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'02 Z06 clutch problem

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Old Oct 20, 2006 | 03:15 PM
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Default '02 Z06 clutch problem

I recently purchased a '02 Z06 with 15000 mi. and I'm starting to think I may have a clutch problem.

The issue is that the engagement point is very near the top of the pedal travel...maybe 1~2" from the top, and the engagement range is very narrow which makes it a little tricky to take off smoothly.
The car shifts well and there is no slippage that I can tell, even lugging the motor at ~1000 RPM in 4th gear and standing on it.

I've been changing the fluid in the reservoir using the syringe method and it was very dirty to start with. I have not bled it.

Is the clutch wore out causing the late engagement point? If so, wouldn't I be experiencing some serious slippage?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Last edited by Green Mamba; Oct 20, 2006 at 03:50 PM.
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Old Oct 20, 2006 | 03:47 PM
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it needs a clutch.vettes use a sac[self adjusting clutch],the plate is at its max. time to start looking into a set-up.

ECS had a clutch deal going about a week ago.[east coast supercharging]
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Old Oct 21, 2006 | 01:32 PM
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OK, so it looks like the clutch is on it's last leg.

I'm thinking about relacing it with a LS7 clutch. The car is stock and most likely will never be drag raced....it's strictly a daily driver.

Any recommendations?
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Old Oct 21, 2006 | 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by Green Mamba
The car shifts well and there is no slippage that I can tell, even lugging the motor at ~1000 RPM in 4th gear and standing on it.
Not enough torque at 1000 RPMs to really give it a good "slip test". A better test would be 4th gear at about 3000 rpms, then floor it.

Your in luck. I did some clutch pedal engagement measurements on my 2002 Zee when it had 5000 miles on it. I bought the car new, and the clutch was never abused.

This is what I found:
http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34199

You really need to get out a scale and do the actual measurements. It's hard to estimate these distances with you foot while driving.
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Old Oct 21, 2006 | 06:37 PM
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Originally Posted by ZeeOSix
Not enough torque at 1000 RPMs to really give it a good "slip test". A better test would be 4th gear at about 3000 rpms, then floor it.

Your in luck. I did some clutch pedal engagement measurements on my 2002 Zee when it had 5000 miles on it. I bought the car new, and the clutch was never abused.

This is what I found:
http://www.z06vette.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34199

You really need to get out a scale and do the actual measurements. It's hard to estimate these distances with you foot while driving.
THANK YOU!

That's very good information! I"ll do some measuring on mine. I feel like measurement "B" is pretty close to what you're experiencing, however I think measurement "C" is probably a little higher up in the travel.
I did try the 3000 RPM/4th gear and floor it method it also....no slippage.
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Old Oct 22, 2006 | 12:42 PM
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If you are not going to drag race the car then the LS7 clutch is a good replacement. Will feel like stock.
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Old Oct 22, 2006 | 12:47 PM
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sounds like similar symptoms.....I have this thread going...http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1530316

hopefully we can both get some good info
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Old Oct 22, 2006 | 02:08 PM
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Your clutch disc is not worn out. There are two possibilities for the problem. Either the pressure plate is weak or the hydraulic clutch release bearing is done. The most likely culprit is the hydraulic clutch release bearing. There are many other hydraulic clutch assist systems on other vehicles out there that suffer from the same symptoms. They are also a bear to bleed properly. Chances are that they you've got some fluid bypass occuring in the unit that doesn't allow enough pressure to be applied to the pressure plate to engage the clutch at lower pedal travel. A friend of mine just had his changed in his 2004 for the same reason with only 15,000km on the car. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the clutch disc. They installed a Z06 clutch with a new clutch release bearing under warranty but even the tech agreed that all they probably had to do was change the release bearing. It works great now and the engagement is where it's supposed to be. I think that the problem with these types of release bearings is that the housing is made from plastic (thermoplastic). I don't think these issues would appear if it was cast from aluminum. I'm willing to bet that a lot of clutches have been replaced when there was really nothing wrong with them.

