Ok, i've waited long enough to get this off my chest.

Last June I purchased a SPEC III Kevlar clutch package to go in with my new warranty tranny even though my car only had 13K miles on at the time. The break-in was routine, all seemed real good. Plus, i was real happy with Dave at Spec with his customer service. As miles acrued, the clutch started developing a chirping/squealing noise that happens upon initial release engagement of the clutch from a dead stop. by 2k miles, the noise was so obnoxious that it was embarrassing to leave from a stop light in traffic. About that time i developed my motor problems to which a new motor was needed. I contacted Dave and discussed my clutch concerns, and that i would like to solve the noisy issue while i had the motor out. He had me ship my clutch back (he wouldnt send me a new one) so he could put new pucks on the disc. He replaced the Kevlar pucks with stage III ceramic. He insured my rest by saying the ceramic would not squeal like this. the new motor and clutch went in with a balanced and resurfaced flywheel in October. WELL, the 2nd clutch did exactly what the first Spec clutch did, on almost the same time and mileage schedule. It started off good, then got progressively worse. Now i have 3k miles on the new drivetrain and the clutch is beyond embarrassing. the noisy biotch squeals and chirps (not chatter, btw) so damn loud that it sounds like a harbor full of pissed off seals screaming like crazy. I have been emailing Dave off the hook about this. he has not responded. Anyone else have this problem??? I would never recommend Spec at this point. up to this point i was giving them the benefit of the doubt since Dave's service was so good. Now, with that gone, i have no compunction telling all. So, caveat emptor. buy another clutch. Any recommendations for my 4th clutch?? It's gotta live up to the extreme abuse of drag racing a 450rwhp car (600rwhp+ with the nitrous)


[Modified by rwj383, 9:07 AM 1/19/2003]

 

I know a lot of people swear by SPEC clutches now, but my guess is they never were around a year or more back when every single person using one of these clutches had nightmares.. They released an agressive disk, with only a sligtly modified Z06 pressure plate and problems just kept happening and happening. I know one tuner that put about 10-15 of these clutches in their customers cars and they ALL turned out to be JUNK and SPEC would not stand up for their product at all. This is a real tough situation when a tuner recommends a clutch, installs it for a customer and then there are problems. Who's fault is it? Is it up to the tuner to spend the hours and hours of installing and de-installing these clutches because they are faulty and dont work worth a $#$#@ ??

From that point on, I would never consider a SPEC clutch out of fear of the same problem and customer service from them. I am going to go with the RAM VDS 910 system in the next few months because most of the stories about them seem to be VERY good and they have good customer service. One of their reps is even very present on ls1tech.com offering advice and tech support for their clutches.. You cant beat that..

Anyways, good luck with whatever you do.. I am soooo sick of clutches in our cars that I have completely given up dragracing my C5 and will stick to the 72 Nova we are in the process of building. If I ever want to dragrace a C5 again, I will be getting an A4.

 

I have found that they either work or they dont. I have had some they feel great. I feel that the product is too inconsistant. We had to put 4... count them four clutches in a LT-1 F-body because they kept slipping. I am almost at a loss for clutch recomendations.. Matt G, please call me after you install the Ram. :seeya :seeya :seeya

 

Wecome to the club. When I first got mine it chatter, after breaking it in it got better. Then the dyno run, after which it start to squeals & chatter worse. :cry

 

Thanks for posting this...I'm planning to do a clutch in the spring, and I was leaning towards a SPEC III. That won't be the case now. MattG, let us know how that RAM setup works - that may be what I'll do!

 

Robert, I cannot help you on the clutch, but I hope you find a perfect one soon!!!!!

Good luck,
Michael

 

I too am getting a squeel but only when I take off the first time when the car is cool. This just started.
About 5K on the car, but I don't drag race the car that often.

I am disapointed. :nonod:

 

I get a faint squeek (sounds like seals) in the clutch after 15k, only happens when I take off, for about 2 seconds. It is worse in the cold that in the heat. No chatter past initial breakin.

 

**** on every other clutch other and just get the RAM 402/6130, holds like a **** and is free off the excuses that vendors and tuners have for the other clutch systems that fail. This system will do you right ;)

 

Have a LPE 650TT, and when the did the upgrade from a stage-1 to the 650 package they installed a SPECIII clutch. When I picked my car up to drive it home I immediately noticed bad chatter when taking off. Drove around the block and went back to LPE's shop and they stated that the chatter would go away after it was broken in.

