ride on the highway. If it does get really heavy all i have to do is go through the gears really quick and it will go back to being a light feeling clutch pedal and it will adjust back to were i have the adjuster set it to.

Sorry for the long post but i have no idea what is causing this? Anybody ever have this problem or even heard of this happening?
 

smokin00GT

New Member
Mar 22, 2007
80
0
0
United States
Jul 9, 2007
#2
  • Jul 9, 2007
  • #2
I have only had bad experence with spec clutches. Now I only use ACT (Advanced Clutch Technology) The clutch I have now supports to 720ftlbs of tq and feels like butter when shifting. I love it.
Now to answer your question:
#1 is your steeda adjuster installed correctly?
#2 was your clutch and flywheel torqued down to spec?
both could affect the feel, and performance of your clutch.
 
4

46gtsblown

Founding Member
Jan 9, 2002
278
0
0
Jul 9, 2007
#3
  • Jul 9, 2007
  • #3
I would also check the bell housing bolt torque, have had bad alignment cause binding issues on another veh in the past.

Dwayne
 

Night Shifter

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2005
1,710
27
59
Daytona
Jul 11, 2007
#4
  • Jul 11, 2007
  • #4
smokin00GT said:
I have only had bad experence with spec clutches. Now I only use ACT (Advanced Clutch Technology) The clutch I have now supports to 720ftlbs of tq and feels like butter when shifting. I love it.
Now to answer your question:
#1 is your steeda adjuster installed correctly?
#2 was your clutch and flywheel torqued down to spec?
both could affect the feel, and performance of your clutch.
Click to expand...

as far as i know my adjuster and everything are installed correctly. the only thing i wasn't sure about was if the cable should be on the hook closest to the firewall or on the one furthest to it
 
9

97speedster

New Member
Jan 16, 2007
134
1
0
stanwood,wa
Jul 11, 2007
#5
  • Jul 11, 2007
  • #5
This makes number 8 that I know of. Check this thread for my story about Spec Stage 2.
http://forums.stangnet.com/showthread.php?t=710049
 

hotmustang331

Active Member
Apr 29, 2004
2,967
3
48
Bastrop,TX
Jul 11, 2007
#6
  • Jul 11, 2007
  • #6
Yea alot of people have issues with spec, but then again alot dont. Im one of those that doesnt. Ask DerekstangGT, he has ridden in my car and I have a spec stg 3 which everyone says is ON/OFF and he will verify that its nowhere eveen close to that point.

Good luck, but it may be installation error .
 
P

Pennywise2

Banned
May 16, 2006
1,379
1
0
Jul 12, 2007
#7
  • Jul 12, 2007
  • #7
Their are alot people on this forum that have had
nothing but bad experiences with SPEC clutches
ask Mity2 though he might be able to answer your
question.
 

Night Shifter

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2005
1,710
27
59
Daytona
Jul 12, 2007
#8
  • Jul 12, 2007
  • #8
thanks pennywise, i'll do that. you think if i swap back to my king cobra and use the spec disc it might help? or should i just put my old king cobra set up back in?
 

BennyBlown2v

New Member
Dec 9, 2004
1,233
1
0
Carmel, INdiana
Jul 12, 2007
#9
  • Jul 12, 2007
  • #9
Do you have an adjustable cable? Adjustable cables are CRAP and and break/loose adjustment. All you want/need is firewall adjuster and quadrant.

ACT makes a good clutch as smokin was saying, or move up to a SPEC stg 3 (lots of less problems with the 3's than the 2's for some reason )
 

SaleenGT2001

Well-Known Member
Jul 18, 2005
2,811
4
58
Four Oaks NC
Jul 12, 2007
#10
  • Jul 12, 2007
  • #10
mine did the same thing with my T56 when it went in. my clutch fork slipped off the ball and it couldnt pivot like it was suppose to
 

mity2

I like Pro3 and all I got was this crappy CT.
Jul 24, 2003
2,872
3
48
StateCollege PA
Jul 12, 2007
#11
  • Jul 12, 2007
  • #11
Pennywise2 said:
Their are alot people on this forum that have had
nothing but bad experiences with SPEC clutches
ask Mity2 though he might be able to answer your
question.
Click to expand...

And here is my answer to any and ALL Spec clutch issue.


GET RID OF IT!

