I just got back form having my new Spec Stage II clutch and LT4 Pressure Plate installed. Even though I only have drivin from the shop home, it feels really nice. Pedal throw seems shorter and a lot easier. The clutch engages pretty high (not near floor). Is that normal? So far im really happy with the setup and it feels really grabby. Let me know what you guys think of this clutch setup. Also, how long of a break in period is necessary with this clutch? I have heard about 500 miles.
Thanks

 

Hmmmmm peddle feel should be exactly the same (was the flywheel cut?) If it is releasing high maybe there is some air in the system.


Jim

 

Yes the flywheel was surfaced before the clutch install. I just got back from driving and I now have another question. Since there is a break in period for this clutch I dont wanna do anything stupid, but I gave the car about 75% throttle in 1st gear brought the rpms up and the same while in 2nd gear. I noticed that there are a lot more vibrations during the acceleration. It did not do this with my stock clutch. Can it be due to the driveshaft going on slightly different than before and now im seeing greater drivetrain vibes from my 4.10 gears with stock steel driveshaft? It actually feels just like as if I had a poly tranny mount for example. Any input on this? does it have anything to do with break in period? will this vibration get better after time?
Thanks again

 

ttt

 

You dont want to give it any extra gas until it is broken in. I would give the clutch about 600 in-town driving miles before any full throtle passes. The clutch will engage at a different place when you have a new PPand clutch disc because all the material is new and thicker so the clutch will tend to engage more towards the floor. If you are having vibrations, a couple of things to look at are:

1. Do you have a pilot bushing or bering. If it is a bering, it could be bad and causing it to vibrate.

2. The pressure plate may not be torqued down equally. If this is the case it coudl vibrate.

3. make sure the driveshaft is not in a bind. It is not very likely that it is (usually if it gets into one it works itself out).

Just a couple of things off the top of my head.

 

I have the spec stage II and lt4 PP combo it engages pretty high, but I have read on this broad that's how the spec clutches are. I don't seem to have any vibes during accelaration. I did have a little chatter for the first couple hundred miles but that went away. So far I like it for a street clutch don't know how much serious abuse it could take, put about 15k on it and no problems so far.

 

How bad is it? I am having a similar problem so I took back my new PP and am just using a new disc with it. Tell me more about the vibration, if it's like I think it is then it shouldn't matter if the car is moving or not.

 

I put a SPEC stage 3 kevlar/kevlar disc in with a LT4 PP and it holds to my 6200 rpm dumps great.

I love that disc. Mine chattered also for about the 1st 200 miles and then was fine. Lets out close to the floor and is real smooth on the street.

I think it is the best clutch out if you are gonna drive your car every day like me.

 

The vibes only occur when im applying a decent amount of gas and is most obvious in 1st or 2nd gear. I did not floor the car or shift other than normal. I understand that I need to break this thing in so I wanna be careful. The vibration is very obvious and like I said feels as if I have solid poly tranny mount. Feels very harsh during fairly heavy acceleration. As for the pilot bearing, we checked that and it appeared to be in very good condition. I recently also installed 4.10 gears and those were giving me bad vibes on the highway. However in town the car rides smooth until this clutch went in. I guess the flywheel not torqued evenly can be a possibility. Could it also be that now with a new grippy clutch im feeling the effects of my new 4.10's with my stock steel driveshaft? I dunno just a idea.
Any more input?

 

Does it do it when you rev the engine and you are not moving? As in sitting still/parked.

 

No only when car is moving under decent acceleration. Normal acceleration car feels fine.
Maybe this is normal for the break in period of a stage 2 Kevlar clutch?

 

If you have a stock steel DS, I would check the balance of the DS and the ujoints next.

 

I installed my spec Stage 3 ceramic last night and my clutch engages pretty high off the floor also! Maybe it is just a spec thing? The only other thing I can think why its doing that is because you had your flywheel cut. Since cutting it makes it thinner so there will be more distance bettween the PP and Flywheel so it would engage further out. How many times have you had your flywheel cut? Mine has been cut twice so Im thinking thats why its like that. If you find out why it does engage so far out let me know. I would like to know too.

 

Well I have now determined that it could possibly be the fly wheel thats causing my vibes. It seems that not only does it do it under acceleration, but just by revving it also. The flywheel is not the same one that came out of the car. Since I didnt want any down time we used the one out of a 97 WS6 that was sitting around. We had it plained also. I am going to have my stock flywheel plained and then put back in. I have no idea how many times the one in my car has been plained however my stock one has never been touched as this would be the first clutch. I am also going to be looking into getting a aluminum DS as I know that is causing my highway speed vibrations
Thanks again.

 

If your original flywheel had any balance weights on it, they need to be transferred to the new flywheel.