CM3/FX300 failure?

[nik97]

This thread could be moved to the drive line/product feedback section if need be. Anyway, the Turbo '90 is up and running and freshly out of it's break in for the motor and the new CM3. I am pleased with the clutch for the most part but it recently started to slip very badly. It comes and goes and may be dependent on certain factors but it's getting worse. 2nd, 3rd and 4th all slip with anything over 1/2 throttle. By slip, I mean practically disengage and the tach flies to the limiter.

I remember someone or a group of people having some problems with these clutches but I could not dig anything up in a search. I chose this clutch because of the good reviews it has with some of the high hp cars on here. I guess I'm just trying to get some feedback from you guys and see what I should do. I bought the clutch through RCM so he may be able to warranty if for me. Just sucks that I have to remove it, send it in and wait while my car is in pieces... Any thoughts, guys?

Thanks.

 

[AREA 91]

Interesting, I have never heard of the CM3 doing that. I have this in my green car and it NEVER slips!

I know the CM1 had a bad rep for a "light pedal feel" at high RPM's along with slipping.

Edit: Did you turn the flywheel?

 

[nik97]

Yeah the flywheel was turned and the clutch has never even seen a hard shift or any type of launch or dump. The pedal feels great and engagement is smooth but it randomly slips bad.

I think there may be a defect due to the way it practically just disengages. Could this mean that the clutch is still in it's break in stage? It's got over 500 miles on it...

 

[Ishodu]

500 miles of city driving?

 

[SASHO91]

I would look at the quadrent.

 

[animex2]

i was told make sure I have ~600-800 mixed driving, but mostly city miles on my stage 3 to brake it in before I turbo my SHO. Im looking at a southbend.

Im no expert, but mabye it is still breaking in?

 

[Brett]

I'm sorry to thread jack, but i have not been driving my car because the clutch slips as well, it has not even 40 miles on it yet but i stopped driving it to keep from burning out the disc. It slips even at half throttle anything above 4k. Fly wheel was resurfaced and torqued in the correct pattern.

I would normally try my best not to jack a thread but from the sounds of it this might be almost normal? My stock clutch i did not bring above 4k until over 500 miles so i dont know how it should feel. i just assumed it should not be happening. Sorry nik.

 

[nik97]

Well, I just took it out for a test drive today and it's not slipping. Maybe I'll just give it 500 more miles and see how it holds up.

If it turns out to have some sort of defect, I'd be curious about the warranty process. Has anyone had to deal with Clutchmasters in this regard?

 

[AREA 91]

That sucks man. I had about 450 miles on my new 3.2 and clutch. It's a CM3 mated to a Fidanza flywheel. I have been told that the heavy clamping force of the pressure plate could actually be bending the flywheel. Is this why I can't shift the car fast on the bottle?


Here's the story!

I went to unload my car and ripped the front bumper cover right off! Got out and threw it in the back of the truck. what can you do? I was there to get a 13 second pass. Nitto Drag Radials, 75 shot of n2o, exhaust cutout, and no bumper. I'm ready to rock! Pull in the burnout box heart pumping e-brake set and pre-load the drivetrain.......WWWWWWWWWHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA e-brake off WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA stab the clutch in. Almost shaking from the excitement!:woo-hoo:I try to maintain my composure as I click the first yellow on and set the e brake again. A few rev's a little clutch and i click on the second yellow. Rev her up to 4800 RPM apply a little preload, YELLOW, YELLOW, YELLOW GO! Clutch out e brake off and the spray on! Zoom 7300 SHIFT! Zoom 7500 SHIFT! Zoom! 13.82 ET! Mission accomplished!

Now here is a list of questions I have been asked at the drags.

Q "That has a Jag engine in it right?"
A "Nope! It's a Yamaha V6!"

Q "How big is that intercooler?
A "That's my radiator. I ripped my bumper off."

Q "Is that Mitsubishi engine a 4 or 6 cylinder?"
A repeat Nope! It's a Yamaha V6!"

Q "Why'd u tak ur bumper off 4?" "Go faster dat way?"
A "It was an accident." "I didn't do it on purpose."

Q "Hoooo Weee! What's that got in it?"
A repeat Nope! It's a Yamaha V6!"

Q "Slicks on a Taurus?"
A

Q "I can't beleave you beat that mustang!"
A

And the list goes on and on.

 

[1995SHO9]

So thats what you were so diligently working on at the shop for like 30 minutes....


Nice one. I remember you telling me about you ripping off your whole bumper and stuff.

 

[yamahaSHO]

You guys know that if the clutch is already engaged, you can romp on it for the most part, right (IE: RPM is not a factor)? The breaking-in part is the engagment (slipping).

In the past with the dual-diaphragm CM3, I've seen the springs on the disk hit the PP fingers. I have also seen the two sets of fings slip and bind. Have you pulled up on your clutch pedal? Also, I've seen these slip from oil getting on them from a blown rear-main, but then later be fine.

 

[twr]

Also, I've seen these slip from oil getting on them from a blown rear-main, but then later be fine.

If it's slipping, the above would be my quess too.

 

[nik97]

I doubt the rear main is leaking because it is new and professionally installed There is no oil running down either. I double checked the quadrant and made sure the cable/fork arm was not hitting my down pipe and all seems ok.

The car drove ok again today so maybe it was just a weird occurance. I guess I wont know for sure until I decide to try some speed shifting in a few hundred miles...

 

[yamahaSHO]

Haha... The install means nothing... Professional or not. With boost, it has been known to completely blow out

 

[nik97]

Haha... The install means nothing... Professional or not. With boost, it has been known to completely blow out

lol, like out of the carrier? Like I say, it's dry up there.

 

[93rev2sev]

yeah if it fails due to positive crank case pressure, I would think it would be wet. Who installed the clutch?

 

[yamahaSHO]

Yup... I was looking for a picture, but apparently I don't have it hosted in my cardomain site. I do have some pics at home of a blown seal. If it weren't to completely blow out, you *could possibly* have the oil spraying upward. Mine blew completely out and it was very apparent that it had. You could always look at the back of the flywheel... I do that occasionally out of paranioa(sp).

 

[nik97]

I installed everything. But ya, Jason, now that I think about it, I suppose it's possible that a small enough amount of oil could seep past and be consumed by the clutch and I'd have no idea just by looking under the car. I'll take a peak in there.

I should probalby post some pics soon

 

[gmorrell]

Haha... The install means nothing... Professional or not. With boost, it has been known to completely blow out

My rear crank seal blew out under boost, and I'm better than Professional.

The seal was riding against the back of the flywheel, it has a retainer plate now. If a seal blows out, I want it to the the front crank, 'cause that one's a whole lot easier to put back in.

 

[DVJ38]

Who installed the clutch?

The same professional... You and clutchmasters don't get along huh Nick?