With less than 2,000 miles on it the chatter and a nice new squeal was still there. Took it to the track once and made a easy first run, did not nail it untill 3rd gear. Second pass it smoked the clutch.

Had to pay $750.00 to ship it back to LPE's shop. LPE stated that SPEC would NOT warranty the clutch so I went with there new LPE clutch and have had NO problems. No chatter or squeal either. SPEC cost me a plane ticket, hotel room, and two days worth of work to go and pick my car up. Plus the bill for the LPE clutch. Not to mention again the $750.00 to get it there.

The SPEC clutch was NOT right even the first day. They got some nice print in GM Hi-Tech (GM F-Body) magazine but in the real word they do not hold up and they will not stand behind there product. They advertise that they will withstand X-amount of H/P but when they slip its our falt.

Bill :cheers:

 

I have been using McLeod Clutches and have been very happy with them... Maybe that is something you may want to look into??

vetterdstr :cheers:

 

That is a perfect way to describe the noise. :lolg:
I get that noise also and Dave said after 4k it would be gone. :rolleyes: He also sold be a billet master that did not work and I had to send it back. The stock master works good for me.

 

I had AWESOME luck with my SPEC 3 Kevlar and a stock Z06 Pressure Plate. Never slipped once. Chattered until I finished break-in. Strong enough to chirp occasional 4th gear shifts. Strong enough to break 2 TQ tubes running 335 radials.

I'm switching to a SPEC 3 Ceramic. Will letcha know how that works out. Using their new Gen2 Luk PP. Squeals when pushing the pedal could be a dry/rusty/dirty spline on your driveshaft. The Gen2 PP is supposedly a major improvement. I passed and didn't use their older Gen1 mod'd Z06 pressure plate. That could have been key.

Also, NEVER resurface your flywheel for C5 clutches. It changes the distance of the disc motion with the stock short Throw-Out bearing throw and will cause pedal and dragging disc problems. ALWAYS use a new flywheel. Also, the newest 767 '02 Slave has increased bearing throw and is the Slave to use.

Looking forward ot my Ceramic. Hope it's as good and better than the 1st.

 

rwj383,
Thanks for the heads-up. " Harbor full of pissed off seals screaming like crazy" - :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :lolg: :thumbs: :steering:

 

It's not squealing when pushing the pedal...The noise happens when letting the pedal out (engaging the clutch). It is definitely the mating up of the disc and flywheel during partial engagement when the noise happens.

 

Thats when my 'pissed off seal screaming' happens too

 

I can understand having a clutch go bad after putting the engine back in. I had a Centerforce DF screw up and had to put another clutch in after i got the engine back in.

I put in a SPEC III clutch because of recomendations from forum members and a major tuner.

I now have read posts of failed clutches of almost every brand, including Ram & Mcleod.

I think the key lies in what Mike said about replacing all the components with new stuff.

new flywheel, the updated slave & m/c with the new clutch & PP.

I'm now crossing my fingers on my install. It feels great so far except for the 1 gear chatter that should go away :rolleyes: when it's broke in.




[Modified by Gary2KC5, 9:46 PM 1/19/2003]

 

Hope my ceramic doesn't squeal.
Which discs are squealing? My Kevlar never squealed.
Is it the Carbon discs?

Which Gen Pressure Plate are you using?
What does a bad Pilot Bearing sound like?
Might be that?

 

both the kevlar and ceramic have failed here for me. it's not a pilot bearing or anything else because (1) all parts are new and (2) i know the symptoms of any other part failing.

I believe the problem is in the design of the disc. there are only 6 pucks (or is it 7). one puck on each 'tab' that extends out from the hub of the disc like 6 large fingers. i believe the lack of structural support between these 'fingers' allows too much flex and torsion. what i picture is the fingers twisting in such a way that the pucks do not sit face-flat against the flywheel until the pressure plate is fully applied. when i drop this clutch out i will look to see of the leading edges of the pucks are more worn than the rest of the puck. Then i will throw this piece of junk in the trash.

 

Don't forget the pictures :thumbs: