Clutch Shudder

[dbk]

Just a quick thing to throw out their for the tech archives, but at 14,000 miles my clutch has developed a shudder in 1st gear. Yesterday the car was fine went out driving it, and after about 10-15 minutes in stop and go there was the stench of burning clutch. The car then began to shudder taking off in first.

Got off the road and ate some Del Taco, waited 30. Still did it. Parked it for the night, and when I drove it in the AM it was fine again. Looked in the garage and there was a pancake size leak of what I assume was trans fluid. 15 minutes after more heavy traffic, same thing.

Will let you know what the GT guys diagnose. It could be the leaking fluid getting on the clutch or a warped plate or who knows. It could end up an easy fix or I might be off to Stillen clutch land. Car was stock for 1000 miles, p/t/e for 10,000 and has been 900rwhp TT for the rest of the time. Tracked 3 times (so I feel pretty good about it if I end up with the Stillen).

 

[fjpikul]

Dear Oracular, no chance one of your test buddies did it in third?

 

[dbk]

Nope.

 

[soroush]

I went to the drag strip a few weeks ago and made 6 or 7 passes, one after another, on the last pass my clutch completely gave out and as soon as I went to 2nd I noticed considerable slip, so I babied it back and let it cool down, drove it home from the track and it was fine, went out the next day and drove it hard(although no 1st gear pulls) it has been fine since that day. I ordered a stillen clutch and it sits on my garage shelf for the inevitable. Dave I imagine with 900 to the wheels the inevitable is right around the corner for you as well:wink

 

[Fubar]

I thought he already had the stillen clutch.

 

[MAD IN NC]

I predicted this. With all the Whips's and TTs' any thing over 700+ HP push'es the clutch performance over time....

The engine and the Ricardo will easily take 1kHP. We've seen it many times. But the more cautious people have the clutch changed. Stillen has one and Spec 3 has made them for the GT also. Even then with the Spec 3 I drove it still has a shutter even though it is "new".



DBK - interesting to see was the GUY's say.....

 

[dbk]

Yeah, I know the thing is on borrowed time, just wondering what the pool of trans fluid(?) means. Either way, I'm fine with replacing it given the power and abuse it's gotten so far. Just that amount of power being put to it while racing at MMP is alot to take.

 

[Kingman]

This is exactly what happened with my clutch which prompted me to get a new Stillen clutch. The Stillen boys showed me my clutch plate afterwards and pointed out the various depressions in the plate.

After installing the Stillen plate, I had shudder right off the bat when starting in first. I asked Kyle and Steve about this. They shared that this will go away after about 200 miles. I asked a few other folks their opinion. The consensus was that I should drive it a bit with several clutch engagement cycles - which I did.

I have grown accustomed to the new clutch. I experience very little shudder only when trying to 'creep' 'up' an incline into my garage, so as to position it properly as close to a wall as possible.

 

[ThatPhilBrettGuy]

Shudder could well be fluid getting on the plates if you're seeing fluid getting out other ways.

 

[dbk]

Drove it down to the GT Guys today and there was no evidence of the shudder. Just left it and we'll see what they come up with.

 

[fjpikul]

Yes MAD, and I predict you've had tooo many Makers Marks already. You know, perhaps we should should start a thread just for you and IndyGT (***ing engineers)

 

[jamie]

Shudder could well be fluid getting on the plates if you're seeing fluid getting out other ways.

99% of the time shudder comes from a warped flywheel, usually from repeated slippage.

 

[kumar]

Drove it down to the GT Guys today and there was no evidence of the shudder. Just left it and we'll see what they come up with.

You are so lucky to have them in town.

 

[dbk]

It appears it was an o-ring that went bad and started the leak. They think that it leaked onto the clutch and that caused it to warp slightly. So it probably wasn't purely an issue related to the power the car makes, but running it nearly 180 on the track in 95 degree weather probably doesn't help :lol

Off to Stillen I go!

 

[dbk]

p.s, now that I think about it, when they installed the turbos they took off the trans cooler and I never bothered to put it back on without the hard lines it comes with from Ford Racing. That might have played a role in heating it up to the point the o-ring cried for mercy.

 

[scode]

p.s, now that I think about it, when they installed the turbos they took off the trans cooler and I never bothered to put it back on without the hard lines it comes with from Ford Racing. That might have played a role in heating it up to the point the o-ring cried for mercy.

I hate it when that happens.:wink That sucks Dave you are really going to keep the GT Guys busy for a while.

Keith

P.S. I guess I may see you this week depending on timing.:biggrin

Keith

 

[Ripper 02]

Good to know there wasn't a power related failure..

Great Thread Dave !!

 

[Jones]

Just a quick thing to throw out their for the tech archives, but at 14,000 miles my clutch has developed a shudder in 1st gear. Yesterday the car was fine went out driving it, and after about 10-15 minutes in stop and go there was the stench of burning clutch. The car then began to shudder taking off in first.

Got off the road and ate some Del Taco, waited 30. Still did it. Parked it for the night, and when I drove it in the AM it was fine again. Looked in the garage and there was a pancake size leak of what I assume was trans fluid. 15 minutes after more heavy traffic, same thing.

Will let you know what the GT guys diagnose. It could be the leaking fluid getting on the clutch or a warped plate or who knows. It could end up an easy fix or I might be off to Stillen clutch land. Car was stock for 1000 miles, p/t/e for 10,000 and has been 900rwhp TT for the rest of the time. Tracked 3 times (so I feel pretty good about it if I end up with the Stillen).

D-

How many ponies are you running these days?

 

[Jones]

Guess I should've read more questioned answered.

 

[somelee]

well glad you were able to get to the bottom of the shuddering/leaking clutch issue. Now we need to get to the bottom of this "Del Taco" issue.