Clutch chattering.....
03-28-2018, 08:31 PM
#1
Clutch chattering.....
When I drove my C7 new, off the lot in March of 14, I noticed that there was a slight chatter in the driveline on take-off. New car, new experience, etc. I thought it would "break in". It never has. Now at 25K miles the chattering is still there when releasing the clutch in first or reverse. It is pronounced, and this car has never shifted "smoothly". There is a lot of driveline ****** and driveline sloppiness in the lower gears. I have never had a dealer check it. I have little faith in any GM dealers but I am still under warranty for another year. Does anyone know if the clutch itself has ANY warranty at all? Has anyone else experienced this? I have driven 6 speed Camaros with the same engine/transmission setup and they shift smoothly with zero driveline sloppiness compared to mine. I am pulled between living with this "flaw" and letting a dealer's tech tear into my car. What would you do???
03-28-2018, 09:18 PM
#2
Safety Car
Mine 2015 51 with 8000 miles on it chatters just a little bit. I can make it go away if i bring the revs up before engaging 1st gear. I kind of thought it was normal. Curious for others to chime in.
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ren80 (06-04-2023)
03-29-2018, 12:48 AM
#3
Clutch chattering is usually a driver technique issue. Make sure you're off the throttle when depressing the clutch pedal.
Last edited by Foosh; 03-29-2018 at 12:50 AM.
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4thC4at60 (03-29-2018)
03-29-2018, 01:05 AM
#4
Race Director
If I am understanding your post correctly then this is happening when you are taking off from a stop or up shifting into second at low speed ? I would at least have your favorite dealer look at it. Normally wear items such as brakes or a clutch disc are not covered under warranty but your problem dosent sound related to wear, plus 25k isnt really very many miles, so I would at least have them road teat it and document the issue with a repair order. You never know, they may replace it all under warranty, especially if the flywheel is screwed up.
03-29-2018, 01:33 AM
#5
I'd take it in and demonstrate it with a technician ride along. I'm not liking to hear about possible driveline sloppiness developing in my new M7 C7, either. The great thing for probably most of us is that we bought our C7 M7s new. So, we know how the car's been driven. Do you, (OP) use/engage your ARM? (ActiveRevMatch) I certainly do, always.
Last edited by Skid Row Joe; 03-29-2018 at 01:35 AM. Reason: additional information
03-29-2018, 06:49 AM
#6
Le Mans Master
Shudder or noise? Shaking of the car on take off if any gas is given when you let the clutch out? GM fails to admit the garbage flywheels and auto flex plates they put on these cars.
My car will be in the dealer this Monday for a complete new flywheel, clutch, and slave. Car has 42k. I fought with GM and they are paying HALF my bill on it. So glad they stood up since the car is out of warranty and this is a "wear" item. Some have even gotten a lawyer and got it for FREE with almost double my miles...
The "new" part number they ordered for the flywheels is DIFFERENT than what GMpartsdirect had on their site.....hummmm, I think they are aware of the issue but could you imagine the recall for flywheels?? 11+ hrs of labor for each one...lol. They would never do that!
Hope you get yours resolved.
My car will be in the dealer this Monday for a complete new flywheel, clutch, and slave. Car has 42k. I fought with GM and they are paying HALF my bill on it. So glad they stood up since the car is out of warranty and this is a "wear" item. Some have even gotten a lawyer and got it for FREE with almost double my miles...
The "new" part number they ordered for the flywheels is DIFFERENT than what GMpartsdirect had on their site.....hummmm, I think they are aware of the issue but could you imagine the recall for flywheels?? 11+ hrs of labor for each one...lol. They would never do that!
Hope you get yours resolved.
03-29-2018, 11:18 AM
#8
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
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My 2014 Z51 M7 nor my Grand Sport M7 chatter or shudder. Assuming I take of properly and if not it might bog slightly but would not call it a chatter or shudder. Even that never happens in reverse as their is no throttle used.
Suggest trying to take off with no throttle and only applying it slightly when the clutch engages. It's a slow take-off but if it doesn't happen then suggest you may be giving it excess throttle when you are taking off. For a more aggressive start I do use more starting throttle but am prepared when it does engage to give even more.
The C7 does have a dual mass flywheel and there were early reports of some of the springs falling out. Have not heard that mentioned in years.
The C7 also has a dual plate clutch that makes the feel a bit different but it should not chatter.
Just some thoughts.
Suggest trying to take off with no throttle and only applying it slightly when the clutch engages. It's a slow take-off but if it doesn't happen then suggest you may be giving it excess throttle when you are taking off. For a more aggressive start I do use more starting throttle but am prepared when it does engage to give even more.
The C7 does have a dual mass flywheel and there were early reports of some of the springs falling out. Have not heard that mentioned in years.
The C7 also has a dual plate clutch that makes the feel a bit different but it should not chatter.
Just some thoughts.
Last edited by JerryU; 03-29-2018 at 11:23 AM.
03-29-2018, 11:22 AM
#9
Le Mans Master
My 2014 has a little shudder when leaving at low RPM, but it is smooth with no throttle, so I can control the amount of vibration when I think about it. 
03-29-2018, 01:29 PM
#10
Safety Car
Exactly. I think it is just the behavior of a powerful clutch. My 2001 cammed Z06 with a Textralia clutch and light weight flywheel behaved the same way. With the power these cars are making today, its tough to make everything completely smooth. I feel like its completely normal.
