Odd Clutch Issue

[Fastbreak]

First- I apologize if this has been covered somewhere, but I did attempt to search with very little results based on my particular situation.

Coming home from yesterday I made an admittedly stupid u-turn out of frustration of 6 hours in stop-and-go traffic and dragged the clutch pretty hard. I accelerated hard out of the u-turn and the car went through the gears just fine. When coming to a stop, the car did not want to down-shift and ultimately didn't want to go into gear at all. I let the car cool off, and still nothing. I turned the car on and held the clutch for about 10s and the car slipped into gear. I drove home and didn't really have any issues.

I went to start the car this afternoon (didn't drive it today) and the car wouldn't go into gear again. I shut down, put the car in first and went to start and it was apparent the clutch was still engaged as the car lurched and wouldn't start. I started it again and it begrudgingly turned over and would go into all gears just fine, and drives just fine. I drove about 20 minutes, stopped the car for a few minutes to go into the store, came back out and it started and went into gear just fine.

Let the car cool down this evening and tried again- same results, wouldn't go into gear when cool but once I got it disengaged it would run and drive fine.

Specifications:

Spec Stage 3+
Aluminum Flywheel
Steeda Tri-Ax Shifter
39,000 miles on car- less than 7k on clutch

Thanks for any help- if it's been discussed already please make haste with the brutalizing, link me to the thread and then close it down.

;]

 

[weather man]

Subscribed...I'm getting a SPEC 3 put in mine.

 

[Fullboogie]

Sounds like you may have glazed the clutch disc, leaving some material on the PP or flywheel - so that when you push the clutch pedal in the clutch is still dragging.

 

[86GT351]

Sounds like you may have glazed the clutch disc, leaving some material on the PP or flywheel - so that when you push the clutch pedal in the clutch is still dragging.

This and also possibly damaged the Slave Cylinder!

 

[Mark@]

I have to admit I thought the clutch felt funny when I drove the car,it lets up at the bottom of the floor. Most S197s have about an inch or two more towards the top.
Mark

 

[JeremyH]

Did you replace the slave when the new clutch went in?

 

[stkjock]

Did you replace the slave when the new clutch went in?

/\ same question

 

[Fastbreak]

Sounds like you may have glazed the clutch disc, leaving some material on the PP or flywheel - so that when you push the clutch pedal in the clutch is still dragging.

Is there any way to rectify or test this further? This was my thought as well.

I have to admit I thought the clutch felt funny when I drove the car,it lets up at the bottom of the floor. Most S197s have about an inch or two more towards the top.
Mark

I wouldn't really know as this is the only one I've driven and the clutch was in it when I purchased it.

Did you replace the slave when the new clutch went in?

I can't say- the clutch was in when I bought it. If there's a way to easily identify I can certainly do that.

The car did the same thing again this morning, but as mentioned- drives perfectly once you're able to get it in gear and stop the clutch from dragging. I also stopped at the gas station again, turned the car off and it didn't do it again when starting back up.

Thanks for all of the help.

 

[Fastbreak]

An update: I turned the car off in neutral this morning when I got to work. I just went out to check and the car went into gear fine when I started it.

I'm so terribly confused.

 

[86GT351]

Sounds liek a Slave issue and the Fluid or Air is getting moved throughout the system. Sometimes it just gets that spot that does not want to work properly.

 

[Fastbreak]

Sounds liek a Slave issue and the Fluid or Air is getting moved throughout the system. Sometimes it just gets that spot that does not want to work properly.

I originally thought this too, but wouldn't I have a different feel in the pedal? I checked the fluid and it's fine and the pedal doesn't feel any different than it did before or nor does it change after pumping it several times.

 

[JeremyH]

My guess is the slave is failing, if first thing in the morning engine cold, it doesnt want to shift when sitting still or wants to lurch when you start it its likely the slave. And not necessarily will the pedal feel different, the pedal mayl feel the same since theres no air, but when you put the pedal to the floor the slave isnt disengaging the clutch fully. In general sitffer pressure plate singel disc clutches don't do so hot with our slaves. Especialy if you install a new stronger clutch on a used slave they tend to fail a lot sooner that way.

 

[Fastbreak]

My guess is the slave is failing, if first thing in the morning engine cold, it doesnt want to shift when sitting still or wants to lurch when you start it its likely the slave. And not necessarily will the pedal feel different, the pedal mayl feel the same since theres no air, but when you put the pedal to the floor the slave isnt disengaging the clutch fully. In general sitffer pressure plate singel disc clutches don't do so hot with our slaves. Especialy if you install a new stronger clutch on a used slave they tend to fail a lot sooner that way.

Awesome- thanks for the insight. Is there a general preference when replacing these with the stronger clutch? If you have any links to parts or general ideas on costs for something like this I'd love to hear.

 

[JeremyH]

Mcleod makes an aftermarket adjustable slave but alot of people havent had great success with it.

As for changing the clutch its good practice to change the slave everytime a new clutch goes in.

 

[Fastbreak]

Mcleod makes an aftermarket adjustable slave but alot of people havent had great success with it.

As for changing the clutch its good practice to change the slave everytime a new clutch goes in.

Yeah- if I had done it I would have taken care of that. I'm just not sure. Hopefully I can get away with replacing the slave and then just do both again when it needs a new clutch as I would imagine the clutch still has life in it.

 

[Mach2burnout]

Everyone told me to use stock slave cylinder. I ordered mine from Tousley ford on line and saved about 75 bucks compared to other dealers. I've been told that the aftermarket brands don't work very well.

 

[JesseW.]

sounds like the slave. you are probably about to lose an o-ring seal in it. get under the car and see if any brake fluid is dripping or has moistened the bellhousing.

 

[michael.konor]

If you're replacing the slave, you should consider replacing the entire clutch or at least the disc. It's already apart.....

 

[Fastbreak]

If you're replacing the slave, you should consider replacing the entire clutch or at least the disc. It's already apart.....

It has less than 7k miles on it and they cost like $500. Really necessary?

 

[michael.konor]

Not saying to replace entire assembly. Instead, look at the friction disc. Bit cheaper than getting the entire assy including the pressure plate.

I speak from experience hard learned.