MTX shudder...

[DrNino]

Hey guys,

First...car specs:

1992 SHO MTX 156k

So I bought my first SHO the other day. Wow this car (or should I say engine) is awesome.

Anyways, there seems to be an issue with the clutch/tranny.

There area a couple of things going on which may or may not be related...but all seem to revolve around the tranny/clutch.

- When I take off in 1st, it shudders a bit. If I give it more gas...kinda over-rev it slightly...it wont shudder. The clutch doesn't seem low though.

- At idle, I hear a light tapping...at a fairly rapid frequency...maybe 2-3 taps a second...coming from the tranny. The sound isn't really loud...but if I put my head near the left front wheel well...I can hear it pretty well.

- If I downshift from almost any gear...I feel a slight shudder while it catches up.

- Not sure how to explain the last issue...but lets say I'm going kinda slow and put it into 2nd...and I have to catch up to the gear I'm in...sometimes it will hesitate or buck a little...almost like the feeling of running out of gas...but not so pronounced. It hesitates a few times and then once it catches up to that gear...it runs fine.

I REALLY apologize for my completely non-technical...non-mechanically inclined explanations. But that's the best I could do.

All that stuff seems tranny related. I'm definitely eager to hear expert opinions.

Thanks,

Nino

 

[deercrusher]

It sounds like your clutch may be worn = shudder. As you apply the power it's slipping when the engine is near its peak torque curve. When the rpm's are higher it is of course less torque and more horsepower.

The tapping sounds unrelated to me - maybe a valve tap?

Good luck

 

[LJRuddy]

Clutch chatter, which is what you have, can be normal. It also can be a sign of a wearing clutch. The chatter can be caused from a slight misaligned clutch disk on the flywheel as well. Usually, a manual tranny will develop this symptom after a clutch has begun to wear out. I have 55,000 HARD miles on my clutch and it has just recently began to do the same thing yours is doing. More than likely, you will be looking at a clutch replacement sometime in the near future. The next symptom you will be noticing is either slippage during high engine loads and/or difficult shifts into 1st gear while at a complete stop.

As for the ticking, that is NOT valve tap if you can hear it from the driver's side of the engine bay. That ticking noise can also be completely normal (although more commonplace with high(er) performance clutch set ups) and it also can be a sign of a worn out throw out bearing (TOB). My SHO also has this symptom due to a worn out clutch and TOB. To check to see if the tapping noise is indeed clutch related, start the engine and stick your head out the window so you can hear the tapping. Now, press the clutch pedal to the floor. You will more than likely notice that the tapping noise has disappeared.

I wouldnt worry too much about these issues, Just know that those symptoms you describe is the clutch's way of telling you that it is far from brand new and you should not treat it thusly.

 

[bubba]

agreed, clutch wearing

 

[DrNino]

Thanks a lot guys! Those responses really helped! Thanks for taking the time to write them.

I guess I'll start putting aside some dough for the clutch job.

Any ideas what is a fair quote? I have access to parts at cost? I'm curious what a decent quote for labor might be?

Also, I know the engine in the SHO is a unique little item...and I'll probably need a mechanic familiar with SHO engines to work on it in the future...but is the MTX unique as well? Or should any decent mechanic be able to replace this clutch?

Thanks!

 

[Jonny Cash]

Sound like your flywheel needs to be replaced/resurfaced.

 

[SuperHO]

the shuddering is caused by the fear from other cars around you, knowing your mighty beast is on the move. in contrast, the rattling is the little guy in your transmission who's job it is to hold your diff pins in place having a snack whilst sitting on the toilet.

 

[sholover719]

i have also been noticing the same symptoms such as he describes i on the other hand am not to worried about it as long as i can still drive my car back and forth to work and what not i dont really worry to much.. but when i started noticing this symptoms i pretty much figured clutch but whats funny is the fact that the throw out bearing started chattering before the clutch started going but from what ive been told hes normal for the TOB to go first.