Does this sound like a clutch?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Mason Mi
Does this sound like a clutch?
After a 20 min drive home from work I changed clothes and went back out of the drive.( Car was hot.) After getting on it a bit out of the drive I turned onto my road and went about 3/4 throttle and shifted 2nd, About 3/4 throttle again and it started chattering like it wasn't fully in gear. I pushed in the clutch and just went ahead into 3rd and IT DID IT AGAIN.
I turned around and headed back home and any time I applied more than a cracked throttle it chattered. All gears, even reverse. It's not popping out of gear, just acting like it.
I've toasted clutches before but it's always been a gradual decline and usually no real noise except engine revving when they slip.
Thanks, Randy
PS. 460rwhp daily driver with about 35k on stock clutch since mods. 60k total miles...A couple trips to the track but not driven hard daily.
I turned around and headed back home and any time I applied more than a cracked throttle it chattered. All gears, even reverse. It's not popping out of gear, just acting like it.
I've toasted clutches before but it's always been a gradual decline and usually no real noise except engine revving when they slip.
Thanks, Randy
PS. 460rwhp daily driver with about 35k on stock clutch since mods. 60k total miles...A couple trips to the track but not driven hard daily.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,686
Likes: 20
From: Florida, Hell's Doorstep
I think this will solve your problem -Have you tried changing out your clutch fluid -if its black suck it out with your wifes turkey baster,wipe out all the black crap and use PRESTONE Dot 3 Synthetic ! Its the only one i have found that doesn't react with the rubber booty! Do this (weekly)until your fluid stays clear 
I don't have any problems with my (stock) clutch now and i'm running over 600 rwhp-72k miles 
Hope this helps bro
I don't have any problems with my (stock) clutch now and i'm running over 600 rwhp-72k miles Hope this helps bro
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 35,874
Likes: 1,600
From: Honolulu HI
I think this will solve your problem -Have you tried changing out your clutch fluid -if its black suck it out with your wifes turkey baster,wipe out all the black crap and use PRESTONE Dot 3 Synthetic ! Its the only one i have found that doesn't react with the rubber booty! Do this (weekly)until your fluid stays clear I don't have any problems with my (stock) clutch now and i'm running over 600 rwhp-72k miles Hope this helps bro
I don't have any problems with my (stock) clutch now and i'm running over 600 rwhp-72k miles Hope this helps bro
Then buy your wife a new turkey baster.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 718
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From: Mason Mi
I think this will solve your problem -Have you tried changing out your clutch fluid -if its black suck it out with your wifes turkey baster,wipe out all the black crap and use PRESTONE Dot 3 Synthetic ! Its the only one i have found that doesn't react with the rubber booty! Do this (weekly)until your fluid stays clear I don't have any problems with my (stock) clutch now and i'm running over 600 rwhp-72k miles Hope this helps bro
I don't have any problems with my (stock) clutch now and i'm running over 600 rwhp-72k miles Hope this helps broI can't "do this weekly" because I can't drive the car.
Besides. please tell me how dirty fluid would all the sudden make my clutch chatter?
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 35,874
Likes: 1,600
From: Honolulu HI
It's cheaper to try this first over a new clutch; but yes, it sounds like your clutch is on the way out.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 877
Likes: 4
From: Nouvelle Ecosse
Use the Ranger clutch fluid method. However, I recommend a large syringe (get it from a livestock feed store) it's dripless, unlike the baster.
Change it once a week for the rest of your life.
If the car won't move, or doesn't seem to be engaging gears properly, you've probably toasted that clutch. If you change it, get a remote bleeder installed. Clutch fluid maintenance is key in these cars.
BTW, that noise is the throwout bearing.
Change it once a week for the rest of your life.
If the car won't move, or doesn't seem to be engaging gears properly, you've probably toasted that clutch. If you change it, get a remote bleeder installed. Clutch fluid maintenance is key in these cars.
BTW, that noise is the throwout bearing.
Last edited by JCamaro; Sep 20, 2009 at 11:11 AM.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 718
Likes: 3
From: Mason Mi
Use the Ranger clutch fluid method. However, I recommend a large syringe (get it from a livestock feed store) it's dripless, unlike the baster.
