Cadillac CTS-V - Just installed my Monster stage 2 clutch & tick bleeder...

Finally got my Monster Stage 2 clutch in last night after much anticipation. I had a good buddy help me install it up at his shop & it went it easily without a hitch. Only issue we had was with the Tick remote Bleeder. The angle of the fitting coming out of the trans interfered, so we had to notch the bell housing a bit, but no biggie... I haven't been able to test it out yet of course, because I have about 490 more street miles until the break in is complete, but I could immediately tell that the clutch pedal release was MUCH better than my old LS7 clutch which released too close to the floor imo... Can't wait to REALLY test this thing out, but it's gonna be a while!!! Expect an update once it's broken in.


Here is the kit... I went with the Billet Steel flywheel...
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff329/DJEPIK1/b90308e5.jpg?t=1335987843

Here are a few pics of the install...
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff329/DJEPIK1/28f817a1.jpg

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff329/DJEPIK1/4d229cef.jpg



This was how we had to notch the bell housing for the Tick bleeder...No biggie

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff329/DJEPIK1/508a1dac.jpg
http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff329/DJEPIK1/9def31c5.jpg

Nice write up. I loved my Monster stage 2.

So I have put about 30 street miles on it so far today & I must say the pedal effort is excellent. Feels similar to the LS7 clutch I was running prior, but I do notice that the release of the pedal feels too high IMO. I can switch gears by barely pushing the pedal in & I always thought a pedal was supposed to release about 1/2 way up in the full travel? Is there anyway of changing this?

Other than that, the clutch feels great thus far

Nice write up. I loved my Monster stage 2.

Thanks... How many miles did you have it before you sold the car?

You had the ls7 clutch previously?

You had the ls7 clutch previously?

Yup... I pulled it out yesterday thinking there was something wrong with it. The clutch ended up still being in good shape & now it will be up for sale... I just went back & corrected it in my original post, I keep forgetting I am posting this on a site where people know what an LS7 clutch is LOL... When I explain to non GM people what clutch I had, I have to say C6 Z06, because most people don't know what an LS7 is LOL

So you did you use the ls7 slave or ls6 + spacer?

So you did you use the ls7 slave or ls6 + spacer?

I used the factory LS7 slave with my LS7 clutch & with my Monster clutch. But with the Monster, I used the factory LS7 slave they supplied with some sort of small shim where the throwout bearing goes.

My LS7 clutch has a high pedal release. I'm no clutch 'guru', but I believe a hydraulic clutchs' release point is up to the tension of the fingers on the pressure plate. I know cable systems are adjustable via the cable, so that's my guess with a hydraulic setup.

Aside from motorcycles, this is my first hydraulic clutch haha.

I might suspect that those shims are making your release point high. You might have to take it out

I might suspect that those shims are making your release point high. You might have to take it out

It has one very thin shim that Monster said was necessary? its more like a thin washer on the part where the TOB rides on the slave I guess? It sucks if it needs to be removed, because of course I paid for the install...

Hopefully your slave isn't too thick as the ls7 has a "built in" spacer. I believe the mosnter clutch is designed to be used with the stock ctsv slave. There is a chance your slave is riding on the pressure fingers and not allowing the clutchs to fully engage. Did you check the measurements (top of fully compressed slave with throwout bearing to transmission face that mounts to bellhousing. Then the bellhousing face to the pressure plate fingers. The second measurement should be greater by 1/16 to 1/8 in.) before you installed it?

http://ls1tech.com/forums/attachments/cadillac-cts-v/347950d1333460995-clutch-pedal-issues-please-help-2012-03-26_21.22.30.jpg

Stock ctsv on left, ls7 on the right.

Hopefully your slave isn't too thick as the ls7 has a "built in" spacer. I believe the mosnter clutch is designed to be used with the stock ctsv slave. There is a chance your slave is riding on the pressure fingers and not allowing the clutchs to fully engage. Did you check the measurements (top of fully compressed slave with throwout bearing to transmission face that mounts to bellhousing. Then the bellhousing face to the pressure plate fingers. The second measurement should be greater by 1/16 to 1/8 in.) before you installed it?

No, I didn't measure it & wasn't aware that I needed too? I bought the entire kit from monster which included the GM slave that THEY modified with the small shim. From what I understand, it is a complete 100% bolt in kit that requires no modification on a V? Steve at Monster said it was IMPERITIVE that I use the slave in the Kit... I hope he was correct?

No, I didn't measure it & wasn't aware that I needed too? I bought the entire kit from monster which included the GM slave that THEY modified with the small shim. From what I understand, it is a complete 100% bolt in kit that requires no modification on a V? Steve at Monster said it was IMPERITIVE that I use the slave in the Kit... I hope he was correct?

I have the stage 3, and yes they send the slave with it. I don't remember exactly which GM slave they use, but they mill a little bit off the back so it's the right length. It's a bolt it in kit, so use the parts they give you.