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Old Oct 22, 2006 | 07:05 PM
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Originally Posted by Green Mamba
I recently purchased a '02 Z06 with 15000 mi. and I'm starting to think I may have a clutch problem.

The issue is that the engagement point is very near the top of the pedal travel...maybe 1~2" from the top, and the engagement range is very narrow which makes it a little tricky to take off smoothly.
The car shifts well and there is no slippage that I can tell, even lugging the motor at ~1000 RPM in 4th gear and standing on it.

Is the clutch wore out causing the late engagement point? If so, wouldn't I be experiencing some serious slippage?

Thanks in advance for any help!
only 15,000 miles.

I am having the same problem with a C5 coupe, but I have 52,000 miles.

If Z clutches only get 15,000 then I need to look at a different clutch.
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Old Oct 22, 2006 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Green Mamba
I recently purchased a '02 Z06 with 15000 mi. and I'm starting to think I may have a clutch problem.

The issue is that the engagement point is very near the top of the pedal travel...maybe 1~2" from the top, and the engagement range is very narrow which makes it a little tricky to take off smoothly.
The car shifts well and there is no slippage that I can tell, even lugging the motor at ~1000 RPM in 4th gear and standing on it.

I've been changing the fluid in the reservoir using the syringe method and it was very dirty to start with. I have not bled it.

Is the clutch wore out causing the late engagement point? If so, wouldn't I be experiencing some serious slippage?

Thanks in advance for any help!

the problem is...do you have any idea what was done to the car for those 15K?? was it tracked?? driven by someone who beat on it?? lots of stop and go traffic?? someone who can't drive can wear out a clutch quickly
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Old Oct 22, 2006 | 08:40 PM
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Originally Posted by pewter99
someone who can't drive can wear out a clutch quickly
So does getting 52, 000 miles on mine make me a good driver?
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Old Oct 22, 2006 | 09:01 PM
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Originally Posted by pewter99
the problem is...do you have any idea what was done to the car for those 15K?? was it tracked?? driven by someone who beat on it?? lots of stop and go traffic?? someone who can't drive can wear out a clutch quickly
EXACTLY!......it really makes me concerned about just how hard the car may have been used.

I truly hope that it's just something to do with the hydraulics. I'll pursue all those avenues first before tearing into the clutch. I guess I'll try flushing the system completely and doing a good bleed job first.
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Old Oct 22, 2006 | 09:30 PM
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Originally Posted by yellowvette837
So does getting 52, 000 miles on mine make me a good driver?


I put that much on my original clutch....almost 30k on the Z06 and 12K of that is with the blower
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Old Oct 22, 2006 | 09:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Green Mamba
OK, so it looks like the clutch is on it's last leg.

I'm thinking about relacing it with a LS7 clutch. The car is stock and most likely will never be drag raced....it's strictly a daily driver.

Any recommendations?
This will be a nice upgarde for you IMO. If you can swing it I would get the Fidanza flywheel. It's much lighter than stock. This is the setup I have and I like it so far Although I follow Ranger's clutch fluid change monthly
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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 06:51 AM
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Originally Posted by yellowvette837
So does getting 52, 000 miles on mine make me a good driver?
Actually, since you have an 02 I believe you already have the Z06 clutch from the factory.
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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by vettenuts
Actually, since you have an 02 I believe you already have the Z06 clutch from the factory.
Humm, I will need to check on that.
Really do not want to replace it with the same clutch .
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Old Oct 23, 2006 | 03:16 PM
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Default My slave cylinder went out @ 10K

I'm having my slave cylinder replaced @ 10,000 miles. The clutch will not work at all. I can't even put the car in gear when the motor is running.

It's about $700 in labor. The part is fairly inexpensive just lots of work to get to.

Good luck on your car.
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