Unbeliveable Clutch story

[dantheman68]

Some of you may remember hearing of some complaints from me about my SPEC stgII clutch, and some chatter that i had... well i took it to my uncle who owns his own autorepair shop, and he got back to me today on it and what was the problem,

(yeah, problem, not normal chatter)

Here's the story from the begining:

i was involved in a group buy with the spec clutches a few months back, and after noticeing problems with the clutch i called spec to see what they would say. They told me it was natural for the clutch to have some chatter, and that after allowing it to break in, to try driving it harder and see if the symptoms go away...

fast-forward to now... about 2 months later im still having problems and my uncle (a Mechaninc) tells me to bring it in because he wants to look at it... once he gets it apart, he immediately notices that the bellhousing of the transmission is "marred" from the "wrong pressure plate" he says that the pressure plate is the wrong size, (too large) and thus the wrong part for the car... my "chatter" was actually the pressure plate spinning/grinding on the inside of the bellhousing (no wonder my shifting was difficult), also since the PP was getting "hung up" it was not making a correct contact with the flywheel and clutch.

the flywheel, clutch, and pressure plate all need to be replaced since they are burned too badly to replace, and all parts were correctly installed

i contacted the group buy orgainizer, but i think im going to have my uncle send pictures/call spec to see if i can get any of my money back... because this is just straight up BS, and id reccomend anyone with a SPEC clutch that isnt behaving correctly to seriously look into it.... i have no idea what im going to do... and there isnt a way to say how frusturated or irritated i am...

 

[shopartsnw]

Please send pictures.

I have seen the pressure plate not seat with the flywheel because the dowels were too long (or the powdercoating had plugged up the dowel holes), but I have never seen a pressure plate that was too big. I still have two stage 2 kits from the group buy that were never installed and I am 99% sure the pressure plate is a match to the flywheel, but I am going to check.

I am very curious now.

Please send pics soon.

Thanks

Mike

 

[dantheman68]

the flywheel pins were from josh, and the Pressure plate was fully sealed on the flywheel when i put it back together... im just afraid i will get no money back from SPEC, which will make things very interesting, since im in college and there really is no "poor college sutdent option"

 

[Shoaz]

Make sure that the marks on the bellhousing are not from a broken strap, either now or previously. Are you sure that there weren't marks before? Are there markes on the PP from rubbing on the tranny?

I've not heard of a "PP too big", either, especially since Valeo is, AFAIK, the only one who's ever made cast iron PP housings for the SHO. The stamped metal ones are smaller than the ci, so I don't see how they could be a problem.

That being said, I've seen numerous instances of SHO clutch kits having the wrong PP, usually the 9" stamped unit instead of the cast iron unit.

 

[TYSHO]

There's been another member who ran across this same problem awhile back.

 

[dantheman68]

Make sure that the marks on the bellhousing are not from a broken strap, either now or previously. Are you sure that there weren't marks before? Are there markes on the PP from rubbing on the tranny?

nope there were not marks before, the straps AFAIK are good still, i have yet to see it... but he is a mechanic and probably would check that

I've not heard of a "PP too big", either, especially since Valeo is, AFAIK, the only one who's ever made cast iron PP housings for the SHO. The stamped metal ones are smaller than the ci, so I don't see how they could be a problem.

That being said, I've seen numerous instances of SHO clutch kits having the wrong PP, usually the 9" stamped unit instead of the cast iron unit.

me either... but its what i was told

 

[dantheman68]

i went in, before the forum went down, and here's the story, i didnt have a chance to snap any pics... but ill tell you guys what happened...

the pins on the Presure plate... NO not the flywheel, the Pressure plate, were too long and marred up the inside of the bellhousing in a circular pattern, gouging parts that were slightly raised... and gouging them pretty badly... it appears that the tranny can be reused. the flywheel was flat, but the clutch was only grabbing on 1/2 of the flywheel, and onthe outside, because the outer edge of the clutch was much thinner than the inside/middle of it. 1/2 of the pressureplate and flywheel were burned up, therefore i need a new clutch assy, and flywheel... (all parts were installed correctly, and he verified this...) and the best part is now my uncle thinks "upgraded" clutches are evil, so i think he's going to instal a valeo... all i want is something that can hold up to a little spray/abuse... *sigh* but i probabaly cant tell him that...

