Those who have the Cartek clutch system, do you have any problems with it slipping when you dump it off at over 2000rpms?

When I first had the clutch installed it felt great at launch but then it slowly started slipping more when I would dump it off at over 2000rpms with drag radials. Now it slips almost all the way through 1st gear struggling to grab. I can feel it lose its grip right when its dumped and then it grabs slightly and then higher up in 1st gear it will start to grab more and then the tires break loose right before I shift to second.

The clutch works perfectly through all the other geras but at the launch, it totally kills my 60 foot times with its slipping. The pedal seems to work fine unlike when I had my z06 clutch, but this slipping is driving me crazy.

Perhaps its time to forget about dragracing all together and stick with autocrossing and roadracing.

Any thoughts or similar experiences?

 

MattG, I can't offer any experience with this setup/situation but have you called Julio at Cartek about this? This is one of the few cases where their clutch as slipped. I'm sure they'd get you fixed up! Let us know what you find out. Good luck.
:cheers:

 

You find out anything, MattG?

 

I'm curious as to what your flywheel and disc look like.

 

You could do the M/C Line Mod or replace the clutch/fly/pp with a new one. Should be under Cartek Warranty.

 

Well the situation got worse tonight guys. I took the car out onto a country road to practice some more launches and it was still slipping when I would dump it off. I pulled into a laneway to turn around and I could not get the car into reverse. The clutch does not appear to be disengaging enough to get it into a gear when the car is not moving. We pushed the car up onto the road and I managed to get it into 2nd and we drove home in that gear.

We checked the fluid resevoir and it is full with fairly clean looking fluid.

The adjustable master was adjusted properly as far as I could tell. The clutch was engaging about 3/4 of the way up the travel of the pedal and it seemed to work decently.

I do remember this slipping happening a few times after my first night at the track with it but it was not nearly as bad and I wrote that off as a characteristic of the clutch. It seemed to worsen and now the inability to disengage.

I hate to go without my car already this early into the winter. I was supposed to go to the track this friday but apparently that will not be happening. I hope I can get it squared away somehow.

 

Slave? PP?

Good luck with it. I doubt my current clutch will last me another 2 years, but it's held good so far.

 

I've been pondering which clutch to use as a replacement for the stocker.

Let us know how it works out Matt.

 

I spoke with Dave at Cartek a few moments ago and he assured me that they would take care of whatever the problem is as long as I can send him the clutch/pp/slave and master. It is good to know that companies stand behind their products like this.

He also mentioned that it sort of sounds like the bolts backed off that hold the pressure plate to the flywheel. He said that could cause some slippage and the inability to disengage the clutch.

My father and I are going to jack the car up this weekend and take the headers/exhaust off and the inspection plate to see if it is indeed the pressure plate bolts. If it isn't, it looks like I will be waiting until my new engine goes in in the new year before my car leaves the garage again! :(




[Modified by MattG, 11:23 AM 10/18/2001]

 

I knew Dave would get you squared away, MattG. Let's hope that it was the bolts that backed out. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. Let us know how it works out!

 

Mello? 2 years? :D

Not wishing ANYthing bad on ya...just know you aren't driving a kiddie car there Bud!

Good luck Matt. Let us know how it turns out. My Cartek is doing fine so far...of course it would sitting in my garage while I've been in Canada the last 3 weeks. Got home last night. Drivin her this weekend.

Snowman

 

MattG, bummer about the clutch dude, but looks like you’re gonna be taken care of :)
BTW: My Cartek clutch has been very good so far. It’s actually gotten even better than it used to be :D

 

Ya, 2 years, righttt... LOL. Never know. It's probably time for something else to break first. I'm hearing the stock fuel pump starts to go out around 40-50k miles...

Are y'all ARE'ers all using a custom fuel pump of some type?
36# (40#) SVO's should do it for my 6.4L, but... wondering about the pump.

 

Oh, btw.. Don't forget.. Blue Loc-tite on the PP Bolts.
55 ft/lbs. Use new PP bolts.

 

I will keep everyone informed as to what I find out about the clutch. Most likely this weekend we will get it up on jackstands in the garage and tear it apart. I am not sure if we are going to pull the complete clutch out of it in the garage or just check out the pressure plate bolts through the inspection cover.

I am really hoping it is just the pressure plate bolts but I am pretty doubtful that my luck is that good :)

Damn I miss driving my car already!! :)

 

Mine started slipping like that after about 12K hard miles. Probably over 200 passes at the track by that time, dumping at 5500+ rpm on slicks. I just replaced the setup with a new one and it doesn't slip at all now.

No engagement/disengagement problems with mine though, and I'm making less power than you are with your nitrous.

Tony