Got a new autozone clutch and had a guy put it in for me. The other had went bad when the front of my tranny leaked (not the seal but the gasket area). Anyway, after about 80 miles of driving, I decided it was time to really try this sucker and went into WOT in 3rd and 4th. It seems that I am slipping as I am revving but not moving ahead as fast as my revs increase.


Anyway, does a new clutch take time to set in or something similar? Otherwise I have to go back in and demand they fix this.

Ben

 

Most manufacturers recommend a 500 mile break-in of using the clutch a lot.

 

Yeah I started reading some posts on break-ins so I know that to be the case NOW.

Anyway, if I have done about 30 sec worth of WOT driving in these miles, have I possibly damaged my clutch? I know for a few seconds of those I could feel slip, but maybe it was slipping all the time just not enough to notice.

Anyone? Thanks.
Ben

 

Hard to say. Only time or pulling it back down will tell. Finish breaking it in, then if it doesn't hold, start over.

 

Thanks Al,

I am currently driving it while constantly shifting from 4-5-6. I do a lot of highway driving. No WOT and staying below 3000 RPM always.

Anyway, I will tell all how it went when I go to the races this weekend with about 300 miles on my cluth at the time (but LOTS of shifting in that time frame).

That is the nice thing about the Autozone Lifetime warranty. I can just get a new one if I messed this one up.

Ben

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Autozone clutches suck. I have a 91 RS and since DAY ONE it wont engage until youre almost to the top of the pedal travel. Now once it engages, it doesnt slip or anything. But when Im pulling off, it chatters its butt off and FEELS like the clutch is burnt. More gas and release the pedal faster? NO SIR! It slips WORSE. But again, once it engages, it stays LOCKED. Strange huh? I dont think so, since theres another guy on thirdgen.org who has the same problem I do. And its funny that someone here has a problem with an Autozone clutch.

I will get this Autozone crap out of here one day. I just have to get the GTP running first. It needs a transmission .

 

Well, I still have slipping in mine going on and I have no idea if I caused it or if it is installed incorrectly.

WOT in 3rd and 4th and 5th all tested in 2000 RPM plus and all slipped some.

Now I think I barely damaged my clutch when I did some WOT runs, but maybe I am ignorant. Still it just seems to me that clutch friction materials should be able to hold up to "some" abuse before failing. the estimated 30 seconds of WOT was not all at once (probably 3-4 sec at a time) and 30 sec is probably a bit high.

Does anyone really know if LT1 clutch friction disks are really that sensititve to being broken in?

Is it possible I have an install that is not allowing the PP to engage all the way? If so, how would I check?

Just trying to figure this one out before I tear it all apart and find it is a simple fix or that I really do need to drive it 500 miles first (at 300 now) before it will stop slipping.

 

well i have some news for u buddy..but autozone clutch is the same clutch you get at the GM dealer Made by the same people. Just a different box.

 

anyways.....If u went WOT and it sliped, dont waste your time braking it in..it will always slip. Clutch shouldnt slip even with 0 miles. When i first got my autozone clutch a year and half ago i beat on it the second i pulled out of my garage and it held up fine.

Just take it back to autozone and get a new one. Make sure you get your flywheel resurfaced and DO NOT GET ANY OIL on the disk. Make sure everything is nice and clean before you bolt everything up.
Marcin

 

Thanks Saint.

Is this from your experience you talk or is this from many years of doing it and hearing from others with similar problems?

The reason I had to replace my clutch to being with is because I had a tranny leak at the housing, not the seal. The fix "maybe" didn't hold, I have no idea. What I can say is that is slips more now than when it was first put in. I think it would be best to take it apart and see if leakage has again ruined another friction disk. The guy that did my install was knowledgeable and I specifically asked for a resurfacing. He told me all he was going to do and I have to think it was done right (but never saw the install).

Autozone will get a call from me tomorrow. Do you think that I should make the installer fix it or do it myself? I am unsure of that one.

Ben