destroyed my TOB toady

[somedude_001]

My throw out bearing decided it wanted to die today. I base this on my very limited knowledge of clutches. over the last week or so I have noticed a funny smell coming from my car every time I get in the upper RPM's. I have been passing this off as the crap burning off my new dynomax exhaust. My buddy suggested that it could be the clutch slipping. I immediately thought no that can't be. then I threw it in 4th and stomped the gas a few times then did the same in 3rd. The tach is rock solid, but of course I can't leave the testing to what is considered a "normal" check.

I pull down a industrial road that is deserted where we did a bunch of the tuning for my turboSHO. I bring it up to about 2500rpm and launch the car then proceeded to flat shift 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4. I must say that clutch rocks! It is soposedly some cheepie advanced auto clutch but it has just enough bite for the power its making. I am not really looking for a performance clutch because I don't want to break my transmission when I feel like pounding on my car.

That story aside the car knocks at idle, and the knock goes away if even slight clutch pressure is applied. Also there is a horrible noise in the upper RPM's that is clutch related. It is loudest when the clutch is out when i'm not in a gear. My best guess is the TOB is toast. I Have never worked on a clutch before so what is required to get this fixed? The noise got REALLY bad driving home tonight so I am parking the car till it is fixed.

cliffs:
I think the TOB is shot, can I reuse the clutch that is currently in the car and just replace the TOB? what needs to be replaced i'm a noob.

 

[Brett]

My throw out bearing decided it wanted to die today. I base this on my very limited knowledge of clutches. over the last week or so I have noticed a funny smell coming from my car every time I get in the upper RPM's. I have been passing this off as the crap burning off my new dynomax exhaust. My buddy suggested that it could be the clutch slipping. I immediately thought no that can't be. then I threw it in 4th and stomped the gas a few times then did the same in 3rd. The tach is rock solid, but of course I can't leave the testing to what is considered a "normal" check.

I pull down a industrial road that is deserted where we did a bunch of the tuning for my turboSHO. I bring it up to about 2500rpm and launch the car then proceeded to flat shift 1-2, 2-3 and 3-4. I must say that clutch rocks! It is soposedly some cheepie advanced auto clutch but it has just enough bite for the power its making. I am not really looking for a performance clutch because I don't want to break my transmission when I feel like pounding on my car.

That story aside the car knocks at idle, and the knock goes away if even slight clutch pressure is applied. Also there is a horrible noise in the upper RPM's that is clutch related. It is loudest when the clutch is out when i'm not in a gear. My best guess is the TOB is toast. I Have never worked on a clutch before so what is required to get this fixed? The noise got REALLY bad driving home tonight so I am parking the car till it is fixed.

cliffs:
I think the TOB is shot, can I reuse the clutch that is currently in the car and just replace the TOB? what needs to be replaced i'm a noob.

If you've still got clutch material on the disc, and the PP fingers are fine of course you can re use it. The question is do you want to? You could toss in a stage clutch and a ceramic bearing, and they'd probably out live the car itself seeing as its not your toy car. You've probably swapped so many ATX that pulling this guy will be a walk in the park, but for most, its a job they only want to do once.

I dont think theres anything really that needs to be done, dont forget to have the flywheel re surfaced, and to torque it in the appropriate pattern.

But please do get the ceramic TOB from shonut, its worth the piece of mind IMO.

 

[1993MTXSHO]

If you've still got clutch material on the disc, and the PP fingers are fine of course you can re use it. The question is do you want to? You could toss in a stage clutch and a ceramic bearing, and they'd probably out live the car itself seeing as its not your toy car. You've probably swapped so many ATX that pulling this guy will be a walk in the park, but for most, its a job they only want to do once.

I dont think theres anything really that needs to be done, dont forget to have the flywheel re surfaced, and to torque it in the appropriate pattern.

But please do get the ceramic TOB from shonut, its worth the piece of mind IMO.

And USE RED LOCKTITE

 

[shobote]

Mine is now making a similar sound and ready for new one; going HD with a Southbend this time. As you've found out, not worth saving a few bucks on such a reman if you already have to replace it again.
The Rev B TOB should work just fine. You can also order a stock LUK clutch on ebay for about $230 if looking to save $. They are an OEM supplier and not a cheapo chinese reman.
FWIW, my original stock '89 Valeo with small flywheel, lasted over 140k before it finally gave out, but I never abused it with drag launches or popped it between shifts during that entire period.

 

[rubydist]

And USE RED LOCKTITE

Where should I have used red loctite?

 

[whiteman_01]

I am going to assume to use it on the pressure plate bolts.

 

[Ocnaj]

I'd put a ceramic TOB in it. I went with a SHOnut Ceramic TOB and a Southbend DXD stage 4 in my pretty much stock '90. The clutch is very streetable and it grabs instantly when you want it to.

 

[somedude_001]

I don't want to spend any more money on this car than I have to. the clutch still grabs perfect so I would like to reuse it. What all do I need to buy? just the ceramic TOB? so 40 bucks and i'm back in business?

edit: I was seriously considering a 8lb flywheel and stage 1 setup from shonut but I have no intentions of making this car fast, but I think having a lesser clutch will help reduce drivetrain wear because I beat the snot out of this thing quite regularly. So for now i'll keep the current clutch as long as possible. less money spend on this car is more money spend on my primary project... the SHO powered camaro!

 

[shobote]

I am getting a Southbend OFE and already have a ceramic TOB to go with the quaifed trans. OFE has stock pedal pressure from what others have posted, and less of an on/off feel with more than enough holding power for any NA motor; probably even good for some boosted ones.

 

[Sho Amo]

pp strap.

 

[somedude_001]

pp strap.

what does the PP strap do? and what about it?

 

[zak]

After addressing the issue of the TOB chewing through the plate fingers (tends to happen more on SHO's that are accelerated aggressively often, vs highway cruisers) with the ceramic TOB, the second most failure prone area is the pressure plate drive straps.

Some of the aftermarket clutches have reinforced straps, some don't. I know SHOnut offers a pressure plate that Clutchmasters builds to their (SHOnut's) specs, with reinforced straps, but no change to the diaphragm spring pivot points so that release doesn't (sometimes) get messed up.

zak

 

[rubydist]

...just the ceramic TOB? so 40 bucks and i'm back in business?

Where does one find a ceramic tob for $40???

 

[somedude_001]

Where does one find a ceramic tob for $40???

my bad I read the wrong price on shonut.

 

[SeanMc]

So...no more turbo ATX?

 

[Sho Amo]

this is his daily driver. somedude im willing to bet not only is the tob messed up but the pp straps also. they kinda go hand in hand, and since you were talkin about beating on it every once in a while (picturing you shifting the living crap out of it), this is normally the cause of strap failure.

sorry bout being so short last time.

 

[somedude_001]

So...no more turbo ATX?

no no no i'm not getting rid of the turbo ATX just yet. It will get one last chance to shine. I am just running this car as a daily driver, and the camaro project gets my first priority since its transmission is actually strong.