Oil on the clutch
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 261
Oil on the clutch
This morning I pulled my car out of hibernation, after driving it around the block I noticed the clutch slipping. Upon further inspection there seems to be some transmission fluid leaking. It was dripping out of the front of the bellhousing. Assuming oil did make it to the clutch, is there any way I can clean it off, or is it toast?
It's a brand new SPCE stage 3 clutch. It wasn't fully broken in yet, but, it did not have this slipping problem a few months ago when I last drove the car.
It's a brand new SPCE stage 3 clutch. It wasn't fully broken in yet, but, it did not have this slipping problem a few months ago when I last drove the car.
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 112
Re: Oil on the clutch
I have the same problem. Like mine, yours if probably leaking tranny fluid from the input shaft seal. That fluid runs down inside the metal collar that surrounds the input shaft (it protrudes out from the front face of the tranny). This fluid is then flung outward from the input shaft and right onto the friction surface of your clutch.
I am about to replace the input shaft seal and am told the process is very easy. Also I am going to start using Honda ATF instead of the Mobil 1 synthetic ATF. My leaks only started after I switched to Mobil 1 so I don't want to take a chance with it again, though I know many people on the board have had good luck with it in the T56. If you do a search you can find a PDF document of the full shop manual for the T56 tranny, but I found the detail with respect to this problem to be a bit lacking.
If you have any doubt about the source of your fluid leak (i.e. could it be oil from the intake leak) you should use the fluorescent dye/black light technique to make sure so you don't have to redo the clutch like I did.
To answer your question, I have been told that you cannot clean and reuse the clutch disk - the tranny fluid gets embedded in the friction material. In my case I am re-using my PP and flywheel after soaking them in break cleaner and scuffing them up with 30 grit emery cloth (that's what the McLeod guy told me to do). I can reuse those components because I only put the clutch in about 4500 miles ago. Your PP and flywheel may have to be replaced, of course. I went with the McLeod single disk becuase there seemed to be virtually no stories of trouble with their products on this board and I have heard way to many horror stories regarding clutches from some other manufacturers.
Best of luck.
I am about to replace the input shaft seal and am told the process is very easy. Also I am going to start using Honda ATF instead of the Mobil 1 synthetic ATF. My leaks only started after I switched to Mobil 1 so I don't want to take a chance with it again, though I know many people on the board have had good luck with it in the T56. If you do a search you can find a PDF document of the full shop manual for the T56 tranny, but I found the detail with respect to this problem to be a bit lacking.
If you have any doubt about the source of your fluid leak (i.e. could it be oil from the intake leak) you should use the fluorescent dye/black light technique to make sure so you don't have to redo the clutch like I did.
To answer your question, I have been told that you cannot clean and reuse the clutch disk - the tranny fluid gets embedded in the friction material. In my case I am re-using my PP and flywheel after soaking them in break cleaner and scuffing them up with 30 grit emery cloth (that's what the McLeod guy told me to do). I can reuse those components because I only put the clutch in about 4500 miles ago. Your PP and flywheel may have to be replaced, of course. I went with the McLeod single disk becuase there seemed to be virtually no stories of trouble with their products on this board and I have heard way to many horror stories regarding clutches from some other manufacturers.
Best of luck.
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