First off I'd like to say happy easter to everyone on the forum.

Well, for the past couple of months I've been trying to get my boltons only C6 MN6 in the 6s.

Earlier this yr I started having issues with my stock clutch slipping on the ET Streets. The best I could manage was a 7.45 @ 94MPH on a 1.61 60' before the clutch stop gripping the hard launches. So I bought a RAM PowerGRIP HD & aluminum flywheel. I take everything apart and install the clutch along with a new pilot bearing and remote clutch bleeder from RPM Motors. Man this thing is worth every penny. I highly recommend one to everyone.

3 wks later I let the clutch break in for about 500 miles and decide to do a test pass on my street tires (345 INVOs). 1st pass felt ok but on my second pass the clutch pedal fell to the floor after hitting 4th gear. I lost all cllutch pressure and it was stuck in 4th. I stopped and checked it out. There was clutch fluid leaking near the bell housing. As mad as I was I was just glad it happened near my house and not at the track (30mins away) I have it towed back to the shop. I take everything apart again and it looks like the leak was coming from the slave cylinder, so I buy a new one from GM. When I was swapping over the remote clutch bleeder I noticed the fitting that goes screwed into the slave (replaces the stock bleeder) was bent. I still don't have any idea on how that happened. RPM didn't have anymore fittings in stock at the time so I installed everything without it.

2 days later I go make a few test passes on the ET streets this time and the car felt good. So I decided to go to the track this thursday. I made 4 good passes with my best being a 7.38 @ 93.92MPH w/ a 1.622 60'. On the 5th run I decided to launch a little harder and try and get my 60' down to a 1.55 and hope for a 7.2. As soon as I shift to 2nd it felt like a miss-shifted. I know I didn't miss-shift. So I go to put it in 3rd and it doesn't want to go into any gear. I coast down the track and checked it out. Clutch pedal felt fine and there was no leaks anywhere. If the cars off it will shift into any gear but when the cars on it will not go into any gear. It's almost like the slave is not letting the clutch release so that it can go into gear. If I start the car in a gear it will just gerk forward. So I had to have the car towed all the way home. So much for not breaking at the track.

Well I can't believe I gotta take my car all apart again. 3 times in less than a month. It's a PITA to take it apart. Now I know why they charge so much for labor to do clutch jobs on these cars.

Any ideas on what could be wrong before I tear everything down. I know I have to take everything apart to find out the problem but I want to know what you guys think.

Thanks and sorry for the long post.

 

im not familiar with the c6 clutch setup, YET, but i would say you damaged something similar to the throwout bearing/shifting fork or even the fins on the pressure plate.

take pics of the carnage!

 

mine did the same thing on my mcleod after 18 passes and about 12k miles. last track past it didn't want to go in some of the gears. pulled in pits, turned off car, and it shifted fine. drove home and had trouble normal shifting. i was told to drive it for a few days and see if the plates would clear of clutch dust or whatever you want to call it. i also cleaned the fluid. Did that with no success. took clutch out and it was worn down and done with. instead of rebuilding that one, i went to an upgraded to the rps clutch this time. so far so good.

 

Ugh Sparo I am sorry to hear this.

Maybe you want to go to a stock clutch again? Mine is still getting 1.5's at will.

Seems like everyone at my shop is now going to the Rps. It is quite pricey though.


Keep us posted.

 

Hey Joe,

I don't think I'll be going back to the LS2 clutch. When I took mines out it still had a lot of life left on it. I guess it just wasn't up to the task anymore.

I know the car can get a 1.5 60' with this clutch. It's just a matter of me launching it harder. Next time I go to the track I'll be trailering my car out there just in case. This way I'll go ***** out on the launch. I should also have my ported FAST intake on by then too. I'm hoping for 7.0 next time out with a good 60'.

I'll definitely keep you guys posted.

