C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Clutch replacement - What needs replaced

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 24, 2007 | 09:28 PM
  #1  
1320video's Avatar
1320video
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Omaha NE
Default Clutch replacement - What needs replaced

I think someone mentioned to me that the slave cylinder should be replaced?

I'm going to go with the C6 Z06 clutch setup I think (flywheel, pressure plate, to bearing, and clutch disc) but is there anything else I need to upgrade?

I plan on running a 100shot nitrous setup for an event and then going with a 450hp all motor setup.

Thanks!
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2007 | 10:15 PM
  #2  
SteveDoten's Avatar
SteveDoten
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Default

I've used a few of those clutches, they don't work well when slipped

the Textralia OZ700 will take the abuse from the 100 shot, we have them in stock, give us a call

either way a new slave is a MUST, also replace the pilot bearing
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2007 | 10:31 PM
  #3  
1320video's Avatar
1320video
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Omaha NE
Default

You can't slip the stock clutch? I find that really weird

Isn't it about double for the Textralia?
Reply
Old Jul 24, 2007 | 11:25 PM
  #4  
The Wrench's Avatar
The Wrench
Burning Brakes
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 35
From: Rowlett, Texas
Default

Kyle, If no one has mentioned it before, be very careful with balancing when changing the clutch and flywheel. I don't know about the later C5's (don't know your year) but I have personal experience with a balancing nitemare on a 2000. The flywheel on mine had a balance weight in it from the factory, the dealer mechanic didn't know about it, and pulled the flywheel without marking the weight location. We went through 5 flywheel/clutch setups fighting serious vibration; finally the factory rep came down with exotic strobe equipment and got it pretty close. Putting a perfectly balanced flywheel/clutch on these earlier C5's often just won't cut it - you have to know if the factory unit was externally balanced, and duplicate that on the new setup.

DG
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2007 | 12:28 AM
  #5  
1320video's Avatar
1320video
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Omaha NE
Default

oh wow, I REALLY appreciate that warning! I hadn't heard that before, is it pretty common?

Sounds like a friggin' nightmare!

Thanks!
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2007 | 06:58 AM
  #6  
vettenuts's Avatar
vettenuts
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Default

Go with a new master too and a remote bleeder.

When you remove, mark every part as to location so you can re-assemble the stock unit once its out. I put in a Tex after looking at the LS7, but I didn't like the LS7 flywheel weight and it will soften the lower RPM response of the motor. The Tex is zero balanced as a unit and will bolt right in. As long as your motor didn't use the clutch assembly to do a final motor balance at the factory you will be OK, otherwise you will need to re-balance to the stock unit which is why you need to mark and re-assemble in case you have to get the amount "out of balance" the stock unit is from the factory. From what I understand, the motors that had out of balance clutch assemblies to correct the motor were rare but did happen.
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2007 | 08:34 AM
  #7  
Ranger's Avatar
Ranger
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 32
From: Central Florida
Default

Some thoughts.

Avoid the LS7 clutch. Have one in my C6Z w/ 450 rwhp. All LS7 clutches at this power level refuse to accept anything but a very fast pedal release and won't accept a launch rpm over 3600 without glazing.

No matter what, the flywheel must be scribed before removal. The new flywheel must be installed in the same orientation as the old one. If that's not done, the FW will vibrate.

Many, many stock LS1/LS6 motors required balance pins on the flywheel to "balance the motor." Those weights and their positioning must be taken into account in the new clutch assembly. Only way to do that is proper balancing of the new to the old. Failure to do that will result in post-installation vibrations.

Pick your clutch installer with the same care you would a surgeon to work on your brain. Everything the car does depends on the clutch. Many clutch installs are botched. Do a search on the terms "Clutch" AND "Vibration" and then set aside some reading time.

Finally, suggest replacing 100% of the clutch and clutch hydraulic components. Also suggest reading this: Taking Care of Your Clutch

Ranger

Last edited by Ranger; Jul 25, 2007 at 08:38 AM.
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2007 | 09:23 AM
  #8  
SteveDoten's Avatar
SteveDoten
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by 1320video
You can't slip the stock clutch? I find that really weird

Isn't it about double for the Textralia?
correct, $979 shipped for the Textralia OZ700 assembly
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jul 25, 2007 | 09:49 AM
  #9  
TLewis4095's Avatar
TLewis4095
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 8,145
Likes: 1
From: Bradenton FLORIDA
Default

Originally Posted by Steve@EnglandGreen
correct, $979 shipped for the Textralia OZ700 assembly
Well worth spending the extra for longer life.
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2007 | 11:37 AM
  #10  
1320video's Avatar
1320video
Thread Starter
Racer
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
From: Omaha NE
Default

Originally Posted by Ranger
Some thoughts.

