Clutch Rattles...! Help???

[SHOkid13]

headbang

I need some help here...

I have a '93 MTX w/ ~64K miles. First clutch went bad so I had a Southbend DXD installed. I used the stock t/o bearing (new ofcourse) with the shimming sleve. The flywheel looked great when I took it out, but we turned it anyway.

The clutch feels great! It drives much better and has a smoothe release.

BUT, it rattles when idling. I don't think it is the t/o becuse when I put pressure on the pedal, the noise doesn't go away until the clutch is almost released.

It is a rattling that is not consistant with engine rpms. It sounds like something somewhat small ( not like a flywheel bouncing around, and not a nut loose). It isn't at all an input bearing sound, and it was fine when the tranny was removed and before we started this whole thing.

There is plenty of oil in the tranny, also so it isn't gear chatter.

I can't figure this out. I am pretty sure the tranny is going to have to come out, but before I spend another $500 to have it taken out and put back in, I would like to have an idea of what this might be...

If you have any ideas, please help me out here!

Thanks in advance!

Matt

 

[monsterside]

Sounds like your clutch disk may be contacting your flywheel just a little. The chattering occurs with the clutch fully disengaged right? The clutch is adjustable and can be done by pulling up on the pedal, and if it needed adjustment it should click. It's my understanding that this will help your clutch disengage further. Whenever I hear chatter its usually bacause I didn't put the pedal all the way to the floor.

Mike.

 

[revhardSHO]

I still think its the TOB. They can make a wide range of noises.

 

[SHOkid13]

Smith: Even though the TOB is brand new it could be making that noise?

And, the noise only happens when the clutch is engaged. If I push the pedal down at least half way, then the noise disapears.

Thanks for your help, guys. Any other ideas on what it could be?

 

[MOSHO92]

If it disappears when you push on the pedal I am inclined to blame the TOB. I also have a southbend clutch (TZ series) and notice that my TOB rattles durring high rpm shifting. I dont think that southbend uses the highest quality TOB's (bothers me considering how much I paid for the whole package madflame )

 

[SHOkid13]

Hmmm, I guess I'll just have to tear the thing out again...

From previous experience with TOBs, they stop making noise as soon as pressure is applied onto them... But, mine doesn't shutup till the clutch is almost all the way released.

Okay, back to the shop...

I miss my SHO...

 

[autobahnsho]

I've also read about a random rattling in the tranny that Ford says isn't a problem, and is perfectly normal. I can't remember where I read this, and can't find it.

BUT- since it started w/ the clutch, I'm guessing its somewhere there.

OR, maybe it's something else?? Waterpumps can 'rattle' sometimes.

 

[masho95]

Just for ha ha's try this out before you have it all taken apart again. It requires the help of a partner or can just as easily be done by yourself. Start the car. Have someone hold the clutch pedal up, or stick a wrench or something under the pedal in it's full up position. Then under the hood locate the clutch release arm at the end of the clutch cable. Pull the release arm towards the front of the car as far forward as it will go. See if the noise goes away. If it does it's a 99% certainty that the TOB is the problem. What this does is move the TOB completely away from the pressure plate fingers so if it's the problem you won't hear the noise anymore. When you are done trying this release the pressure on the release arm and you'll actually feel the TOB contacting the PP fingers. Take the wrench or object you used to keep the clutch cable out. Then pull up on the pedal again to take up any possible slack in the cable. Start with this little procedure and let us know what you find.

 

[SHOkid13]

Just for ha ha's try this out before you have it all taken apart again.... Pull the release arm towards the front of the car as far forward as it will go. See if the noise goes away.... Start with this little procedure and let us know what you find.

I did it, finally! And, I don't like what I found... Even after pulling the lever over an inch back, it still makes the noise... with no changes to pattern or intensity. My dad and I hooked up a scope to it to see if we could see the frequency of the noise... it came out to about 75% of engine RPMs. It is a very consistant noise, too. It only goes away after the clutch is almost released...

I think, somehow, this is actually an internal tranny problem... The trans was fine before the clutch job, and now it is growing louder and louder every few days...

Since I'll probably be taking the tranny apart, does anyone know where to get a good deal on a Quaife (used or new)? I took a ride in a Quaife equiped SHO this weekend, wow! Gotta have it!!

Thanks for your help and recomendations everyone...

Matt

 

[LOUDSHO92]

See I know what I am talking about. When you have that sound for 12k and then your clutch goes you become quite familiar with it. Go Quafie you will like it. Well I could help you pull the tranny though I can't install a Quafie.

 

[RStalveyARFF]

I've installed a couple DXD's and they have all chattered. It's a pucked clutch and this is a normal thing for them. Stop pulling your hair out, it's fine.

 

[masho95]

I did it, finally! And, I don't like what I found... Even after pulling the lever over an inch back, it still makes the noise... with no changes to pattern or intensity. My dad and I hooked up a scope to it to see if we could see the frequency of the noise... it came out to about 75% of engine RPMs. It is a very consistant noise, too. It only goes away after the clutch is almost released...

I think, somehow, this is actually an internal tranny problem... The trans was fine before the clutch job, and now it is growing louder and louder every few days...

Since I'll probably be taking the tranny apart, does anyone know where to get a good deal on a Quaife (used or new)? I took a ride in a Quaife equiped SHO this weekend, wow! Gotta have it!!

Thanks for your help and recomendations everyone...

Matt

Yeah you gotta love those Quaifes! Anyways I did the above procedure on my car to determine what the noise was that mine was making. Turns out with the release arm all the way forwards that it still makes noise like yours. Found out it was the metal-to-metal insert on the splines of the clutch disc rattling slightly on the input shaft. And it seems the noise is common to all the Fibertuff discs, but it's not harmful. You put a Southbend DXD clutch in right? You might want to find other members who are running the same disc and see if they have any of the problems with the noise. You also might want to give a call to Southbend to see what the spline metal is made out of on your clutch. Since the noise appeared after a clutch job I'd tend to assume that the noise is coming from something you replaced, mainly the clutch disc.

 

[SHOkid13]

I've installed a couple DXD's and they have all chattered. It's a pucked clutch and this is a normal thing for them. Stop pulling your hair out, it's fine.

It does have a slight chatter/wiggle when releasing it, but this is starting to sound like a rat with a jackhammer in my tranny. It does it when it is idling, not when I am releasing the clutch.

 

[masho95]

It does have a slight chatter/wiggle when releasing it, but this is starting to sound like a rat with a jackhammer in my tranny. It does it when it is idling, not when I am releasing the clutch.

Lemme see if I can put up a clip of the noise you might be experiencing... Bizzy had one up before the shoforum was updated, perhaps she could repost a link to her noise to see if you are having the same noise.

 

[SHOkid13]

Lemme see if I can put up a clip of the noise you might be experiencing... Bizzy had one up before the shoforum was updated, perhaps she could repost a link to her noise to see if you are having the same noise.

That's a fine idea! Why didn't I think of that sooner... Maybe I can get a clip of mine... The only way I can think of is to have it in a mini MPEG from my video camera... I'll see if I can come up with a clip tonight.

Thanks!