 

Based on Rattt G's comments, I think your clutch might need to be rebuilt. See here, if you have the same setup he doesn't get much life out of them.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c6-z...ch-rating.html

He's running 9's on motor and into the 9's on spray and he launches like a ****, I've seen him.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/drag...al-videos.html

 

I just installed the clutch a few weeks ago. I only have about 6 passes on it. I sure hope it doesn't need a rebuild already. I just hope it's not the tranny. Please don't let it be the tranny.

 

I had something similar happen to me (albeit on a Honda CRX) where the clutch was always engaged. One of the springs from the clutch disk had popped out and gotten lodged between the disk and flywheel.

Good luck!

 

Hopefully it's something simple.

I'll keep you guys updated on the progress. I'll be tearing her down again for the 3rd time. Hopefully the weather is good this Saturday to allow me to work on it. I'll be sure and take pics also.

 

Sorry to hear of your troubles, I had to rebuild my tranny because of a mismachined pressure plate that wasn't allowing full disengagement and ate my synchros, so I know the feeling of clutch woes...Did you use a shim, is it their aluminum flywheel? Probably a long shot, but the insert could have gotten warped from too much heat and is not allowing disengagement...curious on how you like the engagement/pedal feel of the Ram and what RPM were you launching at?

 

Bring the pieces up when you have it apart and let's look it over. Once we find the root cause you'll be able to get it back together and stay on the track.

Charlie

 

I used everything from RAM. I used their PowerGRIP HD clutch kit along with their aluminum flywheel. I hope it's something to do with the clutch because if it's the tranny...well, lets just say the car will be getting a lot of rest.

Thanks Charlie. I'll try and do so this Saturday if I get everything apart in time. I'm getting to be a pro at taking the driveline apart. LOL. Thanks again for all your help. It's good to know there's still performance tuners out there like you.

 

I hate clutch issues

BC

 

Oh Bill, I thought you only had electrical problems, not clutch problems too!

 

I added 100 RWHP and 85 RWTQ..on the stock clutch The stock clutch is NOT happy.

Bill

 

sounds like maybe the flywheel is the cause? I did a motor swap on my last car and had a similar issue. Took the tranny apart and noticed I only hand tightened the fly wheel and it was loose. Worth a shot I guess.

 

I highly doubt it's the flywheel. I made sure to torque down all the flywheel/clutch related bolts to spec with a torque wrench. But i'll be sure and check everything once it's all apart.

 

Ok guys I finally got everything apart today. No broken parts so that's a relief but I still have a problem. When I took the pressure plate off the clutch disk was stuck to the flywheel. I had to pry it off with a flat head screwdriver. Check out the pics.

Here you can see some serious hot spots on the flywheel as well as some of the clutch material that was siezed onto the flywheel....


Here's a close up of the clutch material that's stuck to the flywheel.


Here's a close up of the clutch pads.


Here's another pic of the clutch pads. Check out the missing material.


This is a pic of the side that mates to the pressure plate. As you can see it looks ok.


Well, here's what I think the problem was and please correct me if i'm wrong...
I think the heat from racing caused the clutch disk to seize onto the flywheel. So with the flywheel and disk stuck together, power would have been transfering to the rear 100% of the time.

I wish I would've thought about this at the track. I might have been able to break the disk lose by doing a few rapd accelerations and deccelerations in 1st gear.

So now that I found the problem I would imagine this clutch is no good right?

Let me know what you guys think.

Thanks
-Daniel

 

Thats a result of some serious slippage. You need to figure out why the clutch is slipping before you go any further. Just installing a NEW disk without figuring out why your clutch isn't making 100% designed pressure, is asking for a repeat issue. Make sure that the throw out bearing is fully releasing.

BC

BC

 

I slip the clutch off the line but not to the point where it should be causing this kind of abuse. Expecially after just 4 passes.

Would intalling this clutch back in be a bad idea if I remove the clutch material off the flywheel?

Also, when I installed this clutch the clutch would grab when the pedal was about 75-80% released. It grabbed at the top. I wonder if anyone with a RAM clutch on a C6 has the same issue.