Avoid the LS7 clutch. Have one in my C6Z w/ 450 rwhp. All LS7 clutches at this power level refuse to accept anything but a very fast pedal release and won't accept a launch rpm over 3600 without glazing.

No matter what, the flywheel must be scribed before removal. The new flywheel must be installed in the same orientation as the old one. If that's not done, the FW will vibrate.

Many, many stock LS1/LS6 motors required balance pins on the flywheel to "balance the motor." Those weights and their positioning must be taken into account in the new clutch assembly. Only way to do that is proper balancing of the new to the old. Failure to do that will result in post-installation vibrations.

Pick your clutch installer with the same care you would a surgeon to work on your brain. Everything the car does depends on the clutch. Many clutch installs are botched. Do a search on the terms "Clutch" AND "Vibration" and then set aside some reading time.

Finally, suggest replacing 100% of the clutch and clutch hydraulic components. Also suggest reading this: Taking Care of Your Clutch

Ranger

Originally Posted by vettenuts
Go with a new master too and a remote bleeder.

When you remove, mark every part as to location so you can re-assemble the stock unit once its out. I put in a Tex after looking at the LS7, but I didn't like the LS7 flywheel weight and it will soften the lower RPM response of the motor. The Tex is zero balanced as a unit and will bolt right in. As long as your motor didn't use the clutch assembly to do a final motor balance at the factory you will be OK, otherwise you will need to re-balance to the stock unit which is why you need to mark and re-assemble in case you have to get the amount "out of balance" the stock unit is from the factory. From what I understand, the motors that had out of balance clutch assemblies to correct the motor were rare but did happen.

Thank you both for this information! Very helpful!

What else besides the Slave and Master cylinder should be replaced with the hydraulics?
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2007 | 12:45 PM
  #11  
vettenuts's Avatar
vettenuts
Team Owner
25 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Default

I would go with a DOT 4 fluid, I went with Motul 600 to try and increase my dry/wet boiling points without breaking the bank. The bleeder is important though, and there was a thread recently on an updated bleeder setup that looks pretty good, the originator of the remote bleeder posted it but that "age" thing has set in and I can't remember who it was
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2007 | 12:53 PM
  #12  
SteveDoten's Avatar
SteveDoten
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 6,276
Likes: 227
From: Farmington CT
Cruise-In VII Veteran
Default

Originally Posted by 1320video
Thank you both for this information! Very helpful!

What else besides the Slave and Master cylinder should be replaced with the hydraulics?
that's it, 90% of the cars I do get new masters, all get slaves, pilot bearings and new flywheel bolts

maybe an Elite Engineering tunnel plate, but that's just a freebie install while the original is removed
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2007 | 02:39 PM
  #13  
Last C5's Avatar
Last C5
Safety Car
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,904
Likes: 29
From: Vancouver Washington
Default

Originally Posted by The Wrench
Kyle, If no one has mentioned it before, be very careful with balancing when changing the clutch and flywheel. I don't know about the later C5's (don't know your year) but I have personal experience with a balancing nitemare on a 2000. The flywheel on mine had a balance weight in it from the factory, the dealer mechanic didn't know about it, and pulled the flywheel without marking the weight location. We went through 5 flywheel/clutch setups fighting serious vibration; finally the factory rep came down with exotic strobe equipment and got it pretty close. Putting a perfectly balanced flywheel/clutch on these earlier C5's often just won't cut it - you have to know if the factory unit was externally balanced, and duplicate that on the new setup.

DG
How do you identify whether your clutch/engine is externally or internally balanced and what it the norm? Z06
Reply
Old Jul 25, 2007 | 03:10 PM
  #14  
Ranger's Avatar
Ranger
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 32
From: Central Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Last C5
How do you identify whether your clutch/engine is externally or internally balanced and what it the norm? Z06
Having been bitten by this issue in fall 2001, I'll comment.

Around the periphery of a GM flywheel are a series of machined holes.

If the engine is externally balanced, one or more of the holes is filled by a "balance pin." There are two or three lengths of pin that can give different weights to a that particular hole. The pins are driven into the hole for a tension fit slightly below the surface of the flywheel.

In this picture, the flywheel has two balance pins installed.



The only way to determine if a flywheel has balance pins installed is by visual inspection.

Ranger
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Clutch replacement - What needs replaced





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:04 AM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE