Trying to diagnose clutch chatter - 1st gear only ??????

[MrMagoo]

I'll go in with everyone who thinks it's the clutch slave being mounted to the frame. I had that problem real bad, exactly as you describe. It went away when I mounted the slave to the engine mount, instead of the frame.

If it were the pilot bushing, would it also chatter when engaging second?

[NorCal Cobra]

Why would it make a difference if the heim joint is attached to the frame vs. the engine mount? Both are fixed rigid points on the car that allow very slight movement, if any.

I'm just trying to understand the dynamics of the setup. Unfortunately I have a Lakewood Belhousing and the clutch fork extends much lower (further away from the engine) than with Quicktime and others out there.

Since the slave cylinder sits so much lower, it is very difficult to fabricate a bracket that would attach to the engine mount.

[Speedysnake]

Al,

Unless you have absolute rigid motor mounts, the engine will move due to the torque on start up. This changes the distance from the fixed end of the slave cyl. to the clutch fork. I had exactly this situation on my BDR with the frame mounted slave cyl. I installed a bracket, hanging from the rear bolt on the left side motor mount, and attached the slave to that. This way the whole assy. moves with the engine torque. Problem has been gone now for over 3K miles Check out the pic on my gallery.

Paul

[NorCal Cobra]

Thanks Paul. I'll see later today if it would work with my current setup.

Mike

[jwd]

Originally Posted by NorCal Cobra

Why would it make a difference if the heim joint is attached to the frame vs. the engine mount? Both are fixed rigid points on the car that allow very slight movement, if any.

I'm just trying to understand the dynamics of the setup. Unfortunately I have a Lakewood Belhousing and the clutch fork extends much lower (further away from the engine) than with Quicktime and others out there.

Since the slave cylinder sits so much lower, it is very difficult to fabricate a bracket that would attach to the engine mount.

Mounting the slave cyl. to the frame is fine. I know many that have done it, including myself, and there has never been a problem. Yours was fine for the first 2000 miles. If it worked then, it works now. You just have to figure out what has changed recently that is causing the chatter. 90% of the time it is a contaminated disc from an oil leak.

[NorCal Cobra]

I guess I should have mentioned that I completely changed my slave cylinder configuration two weeks ago.

That last slave cylinder (non -Willwood type) blew out was not secured to the frame. It was just butted up against a hole in the bellhousing with the clutchfork tension acting as the securing device. No wonder why it blew out!!

It was a very poor setup and the new Wilwood cylinder I received required modification to keep it secure and free from excessive play.

I have had clutch chatter before and after changing to the Wilwood, but now the chatter is much worse.

It could be a combination of slave setiup and disc contamination. Who knows????????

[Speedysnake]

Al,

My first wilwood was mounted as yours was, it failed. The second came with instructions to mount it on the frame. It chattered & failed. I made my own mount for the third one. It is holding up fine. Another issue with some Wilwoods is that the piston unscrews from the rod. This was a part of my problem with the second one. I really believe the vibration from the two mountings you have tried could be the cause or a part of the cause of the failure and the chattering. It won't cost much to try a solid mont to the engine before embarking on a transmission & clutch removal.

Good luck, Paul