Clutch "chatter"....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: nowhere la
Clutch "chatter"....
I just bought an 08 Pace Car from a forum member yesterday. Car only had 1250 miles on it and it is a garage queen owned by a 57 year old who really pampered the car. I drove it home yesterday (800 miles) and it ran fine. I am 60 and have owned a total of 3 C5's for 12 years of ownership (2 of 'em were MN6 trans)...never had any clutch troubles,no hard launches,etc. I noticed during the trip that no matter how carefully I let out the clutch while starting out in first I get a very slight amount of chatter if the car is at very,very low RPM inching along in traffic.
Last edited by hal262626; Apr 12, 2010 at 02:07 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,843
Likes: 16
From: Howell Michigan
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11
First thing, are you sure it isn't the engine? Have you had it checked for codes? The reason I bring this up, a bad plug wire, or dirty injector could be causing the shatter type vibration. If you are sure it is the clutch, you may want to take off a few times in 2nd or even 3rd gear. This will allow the disc and flywheel to bed-in. If the vehicle has sat for a while in storage, rust spots can form on the flywheel surface where the disc contacts. A few launches in 2nd or 3rd can be enough to correct it. Congratulations on the new to you vette! 
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
First thing, are you sure it isn't the engine? Have you had it checked for codes? The reason I bring this up, a bad plug wire, or dirty injector could be causing the shatter type vibration. If you are sure it is the clutch, you may want to take off a few times in 2nd or even 3rd gear. This will allow the disc and flywheel to bed-in. If the vehicle has sat for a while in storage, rust spots can form on the flywheel surface where the disc contacts. A few launches in 2nd or 3rd can be enough to correct it. Congratulations on the new to you vette!
Make sure it is not the clutch packs in the Differential. This chatter is common.
Last edited by Boomer111; Mar 31, 2010 at 09:09 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 169
Likes: 1
From: Sacramento CA
My C6 (z51 package) has the same issue. It was fairly noticeable at 12k miles, but has before increasingly apparent as I approach 20K miles. I use second gear when I want to start slowly and avoid chatter, or I just give it more gas and start in first. I can't tell you why a car with 1,250 miles would do the same, but you are definitely not alone.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 53,520
Likes: 77
From: Arizona
Even at low miles check your clutch fluid. When it ages or darkens this chatttering is one of the signs. My engagement gets much smoother after a switch out. Look for Rangers details in the FIY section.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 22,305
Likes: 1,683
From: South Carolina
My car did it for about the first 1500 miles....it got better as I drove it and finally stopped completely. I now have almost 24k and zero problems...I also do the RANGER method of clutch fluid cleaning every 2500 miles though as precaution. Even the fluid stays cleaner longer now than it did in the beginning.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,214
Likes: 3
From: CA
I have a 05 Z51 and mines never did that with the stock clutch. I does it a little now that I have the RAM clutch in there. Chatter is normal for performance clutches but can be avoided by the way you take off. If I baby it off the line like I was afraid of the car then it will do it...but if I take off with a little more throttle, LIKE A REAL MAN, it doesn't do it. LOL
Congrats on your Vette. Learning to avoid that chatter will become 2nd nature before you know it.
Congrats on your Vette. Learning to avoid that chatter will become 2nd nature before you know it.
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Race Director
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 14,999
Likes: 200
From: Bay Area Ca.
Not sure but I hope for the best. I do the Ranger monthly maintenance procedure. The clutch fluid is always clean now. 6,000 yearly miles. So every 500 miles I am freshening the fluid so to speak.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 940
Likes: 1
From: Long Island NY
My 08 took about 1000 miles for the clutch to break in and the chatter to go away. If the original 1200 miles were mostly on the highway, as well as your 800, then the clutch is still basically brand new. Give it 1000 miles of city driving with alot of normal shifting before you conclude you have a problem.
