Installed new clutch.. now major clutch pedal vibration. Why?

I just finished up today installing my new Spec Stage 2 clutch and was having my tranny fixed while it was out.

So I finaly got it running and I take it out.. and there is major clutch vibration. What could this be?? Is it just the clutch breaking itself in maybe?

I did however.. swap out my piliot bushing and replaced it with a roller bearing. Could that be the cause?? We also had quite a bit of trouble getting the tranny back in. It didn't just slide into the piliot bearing. I had to use some longer bolts, and threaded them in the "clamp" the tranny and the bell housing together.

The pedal will vibrate all the time except when I disengage it. Even it I slightly press on it.. it starts to go away.

The only other problem is my shifter. There is a lot of play it in (but I think it's because that plasic cup thing fell out... not a big deal)

How depressing :( What do you guys think it is? TO be honest.. the whole driveline seems real shaky... Thanks

I was just out driving to see if anything is starting to change... and these are some things I noticed.

About the clutch pedal vibrating - I will be sitting at a light with the shifter in nuetral, and my foot resting on the clutch pedal, but it's out. It will be vibrating like before.. only I noticed now.. if I depress the pedal, and then release it.. the vibration is gone. Then if I do it again, it comes back, and again, and it might not stop, then dpress the clutch and release again and go away, over and over and the vibration will either be there or not at random.

The clutch has a real harsh engadgment... I doubt this is normal for the Spec Stage 2? It's only a moderate clutch.. I have a friend, who's dad said to check over all the mounts, bracket etc and make sure they are tight. And to even check the motor mounts. He said.. if all fails, then to pull the tranny again and see whats going on with that piliot bearing.

He also reccomending swapping it back to a brass bushing, like my tranny guy said to replace it with in the first place... why?? My Spec clutch even came WITH a roller bearing to replace it with (I had already bought a GM one and installed that)

Sorry for the long post... thanks al ot for any help, it's much appreciated.

Is this the first tranny you ever put in?

You never pull a tranny in with bolts! It should slide through everything smooth, the throw-out bearing, the clutch disc, and into the piolet bearing. Take it back out with some who knows what they r looking at. If you can get the piolet bearing out without wrecking it make sure it fits over the front main shaft of the tranny. Make sure it goes back together smooth or you could run into other problems :death:

Is this the first tranny you ever put in?

You never pull a tranny in with bolts! It should slide through everything smooth, the throw-out bearing, the clutch disc, and into the piolet bearing. Take it back out with some who knows what they r looking at. If you can get the piolet bearing out without wrecking it make sure it fits over the front main shaft of the tranny. Make sure it goes back together smooth or you could run into other problems :death:

Yes I admit this was the first time I have ever put back ina tranny. But I did not do this alone ;) I had my car on a hoist at my school and my auto teacher is an amazing mechanic. It was his idea (even though he was VERY reluctant) to use longer bolts to pull the tranny in. He said exactly what you said.. it should just slide on. And like I said.. we tested to make sure that the clutch properly disengadged long before I took it out for a road test.

And even before I installed the new piliot bearing.. I slid it on the input shaft of the tranny and it fit perfectly.

Thanks! Cars back on the hoist.. going to pull it apart and see whats up..

Any other input would be great.

:cool: Sounds like the pilot bearing is shot. It wont disengage the input shaft. Happened to me with a T5 in a T-Bird I had. You should never have had to use bolts to draw the tranny in. 1st sign of a bad or missaligned bearing. :eek:

When I installed my SPEC3 Carbon, I used a bearing instead of the brass bushing since thats what I was given as a replacement for the bushing.(Rookie mistake). My tranny went in very hard as yours did, but I didn't have the vibrations. Not until, that is, the bearing came apart and trashed the clutch.
As the clutch was still under warrenty, SPEC replaced it with a New design and I put the bushing back in. Installed nice and smooth and never looked back since. If you use the bushing, watch the installation of it. Mine had a flat side and a rounded side on the ends. I put the rounded side towards the input shaft.

From my recollection it seems like I always have to lift the engine up just a little with a jack and then she slides right in. something about the angle that the motor sits without anything supporting it that just doesn't allow the input to get lined up with the bearing. Also, I've used roller bearing and it's been fine for 3 years now.

Now go give your auto teacher an F for that longer bolt idea. :)

Thanks for all the helps guys.

I pull the tranny back out today to try and find what was wrong. When I got to my throw out bearing.. I noticed a little green mark on it. I didn't pay attention to it the first time though. My friend phoned his dad (who works on Chevy's) and he said that the mark has to be facing up.

So I rotated it up, inspected the piliot bearing (which was perfectly fine) check for any other damage and there was none. I reinstalled the tranny (which slid in NO problems this time) got it bolted all back together.

I called Fast Toys (the company I ordered the clutch through) and asked them about the horrible clutch chatter. He told me that after the break in period, it should be fine. He said he has the same clutch and the only time there is clutch chatter anymore in when he first drives it when it's really cold out.

BUT this still did not fix my vibrating clutch pedal! I think it is because of the throw out bearing! It only vibrates intermitanly like I said. It will vibrate.. then I will push in and release the clutch pedal, and it will stop, or get a little better, or get worse. I have a feeling that it is just a poor design.

I'm going to give SPEC 450 miles of city driving. And if this pedal vibration, or clutch HARSH clutch chatter does not stop. I'm going to return it and go with McLeod, or some other clutch brand.

What do you guys think I should do..?

Im curious how everything worked out? I had a SPEC 2 and hated it... a lot of chatter and vibration just as you described -- and it never went away even after ~ 2,000 miles. So, finally fed up with thie bullsh!t I went with a McLeod ST and steel flywheel and it is so damn smooth now and no vibrations. =)