Spec - while their ability to hold is no question, they are just not the good clutch for daily driven non race car that is making near stock HP(Less then 300RWHP).
I went through so much issue with my Spec stg2 - wierd vibration, squeeling noise, nasty nasty chatter, and to top it off, french made POS throwout bearing that comes with clutch failed at 36 miles of use.

unless your car is dedicated race car, your way better off with KingCobra, Centerforce Dual friction, or Mcleard(sp?).
 

twogts4us

15 Year Member
Apr 1, 2004
4,188
12
79
Dunedin, FL
Jul 12, 2007
#12
  • Jul 12, 2007
  • #12
BennyBlown2v said:
Do you have an adjustable cable? Adjustable cables are CRAP and and break/loose adjustment. All you want/need is firewall adjuster and quadrant.
Click to expand...
AGREED! In my wife's car, we went from a Spec2 to a King Cobra to the stock OEM clutch and it was still heavy...turned out that the Steeda adjustable cable had begun to rust and got sticky, therefore created a heavy pedal. With a new OEM cable, it's as light as a feather now.
Note - it doesn't take much resistance in a cable (off the car) to make a big difference installed on the car. The old adjustable cable was 'sticky' as stated, but nowhere near what you'd call 'sieged' - honestly, it didn't seem to be sticky enough to cause the very heavy pedal, but that is exactly what the problem was.
 

Night Shifter

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2005
1,710
27
59
Daytona
Jul 12, 2007
#13
  • Jul 12, 2007
  • #13
well i guess i'm going to put my old cable back on the car. If that doesn't work, my king cobra is going back in the car. what a waste of time and money

Mity, +1 on the whole french made TOB. Mine is alredy making a lot of noise and it sounds like the last one i just took out which was completely thrashed. And yes my clutch is already chattering too
 

smokin00GT

New Member
Mar 22, 2007
80
0
0
United States
Jul 12, 2007
#14
  • Jul 12, 2007
  • #14
Night Shifter said:
well i guess i'm going to put my old cable back on the car. If that doesn't work, my king cobra is going back in the car. what a waste of time and money

Mity, +1 on the whole french made TOB. Mine is alredy making a lot of noise and it sounds like the last one i just took out which was completely thrashed. And yes my clutch is already chattering too
Click to expand...

TIP:
When you put that TOB back in make sure you smear tons of high temp grease on it. That will keep it from squeaking.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Jul 13, 2007
#15
  • Jul 13, 2007
  • #15
smokin00GT said:
TIP:
When you put that TOB back in make sure you smear tons of high temp grease on it. That will keep it from squeaking.
Click to expand...

BAD IDEA. You do NOT, I reapeate DO NOT want to do that. Excess grease on the TO bearing will come off and possibly contaminate the clutch which will cause all kinds of fun issues. The TO bearing should have a channel in the center of it. Fill that a little more then level with grease, slide it back and forth on the front bearing retainer and wipe off any major excess.

It IS important to grease them but over greasing is a serious mistake.
 

smokin00GT

New Member
Mar 22, 2007
80
0
0
United States
Jul 13, 2007
#16
  • Jul 13, 2007
  • #16
Rusty67 said:
BAD IDEA. You do NOT, I reapeate DO NOT want to do that. Excess grease on the TO bearing will come off and possibly contaminate the clutch which will cause all kinds of fun issues. The TO bearing should have a channel in the center of it. Fill that a little more then level with grease, slide it back and forth on the front bearing retainer and wipe off any major excess.

It IS important to grease them but over greasing is a serious mistake.
Click to expand...

You don't want the grease dripping off of it.....maybe I should have been more specific.
 

Night Shifter

Well-Known Member
Dec 24, 2005
1,710
27
59
Daytona
Jul 13, 2007
#17
  • Jul 13, 2007
  • #17
thanks for the advice guys. i think i'm gonna buy a new centerforce TOB just to be on the safe side.
 

mrvax

Stay thirsty my friends
Founding Member
Nov 29, 1999
5,225
3
79
SN Moderator: Orlando, Fl.
Jul 14, 2007
#18
  • Jul 14, 2007
  • #18
Is there anything wrong with simply getting an OEM clutch and aluminum flywheel? y stock clutch works great and it has 98,000 miles.

What would the advantage to be to someone with < 300rwhp to get a non-stock clutch?
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Jul 14, 2007
#19
  • Jul 14, 2007
  • #19
mrvax said:
Is there anything wrong with simply getting an OEM clutch and aluminum flywheel? y stock clutch works great and it has 98,000 miles.

What would the advantage to be to someone with < 300rwhp to get a non-stock clutch?
Click to expand...

Nothing really. Some clutches grab different and they have different pedal pressure. If you are happy with the stock clutch and aren't going to be making any serious HP then just replace it with another stock clutch.
 
P

Pennywise2

Banned
May 16, 2006
1,379
1
0
Jul 15, 2007
#20
  • Jul 15, 2007
  • #20
mity2 said:
And here is my answer to any and ALL Spec clutch issue.


GET RID OF IT!

Spec - while their ability to hold is no question, they are just not the good clutch for daily driven non race car that is making near stock HP(Less then 300RWHP).
I went through so much issue with my Spec stg2 - wierd vibration, squeeling noise, nasty nasty chatter, and to top it off, french made POS throwout bearing that comes with clutch failed at 36 miles of use.

unless your car is dedicated race car, your way better off with KingCobra, Centerforce Dual friction, or Mcleard(sp?).
Click to expand...
The truth speaks!
I loved my Centerforce DF clutch though.
 
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