I just installed a new SPEC Stage 3 Carbon clutch to replace a toasted Stage 3 Kevlar in my ’94 Z28. The installation went well but I seem to have bad chatter engaging 1st gear from either a stop or slight roll. Hill starts are impossible -the whole car shakes. I’ve tried varying the amount of slippage and rpm when starting off, but I can’t seem to get a smooth engagement. Shifting between the other gears once underway is smooth, and the clutch is not slipping.

Is the clutch grabbing too soon as it is not properly broken-in? It appears that it just grabs and then bogs the engine to the point of stalling resulting in shuddering. Is this normal?

What is the break-in procedure for this clutch?

Can anything be adjusted to eliminate the engagement chatter?

Thanks!

 

I had the same problem with my clutch. It wasnt a spec stage II though. New clutches tend to be picky. They can sometimes be like a light switch, Off or ON. They either slip or catch there is no inbetween point. They slip or grab, with no medium, causing the driver to look like its there first time driving stick as the whole car shakes. Mine was real bad. Heres what i did, Launched the car a couple times hard holding it inplace letting the clutch slip, and a few hard down shifts on the highway. It straghtened the problem right out. I'm not sure if this is the same break in for your car, but it worked for me.

As for the chatter, its fairly common especially with the Spec Stage III. Does your Throw out bearing make anuy kind of noise after the install?

 

Just the nature of the clutch.. .. not a problem.. i have had 2 kevlar's ,a ceramic and a carbon..the last 2 chattered pretty bad.. till they exploded anyway.

 

yeah, this makes sense. it appears to be getting a better with a few hundred km's on it now. thanks! boy does this thing bite!