03-29-2018, 02:27 PM
#11
Melting Slicks
My C6 chattered noticeably as I drove it new off the dealer lot. I reported it a short time later and the service people told me it would "get better" over time. It didn't, and two years later it still chattered, which detracted considerably from my enjoyment of the car. That might've been a small factor in my decision to buy an A8 in 2015 which for a number of reasons was a much worse experience. To my delight my 2017 GS M7 has no chatter at all.
My theory on the C6 chatter was that as a winter build the car might've been started on a very cold day in BG for loading onto the transport and the person loading it rode the clutch excessively and heated the plates too quickly, which might've caused them to warp. How else would it chatter from Day 1 with only four miles on the clock? Could the plates have been warped from the beginning? If so, surely this would've been noticed on the car's QC drive at the factory, as it was very obvious.
My theory on the C6 chatter was that as a winter build the car might've been started on a very cold day in BG for loading onto the transport and the person loading it rode the clutch excessively and heated the plates too quickly, which might've caused them to warp. How else would it chatter from Day 1 with only four miles on the clock? Could the plates have been warped from the beginning? If so, surely this would've been noticed on the car's QC drive at the factory, as it was very obvious.
Last edited by iclick; 03-29-2018 at 02:29 PM.
03-29-2018, 04:27 PM
#12
Le Mans Master
At what RPMs do you normally shift? The cars don't shift smoothly below about 2200 rpm.
Mine's always had a bit of roughness, but it's essentially my fault. Got 64K on the car if IIRC.
Mine's always had a bit of roughness, but it's essentially my fault. Got 64K on the car if IIRC.
03-29-2018, 04:42 PM
#14
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St. Jude Donor '15
I have a 15 and have the clutch chatter upon releasing at stop light/signs. My dealer is aware of it and I was told it is the flywheel. They are good with getting repairs under warranty and told me that as it has been brought to them and diagnosed that I should just keep driving until it is presenting a more serious problem when moving away from a stop. The service advisor believes that it will be replaced n/c.
I have faith in them as they got me new seat covers as my oem's were losing color at about 30,000 miles. I went from Adrenaline Red to Sunfade Pink...so I am feeling pretty positive about them taking care of the clutch.
By the way 45,000 and no other issues.
I have faith in them as they got me new seat covers as my oem's were losing color at about 30,000 miles. I went from Adrenaline Red to Sunfade Pink...so I am feeling pretty positive about them taking care of the clutch.
By the way 45,000 and no other issues.
Last edited by rcooper; 03-29-2018 at 04:42 PM.
03-29-2018, 04:45 PM
#15
When I drove my C7 new, off the lot in March of 14, I noticed that there was a slight chatter in the driveline on take-off. New car, new experience, etc. I thought it would "break in". It never has. Now at 25K miles the chattering is still there when releasing the clutch in first or reverse. It is pronounced, and this car has never shifted "smoothly". There is a lot of driveline ****** and driveline sloppiness in the lower gears. I have never had a dealer check it. I have little faith in any GM dealers but I am still under warranty for another year. Does anyone know if the clutch itself has ANY warranty at all? Has anyone else experienced this? I have driven 6 speed Camaros with the same engine/transmission setup and they shift smoothly with zero driveline sloppiness compared to mine. I am pulled between living with this "flaw" and letting a dealer's tech tear into my car. What would you do???
update 4/8/18: Changing fluids made no difference. Royal Purple does seem to make the transmission smoother, but the noise is still there.
I went to a very experienced independent mechanic. We were able to reproduce one of the noises letting the clutch out at low rpm. He said the noise is pre-ignition. I was skeptical because it was very loud. So, I purchased some high octane racing fuel and the sound went away.
The other noise(s) sounds like loose linkage when shifting. I went to Stingray Chevrolet in Plant City, FL. They say the drive train setup in the C7 Corvettes makes this noise and it gets louder as you put more miles on the car.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by Rand1993; 04-09-2018 at 02:49 PM.
03-30-2018, 10:28 AM
#16
Le Mans Master
I am experiencing the exact condition you describe here. My car was built in March of 14. It now has 16,000 miles. I am changing the clutch fluid and transmission fluid next week. I doubt that will help, but it’s worth trying before going the dealer. I have no faith in my local dealer. I do have an extended warranty which would cover the throw out bearing.
I will let you know if the fluid changes help.
I will let you know if the fluid changes help.
03-30-2018, 11:41 AM
#18
Drifting
I have very light chatter on cold startup, usually in reverse when backing out, and the first time starting out in first after taking it out of reverse, no throttle either time. After that, it is completely gone and silky smooth. Stays that way until the next cold startup. Seems mine just needs a little heat. I've written it off to the twin discs getting re-acquainted with each other.
03-30-2018, 11:55 AM
#19
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My C6 chattered the day I got it. I simply stopped, turned around and asked them to replace the clutch. The truck loader probably burned the clutch during loading. A clutch SHOULD NOT CHATTER. If it does, you have a problem. The 2nd clutch they put in was smooth as glass until I sold the car in '14. It will NOT smooth out. Burned spots on the clutch won't go away.
Elmer
Elmer
Last edited by eboggs_jkvl; 03-30-2018 at 11:55 AM.
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jimmbbo (01-19-2021)
03-30-2018, 07:54 PM
#20
Burning Brakes
I haven't experienced any clutch chatter on my 2018. I have noticed notchy, stiff, shifting but that is getting much less pronounced and much smoother as the transmission gets miles on it. It also seems that the transmission needs to warm up to shift at its best.