No, I didn't measure it & wasn't aware that I needed too? I bought the entire kit from monster which included the GM slave that THEY modified with the small shim. From what I understand, it is a complete 100% bolt in kit that requires no modification on a V? Steve at Monster said it was IMPERITIVE that I use the slave in the Kit... I hope he was correct?

Sorry, I was under the impression you were re using the slave from the LS7 kit but that doesn't appear to be the case. If you're using the one provided by monster then you're good to go.

the clutch is brand new, so I'm sure the engagement will improve over time.

I have the stage 3, and yes they send the slave with it. I don't remember exactly which GM slave they use, but they mill a little bit off the back so it's the right length. It's a bolt it in kit, so use the parts they give you.

Yup, they send it with a factory C6 slave (in which they say is modified to work with a V) & that is what I used.

Sorry, I was under the impression you were re using the slave from the LS7 kit but that doesn't appear to be the case. If you're using the one provided by monster then you're good to go.

No prob, & thanks for the info too. I used the slave they sent.

the clutch is brand new, so I'm sure the engagement will improve over time.

I hope so. The pedal feel is great, I just am not too happy with the point of engagement. It feels like I barely have to touch the clutch to switch gears.

http://i536.photobucket.com/albums/ff329/DJEPIK1/4d229cef.jpg
what suspension set are you running? let us know after the breakin miles.. i have read that these chatter when new but they break in great.. some hate um some love them.

what suspension set are you running? let us know after the breakin miles.. i have read that these chatter when new but they break in great.. some hate um some love them.
Eibach springs with QA1's all around... Sometimes I love it, sometimes I hate it. I wish it rode a little smoother, but the stance looks perfect IMO.

I have noticed a bit of chatter, not too bad, but I only have like 75 miles on it thus far. I will keep y'all posted!

Thanks... How many miles did you have it before you sold the car?

20k i think.

20k i think.

Sweet... How did it work out for you? My pedal seems to release too high IMO, but I like the pedal feel.

Sweet... How did it work out for you? My pedal seems to release too high IMO, but I like the pedal feel.

If it releases to high and remains like that after your break in period, you could remove the "spacer" between the slave and throwout bearing you mention and then would lower the pedal engagement. What was the thickness of the spacer?

Sweet... How did it work out for you? My pedal seems to release too high IMO, but I like the pedal feel.

Yeah, that can be adjusted. I had the luxury of having Monster do the instal. They asked me where I wanted the pedal and were able to adjust it accordingly.

I was very pleased with my stage 2. A proper break in is very important. Be sure to follow the guidelines.

So I have around 525 miles on the clutch now, still haven't banged gears though because around 200 or so of those are highway miles. I know in the instructions it says 500 stop & go miles, but what do you guys think, is it ready to be tested out?

Also, I still don't like the position of the pedal release, still seems too high IMO. I talked to Steve @Monster & he confirmed that it should be about 1/2 way up in the pedal travel, but mine is more like 3/4 of the way up where it releases. He said that I should measure it & I could remove the shim if I don't like the release. Sure wish it would've stated that in the install instructions because I had no clue I had to measure anything? It's not like removing the shim is like installing brake pads, we all know the trans has to come back out & that's easier said than done if you have minimal tools & no lift...

Other than that, I like the clutch thus far... :use:


If it releases to high and remains like that after your break in period, you could remove the "spacer" between the slave and throwout bearing you mention and then would lower the pedal engagement. What was the thickness of the spacer?

Btw, the shim is no more than a couple MM thick at most.

Even if you have a shop it is a PITA.

Remove the shim.

Even if you have a shop it is a PITA.

Remove the shim.

U think that will bring the pedal to a normal position? Because I am OVER having clutch issues with this damn car.

YES.

You may not think 2mm is much, but the difference between engage and not isn't very much.

YES.

You may not think 2mm is much, but the difference between engage and not isn't very much.

Ok thanks....

Welcome to MOD HELL. ;)

YES.

You may not think 2mm is much, but the difference between engage and not isn't very much.

Agreed. The smallest difference with a shim will translate to a decent amount of change in pedal engagement.

So I put the clutch to the test today once or twice from a 1st gear roll up to the top of 3rd gear & MAAAAAAN does this thing grab HARD!!!! Also, no more dead clutch pedal issues in high rpm's. I had been having that issue for months & it looks as if this thing cured it. I have about 670 miles on the clutch, mostly street miles, but probably about 250 miles of hwy driving. It says 500 miles of street driving break in, Hopefully my 670 was enough???

Still contemplating on removing the shim, might do that soon, but either way, this Monster Stage 2 definitely delivered to its expectations!!! Good, smooth driving clutch on the street with a nice pedal effort, but grabs & holds well when driven aggressively...

Now, on another note. I would like to figure out what went wrong with my 13k mile LS7 clutch? When I removed it, it still looked great with plenty of life left, & the slave only had 2k miles on it, so why was I having so many issues with the pedal going dead?

I would like to try to recoup some of the money I had to spend on this Monster clutch by selling the LS7 clutch, but I need to know how to figure out if there is something wrong with it before I do so because I don't want to sell it if it's F'd up? How can u tell if the pressure plate is messed up, because it looks good to me?