Clutch Detonation
Thread Starter
|
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Clutch Detonation
I think my clutch is going but I need your opinions before I run out a grab a new one.
It started this morning while'st I was takin my daughter to school. I was cruzing down the highway in 4th (the tranny is a NP). I started to feel a shutter when i step on the gas peddle. When I coast in gear I dont feel anything. Know it is doing it in all gears. It sounds like something is slipping. It also doesnt feel like I have the normal amount of tourqe.
I have never had a clutch go on me so I dont know what it feels or sounds like. your conformation's or diagnosis would be greatly appreciated.
It started this morning while'st I was takin my daughter to school. I was cruzing down the highway in 4th (the tranny is a NP). I started to feel a shutter when i step on the gas peddle. When I coast in gear I dont feel anything. Know it is doing it in all gears. It sounds like something is slipping. It also doesnt feel like I have the normal amount of tourqe.
I have never had a clutch go on me so I dont know what it feels or sounds like. your conformation's or diagnosis would be greatly appreciated.
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
One way to tell is to park it and put it into say 3rd gear, give it a little gas and drop the clutch. If the engine keeps running or it doesn't stall almost immediately, bad clutch.
You can also do this test while rolling. Get up to a speed say 30mph, pick the highest gear you have, gas it and drop the clutch. If the clutch is going you will see engine RPM remain high at least a few seconds and slowly drop to normal. Going uphill will also show if the clutch is close to gone.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
You can also do this test while rolling. Get up to a speed say 30mph, pick the highest gear you have, gas it and drop the clutch. If the clutch is going you will see engine RPM remain high at least a few seconds and slowly drop to normal. Going uphill will also show if the clutch is close to gone.
Good Luck,
Jim Henderson
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
jim hit it right on the head, but another thing you need to watch for is slipping. slipping is pretty obvious. you'll notice it when you're getting into the throttle. so, like jim said, going up a hill will be an obvious one. you'll get on the gas while in gear, but rather than put that power to the ground, the engine will just slowly start revving higher. this is a sign that the clutch is slipping, which is basically when the springs and other componenents have become so weak that they can't keep the clutch engaged. as it gets worse, the truck will revv up faster and give you less and less power to the ground.
good luck!
Mike
good luck!
Mike
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 352
Likes: 0
never done one on that tranny, but i'd say be prepared to spend the whole weekend at it. you'll need some specialty tools, including:
trans jack (or maybe just a regular jack with some sort of homemade cradle to hold the tranny)
pilot bearing/bushing puller tool
be aware that you may need to replace the flywheel. it's basically like a rotor on your brakes. it can become grooved or warped over the years. you can get it turned, but the best bet is to just replace it.
also, make sure your new cluth comes with the alignment tool. follow the torque specs of everything under there to the letter. if you don't have a torque wrench, now would be a good time to buy one.
Mike
trans jack (or maybe just a regular jack with some sort of homemade cradle to hold the tranny)
pilot bearing/bushing puller tool
be aware that you may need to replace the flywheel. it's basically like a rotor on your brakes. it can become grooved or warped over the years. you can get it turned, but the best bet is to just replace it.
also, make sure your new cluth comes with the alignment tool. follow the torque specs of everything under there to the letter. if you don't have a torque wrench, now would be a good time to buy one.
Mike
Postmaster
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
From: So Cal
Getting all the bell housing bolts can be fun. I usually have the most fun with the top one since often it is where you can't reach it from overhead. I had to work thru the shift boot in the cab with about 3 feet of extention on a Datsun once. Easy once you figured it out.
I would recommend a dry run before you get too far. I had a friend with a Ford Ranger where he couldn't get that top bolt and once he removed all the others the tranny cocked in the mounts and hung up on the top bolt and he was unable to get the other bolts back in place without a lot of new words being taught to his kid.
I don't know your model, but in general make sure you remove any bell housing cover plates that would prevent the tranny from being pulled from the engine. Spent a weekend learning that one, duh.
You will need to disconnect at least one end of the drive shaft. I recommend chalking some marks on it so you can get it back with the proper orientation. I never had a problem with it being off balanace but I have been told that if you reinstall it turned a few bolt holes wrong, it can cause vibration. Torque to spec unless you want to pogo down the highway, new lockwashers are good if it uses them.
You might not need one, but a transmission jack makes things way easier and you can rent them at a lot of tool rental places. Most trannies are pretty heavy and you really don't want to be wrestling with one while you are on your back.