Change it once a week for the rest of your life.
If the car won't move, or doesn't seem to be engaging gears properly, you've probably toasted that clutch. If you change it, get a remote bleeder installed. Clutch fluid maintenance is key in these cars.
BTW, that noise is the throwout bearing.
Change it once a week for the rest of your life.
If the car won't move, or doesn't seem to be engaging gears properly, you've probably toasted that clutch. If you change it, get a remote bleeder installed. Clutch fluid maintenance is key in these cars.
BTW, that noise is the throwout bearing.
Another opinion was the disc hub has completely broken free of the outer ring. I have very limited power transfer to the wheels and then it starts to slip and make a grinding noise once power is applied.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 877
Likes: 4
From: Nouvelle Ecosse
Ok, I'll bite, how would the throwout bearing not make any noise while engageing/ disengageing but only when applying load and then cause the clutch to slip once fully engaged?
Another opinion was the disc hub has completely broken free of the outer ring. I have very limited power transfer to the wheels and then it starts to slip and make a grinding noise once power is applied.
Another opinion was the disc hub has completely broken free of the outer ring. I have very limited power transfer to the wheels and then it starts to slip and make a grinding noise once power is applied.
Last edited by JCamaro; Sep 20, 2009 at 11:44 AM.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,150
Likes: 6
From: NS
Maybe it's the torque tube coupler? The mode of failure seems odd for it to be a clutch but maybe.
I can't see how servicing the hydraulics would have anything to do with this problem. Hydraulics are out of the equation when the clutch is engaged.
I can't see how servicing the hydraulics would have anything to do with this problem. Hydraulics are out of the equation when the clutch is engaged.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 718
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From: Mason Mi
Not familiar with the torque tube coupler. Could it make noise/and begin slipping at light to medium throttle, but quiet down and re-engage under idle/ light load?
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 171
Likes: 2
From: Levittown NY
Whitelite,
Just so you don't feel alone in this, on my way home from work I goosed it to get thru a yellow lite and this God awful noise erupted...nursed it home (lucky I was close), it makes noise in every gear but could get it to go once engaged. I am thinking the clutch is gone too. How hard are these to change?
Just so you don't feel alone in this, on my way home from work I goosed it to get thru a yellow lite and this God awful noise erupted...nursed it home (lucky I was close), it makes noise in every gear but could get it to go once engaged. I am thinking the clutch is gone too. How hard are these to change?
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 718
Likes: 3
From: Mason Mi
Whitelite,
Just so you don't feel alone in this, on my way home from work I goosed it to get thru a yellow lite and this God awful noise erupted...nursed it home (lucky I was close), it makes noise in every gear but could get it to go once engaged. I am thinking the clutch is gone too. How hard are these to change?
Just so you don't feel alone in this, on my way home from work I goosed it to get thru a yellow lite and this God awful noise erupted...nursed it home (lucky I was close), it makes noise in every gear but could get it to go once engaged. I am thinking the clutch is gone too. How hard are these to change?
This is a pretty big job for a first timer, even on a hoist. It's harder than I thought but I would do it again.
I'll post findings as I go
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Mason Mi
Well it ended up to be the clutch. The splined hub of the disc had actually broken completely free from the rest of the friction area of the disc.
Because it remains sandwiched between two metal plates it was almost impossible to see and couldn't be made to spin without the torque of the engine.
Because it remains sandwiched between two metal plates it was almost impossible to see and couldn't be made to spin without the torque of the engine.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,649
Likes: 32
From: Central Florida
Well it ended up to be the clutch. The splined hub of the disc had actually broken completely free from the rest of the friction area of the disc.
Because it remains sandwiched between two metal plates it was almost impossible to see and couldn't be made to spin without the torque of the engine.
Because it remains sandwiched between two metal plates it was almost impossible to see and couldn't be made to spin without the torque of the engine.
TIA.
Ranger
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Cave Creek AZ
OP describes my day to a T. Car will limp along if I don't give it any gas, but as soon as I touch the gas it chatters like mad. I guess it's clutch time. I'm stock power with 51,000 miles btw