replaced the clutch
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 477
Likes: 1
replaced the clutch
So I replaced the clutch with a centerforce dual friction clutch with about 1,000 miles. Drives great going through the gears but take off is a chore. Horrible clutch chatter, shakes the whole damn car. Is there a trick to driving an aggrressive clutch. I've read to slip it as little as possible. I have been slipping it quite a bit as I'm used to the stock worn clutch. Any input is appreciated
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,798
Likes: 8
From: It's true money can't buy happiness, but it is more comfortable crying in a Corvette than on a bicyc
St. Jude Donor '13
It becomes easier once you learn it. Mine has a sweet spot, miss it you'll know it. You can't slip it. I wish I could describe it better. Basically you have to match the rpm with release. Once you figure it out its a great clutch.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22,720
Likes: 799
From: Hillsborough NC
NC Events Coordinator
It took me quite a while to get used to the heavy clutch in my car. I'll still stall it occasionally if I'm not paying attention and revert to old habits.
I let the clutch out until I can feel it grab a little, just enough that the car moves forward slightly, then I smoothly add power while simultaneously releasing the clutch all at once. If I try to release it slowly while adding power it will chatter as you describe.
I let the clutch out until I can feel it grab a little, just enough that the car moves forward slightly, then I smoothly add power while simultaneously releasing the clutch all at once. If I try to release it slowly while adding power it will chatter as you describe.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16,270
Likes: 30
From: "It's 106 miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and
St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-‘18-'19
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Which clutch did you install? Some of the real heavy duty twin plate clutches are very hard to modulate. Unless your car is making 500+ rwhp and torque, a heavy twin plate racing clutch is too much.
For most applications other than described above, the LS7 clutch is a great choice.
For most applications other than described above, the LS7 clutch is a great choice.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22,720
Likes: 799
From: Hillsborough NC
NC Events Coordinator
I'm right there at 522/496. Bumper-to-bumper traffic and parking lots are excruciating.
I always used to laugh when a NASCAR guy or some other big hp race driver would stall the car in the pits, especially if he was trying to get around a guy pitted right in front of him. I'm not laughing anymore.
Maybe the good thing is that if my car ever gets stolen the thief won't make it two blocks.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 72
Likes: 1
I can see why it seems like that.
Don't fall into the trap of using momentum of the engine and flywheel to accelerate.
For less wear, an ideal takeoff involves low RPM and short duration of clutch use.
From an idle, apply more throttle than you normally would, but use the clutch to keep RPM low.
When done right, you will have a smooth, brisk takeoff with very little time on the clutch.
This has worked well for me. Off hand, these are the cars I can remember recently driving. All of them I could take off quickly while keeping RPM below 1300.
2002 Trans Am with Torquer V2 cam, aluminum flywheel, and SPEC Stage 2+ clutch
2007 Evo IX
1993 Jeep Wrangler
2011 Hyundai Accent
Obviously, with an extremely grabby clutch, it's going to be a pain in the ***. Do what you can while adhering to the general principle as much as possible.
Don't fall into the trap of using momentum of the engine and flywheel to accelerate.
For less wear, an ideal takeoff involves low RPM and short duration of clutch use.
From an idle, apply more throttle than you normally would, but use the clutch to keep RPM low.
When done right, you will have a smooth, brisk takeoff with very little time on the clutch.
This has worked well for me. Off hand, these are the cars I can remember recently driving. All of them I could take off quickly while keeping RPM below 1300.
2002 Trans Am with Torquer V2 cam, aluminum flywheel, and SPEC Stage 2+ clutch
2007 Evo IX
1993 Jeep Wrangler
2011 Hyundai Accent
Obviously, with an extremely grabby clutch, it's going to be a pain in the ***. Do what you can while adhering to the general principle as much as possible.
Race Director
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 16,574
Likes: 13
From: Winfield IN
I can see why it seems like that.
Don't fall into the trap of using momentum of the engine and flywheel to accelerate.
For less wear, an ideal takeoff involves low RPM and short duration of clutch use.
From an idle, apply more throttle than you normally would, but use the clutch to keep RPM low.
When done right, you will have a smooth, brisk takeoff with very little time on the clutch.
This has worked well for me. Off hand, these are the cars I can remember recently driving. All of them I could take off quickly while keeping RPM below 1300.
2002 Trans Am with Torquer V2 cam, aluminum flywheel, and SPEC Stage 2+ clutch
2007 Evo IX
1993 Jeep Wrangler
2011 Hyundai Accent
Obviously, with an extremely grabby clutch, it's going to be a pain in the ***. Do what you can while adhering to the general principle as much as possible.
Don't fall into the trap of using momentum of the engine and flywheel to accelerate.
For less wear, an ideal takeoff involves low RPM and short duration of clutch use.
From an idle, apply more throttle than you normally would, but use the clutch to keep RPM low.
When done right, you will have a smooth, brisk takeoff with very little time on the clutch.
This has worked well for me. Off hand, these are the cars I can remember recently driving. All of them I could take off quickly while keeping RPM below 1300.
2002 Trans Am with Torquer V2 cam, aluminum flywheel, and SPEC Stage 2+ clutch
2007 Evo IX
1993 Jeep Wrangler
2011 Hyundai Accent
Obviously, with an extremely grabby clutch, it's going to be a pain in the ***. Do what you can while adhering to the general principle as much as possible.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,405
Likes: 26
From: Whippany NJ
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
NCM Sinkhole Donor
So I replaced the clutch with a centerforce dual friction clutch with about 1,000 miles. Drives great going through the gears but take off is a chore. Horrible clutch chatter, shakes the whole damn car. Is there a trick to driving an aggrressive clutch. I've read to slip it as little as possible. I have been slipping it quite a bit as I'm used to the stock worn clutch. Any input is appreciated
Also, your not supposed to slip it during break-in, it causes glazing on the flywheel and will slip at high rpms.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 465
Likes: 72
From: Discovery Bay, Ca.
I have DF and though the pedal pressure is a tad higher than stock. It engages very smoothly. I've had mine for many, many years now. It replaced factory stock clutch and I twisted a tranny input shaft with it doing 5000rpm drops at 70mph. Just loved doing 100ft burnouts on the freeway. But, now that I have a hardened input shaft no more worries.
I'm sold on Centerforce DF ... This is the fourth car I've had one in. They
Racer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 465
Likes: 72
From: Discovery Bay, Ca.
I have DF and though the pedal pressure is a tad higher than stock. It engages very smoothly. I've had mine for many, many years now. It replaced factory stock clutch and I twisted a tranny input shaft with it doing 5000rpm drops at 70mph. Just loved doing 100ft burnouts on the freeway. But, now that I have a hardened input shaft no more worries.
I'm sold on Centerforce DF ... This is the fourth car I've had one in. They