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

i went in, before the forum went down, and here's the story, i didnt have a chance to snap any pics... but ill tell you guys what happened...

the pins on the Presure plate... NO not the flywheel, the Pressure plate, were too long and marred up the inside of the bellhousing in a circular pattern, gouging parts that were slightly raised... and gouging them pretty badly... it appears that the tranny can be reused. the flywheel was flat, but the clutch was only grabbing on 1/2 of the flywheel, and onthe outside, because the outer edge of the clutch was much thinner than the inside/middle of it. 1/2 of the pressureplate and flywheel were burned up, therefore i need a new clutch assy, and flywheel... (all parts were installed correctly, and he verified this...) and the best part is now my uncle thinks "upgraded" clutches are evil, so i think he's going to instal a valeo... all i want is something that can hold up to a little spray/abuse... *sigh* but i probabaly cant tell him that...

You really need to provide photos.

The only pins in the related area are FLYWHEEL dowel pins.

And if the clutch was only grabbing half of the flywheel, then the FLYWHEEL dowel pins were either not seated all the way, or too long.

For referrence, here is a Spec stage 3 pressure plate:

I see nothing that would interfear with the bellhousing. And no "pins" to speak of. When I recieved this clutch set, I also placed this pressure plate face to face with a stock Valeo. Identical in diameter and clearances.

The fault is the flywheel dowel pins combined with improper installation.
Not an aftemarket clutch.

 

[AREA 91]

Mabye he means the rivits that hold the pressure plate straps.

 

[dantheman68]

Mabye he means the rivits that hold the pressure plate straps.

BINGO!

after looking at that picture i can see the part, and why mine wasnt bing nice...

here is what i see, theyre flush on here, but sure as **** werent on mine

 

[shogansta]

HOLY CRAP.... nkplus just had his stage 3 clutch trashed..... he bought it from the same group buy.... and it was making that chatter noise i better call him and tell him to check this thread OUTTT@@!!!!

 

[dantheman68]

if you also read the group buy, there is a post by matty that the clutches were delayed because spec sent out the wron parts, i wonder if in their confusion/rush they didnt completely "finish" the parts, because that is a completely different rivet than was on mine, if others are now seeing these problems, it makes everything more interesting...

shogansta, have nkplus contact supermatty (he'll probably know who im talking about) maybe he can get something done for us... (email: perrymuk@ bellsouth.net)

 

[TYSHO]

BINGO!

after looking at that picture i can see the part, and why mine wasnt bing nice...

here is what i see, theyre flush on here, but sure as **** werent on mine

Print out that picture and show SPEC the difference in yours and the one in the picture. I would demand a refund or replacement.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Some of you may remember hearing of some complaints from me about my SPEC stgII clutch, and some chatter that i had...

i contacted the group buy orgainizer, but i think im going to have my uncle send pictures/call spec to see if i can get any of my money back... because this is just straight up BS, and id reccomend anyone with a SPEC clutch that isnt behaving correctly to seriously look into it.... i have no idea what im going to do... and there isnt a way to say how frusturated or irritated i am...

Personally, I would be asking for more than just my money back - I'd be asking for the cost of removal/replacement of the defective clutch, as well as replacement of the damaged transmission housing.

Spec's poor quality control and then subsequent "just let it break-in" recommendation are solely responsible for the damage. There's no reason you should bear the cost of repair or future problems stemming from their defective product.

 

[Shoaz]

The strap rivets wouldn't have had anything to do with the clutch being able to engage or not. They _may_ (although I'm having difficulty seeing how) have caused the wear on the inside of the tranny, but that shouldn't affect the engagement/disengagement of the clutch.

 

[SHOsFAST]

Let us know what happens with SPEC this is a very interesting thread!

 

[dantheman68]

The strap rivets wouldn't have had anything to do with the clutch being able to engage or not.

true, but the pressure plate should not be hitting the transmission, and it is... ill try my best to get the pictures this holiday weekend, but i am SO busy with school... *sigh* i know everyone is dying to see them... sorry :type:

 

[blue2ndgen]

I was in the same GB and got a stage II. Not only is it noisy and engages very late, but last week I was driving it hard and it was slipping really bad on the highway. I did the recommended break in. I called spec and they didnt give me any answers.

 

[tulsa sho]

My spec stage two clutch is about 2 months old. It engages late and is not as smooth as my previous SHO Shop hi revs jr clutch but it was no longer available since the SHO Shop closed. The car is a 91 with 100k on the odometer. My current order of ranking of the 3 clutches I've had so far are:
best SHO Shp
mid stock
worst spec

John

 

[shogansta]

So are we getting anything back. nkplus is a tad bit busy right now... newly wed and a whole bunch of other crap... so i might help him out with this one!!! How can we get our money back..... his car is my car and my car is his car!!! so as a brother in law i need to help him out.. his clutch was also bought in that group buy and was chattering like a bitch and this weekend the car is officially non-moveable!!! so i need to get that sho up and running for him. lets get spec and get our money back.