When you unbolt the pressure plate be ready to catch it. It is HEAVY and will drop like a rock, right on my middle fingernail as I recall. BTW drilling a tiny hole in the fingernail with a tiny drill and a pin vise or just your finger power is a tremendous relief and easy to do, just makes people new to this squeemish. I am serious about this one, great pain relief for black smashed fingernails.
Be sure you have the clutch alignment tool the other fellow mentioned. Really pretty much just a piece of dowel or broom stick that fits in the spline area of the clutch plateand flywheel. It helps keep the clutch disc in place and centered while you torque down the pressure plate. A lot of shops will carry one, they are cheap.
Be sure to check the surface of the flywheel. It should be smooth and preferably not glazed with a blueish tinge, kind of like chrome that got too hot. This usually means you over heated the flywheel and will need resurfacing. Also worth checking the starter teeth while you are down there.
Clean the flywheel surface and pressure plate with a good degreaser, not oily solvent. Clean your hands so they are not greasy before you handle the clean pressure plate and clutch disc. You don't want any grease on any of these surfaces if you can help it.
One again let me say I am just a hobby mechanic so take my advice as being from someone who doesn't know your vehicle at all and who only learned by dropping things too many times.
Good Luck, it isn't hard, but scope it out before you get too deep.
Jim Henderson
I would recommend a dry run before you get too far. I had a friend with a Ford Ranger where he couldn't get that top bolt and once he removed all the others the tranny cocked in the mounts and hung up on the top bolt and he was unable to get the other bolts back in place without a lot of new words being taught to his kid.
I don't know your model, but in general make sure you remove any bell housing cover plates that would prevent the tranny from being pulled from the engine. Spent a weekend learning that one, duh.
You will need to disconnect at least one end of the drive shaft. I recommend chalking some marks on it so you can get it back with the proper orientation. I never had a problem with it being off balanace but I have been told that if you reinstall it turned a few bolt holes wrong, it can cause vibration. Torque to spec unless you want to pogo down the highway, new lockwashers are good if it uses them.
You might not need one, but a transmission jack makes things way easier and you can rent them at a lot of tool rental places. Most trannies are pretty heavy and you really don't want to be wrestling with one while you are on your back.
When you unbolt the pressure plate be ready to catch it. It is HEAVY and will drop like a rock, right on my middle fingernail as I recall. BTW drilling a tiny hole in the fingernail with a tiny drill and a pin vise or just your finger power is a tremendous relief and easy to do, just makes people new to this squeemish. I am serious about this one, great pain relief for black smashed fingernails.
Be sure you have the clutch alignment tool the other fellow mentioned. Really pretty much just a piece of dowel or broom stick that fits in the spline area of the clutch plateand flywheel. It helps keep the clutch disc in place and centered while you torque down the pressure plate. A lot of shops will carry one, they are cheap.
Be sure to check the surface of the flywheel. It should be smooth and preferably not glazed with a blueish tinge, kind of like chrome that got too hot. This usually means you over heated the flywheel and will need resurfacing. Also worth checking the starter teeth while you are down there.
Clean the flywheel surface and pressure plate with a good degreaser, not oily solvent. Clean your hands so they are not greasy before you handle the clean pressure plate and clutch disc. You don't want any grease on any of these surfaces if you can help it.
One again let me say I am just a hobby mechanic so take my advice as being from someone who doesn't know your vehicle at all and who only learned by dropping things too many times.
Good Luck, it isn't hard, but scope it out before you get too deep.
Jim Henderson
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,182
Likes: 7
From: Saint Augustine, FL
Jim did a pretty good job of covering it. I will tell you to be SURE to resurface the flywheel. If the clutch has been slipping it will surely be heat checked and that will cause a shudder on takeup and drive you nuts.
Also, be sure to install a new pilot bearing. I have seen many transmissions ruined because the pilot wasn't replace on a clutch overhaul.
And be sure to use a quality, name brand, new clutch kit. Do not use a remanufacture clutch. They are junk and you will hate it. LuK and Sachs make great clutches. I used them for years and never had a problem with any of them.
Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT
Also, be sure to install a new pilot bearing. I have seen many transmissions ruined because the pilot wasn't replace on a clutch overhaul.
And be sure to use a quality, name brand, new clutch kit. Do not use a remanufacture clutch. They are junk and you will hate it. LuK and Sachs make great clutches. I used them for years and never had a problem with any of them.
Steve
'95 Clubwagon XLT
