killerbird

ok so i just finished putting in my spec stage 3 clutch/billet flywheel, and well as soon as i reversed off of the lift i felt bad vibrations, and once got on the road, 1st gear n 2cd vibrate, but 3rd n 4th is very little, is this normal for a spec3 clutch? i know nothing is wrong with the installation, but this is my first 6spd ls1 with a spec clutch, so its a big difference going from a zo6 clutch to this, but yea any input would help, it just vibrates when taking off at a light or going into 2cd gear, feels good though(pedal, not to stiff since its daily driven) thanx in advance

LM97Z

iTrader: (4)

I've been hearing alot about these vibrations after an aftermarket flywheel has been installed & some having a weight on them, i'm sure these engines are internally balanced, so the flywheel needs to be neutrally balanced, meaning no weights, so if theres a weight on the flywheel, i'll say it needs to come off, don't know exactly where the weight is positioned (if any) & if you can get too it without takeing the flywheel back off.

98camZ

iTrader: (3)

hey i feel ya on the vibrations all so. I have a 2000 ws6 m6 and just did a clutch swap like 3 months ago. But i didnt use a aftermarket flywheel i just had mine resurfaced. I was told that this clutch needs to be revved up when taking of cuz its such a clutch for lauching the car.

LS184

iTrader: (7)

does it only vibrate when u take off? sounds like it could just b clutch chatter, my buddys spec 3 does the same thing

killerbird

yea does it when i only take off, a local friend of mine said it wasnt so bad after breaking in the clutch, but yea if i kind of rev it up past 2,000 rpm, is wont do it near as much as taking off normal daily driven, i guess must sacfrifice comfort for performance.lol. thanx 4 the input guys

LS184

iTrader: (7)

ya thats def clutch chatter, my buddys got about 10k on his spec 3 and it still does it when he takes off...its normal though

TurdsOfMayhem

iTrader: (4)

I had a spec3 with the matching flywheel, and it chattered like crazy taking off in first, unless you were a lil high on the rpms. I contacted MTI at the time who put it in, they said it is common, I called SPEC they said it shouldn't chatter if 'shimmed' correctly. But of course, no one wanted to help the customer out, as I really hated the chatter, so I took it out and put in a Z06 clutch, and loved it, never slipped, bit hard, and took a lot of abuse. All I know, is when I go pick up my WS6 this weekend, def not putting a spec3 in it when I replace the clutch.

CBCCI

I agree with LS184 This sounds like normal clutch chatter, this can be controlled to a certain extent by changing your driving habits. Try and slip the clutch a little less. I do not work for SPEC so I am not sure what their pucks are made of, but it looks like a 6 puck with some sort of ceramic on it. This is a pretty harsh clutch to begin with.Not sure what your horsepower and torque numbers are, but some manufacturers would probably put you in a 6 pad full ceramic for a mid horsepower car. This allows for a smoother engagment and a little more streetability. With any ceramic clutch you will probably have a little clutch chatter until it wears in and this period is different for each driver.

Slowhawk

iTrader: (12)

Most of the time driving style will bring out chatter.

Bad Blue WS6

iTrader: (41)

they are made of kevlar... i think

SPEC-01

iTrader: (2)

Chatter is normal and as such is nothing to be worried about. That being said you need to break-in the clutch to see the chatter reduce...this is also normal. You can change your driving style a bit to assist in reducing the chatter. It seems that you are already learing this and making some changes.

Hey Turds...(ofmayhem) As for this being shim related...it isn't and I am confident that no one here said it was. If you wanted a clutch that had less chatter you could have opted for a full-faced option which will inherently be smoother. That being said, the clutch you had doesn't seem to have been doing anything wrong. I guess it is easier to blame the clutch then to understand the problem...but such is life I suppose. I just wanted to make sure you understood the cause and solution.

The disc material for a stage 3 is a carbon-semi-metallic puck. It will smooth out a bit with break-in as many have already mentioned. Let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks!!!

Bad Blue WS6

iTrader: (41)

Thanx,,i wasnt sure if Kevlar was right, or if ive been watching to much Batman..

TurdsOfMayhem

iTrader: (4)

Actually, the shim information, was provided to me by calling customer support shortly after ordering the clutch and having it installed at MTI. I am not just making it up. Even MTI said they 'shimmed' it. I do not recall the gentleman's name I spoke to, as it was atleast 4 years ago. In fact, I contacted SPEC to get a recommendation on what I should get, and the stage3 was the recommendation. So before you start trying to half-**** flame me on what the problem actually was, actually consider I was ill-informed by a rep of SPEC. No employee is 100% perfect. The name Jim keeps coming to mind, but I don't think that was it. All I know, is I won't buy another stage3. I gave the clutch 3 months, and the chatter never improved. Chatter to me for a daily driver, is a very annoying thing. So sorry if I don't promote the stage.

SPEC-01

iTrader: (2)

No flame was intended...I was merely letting you know that shimming is an unlikely cause for your issue. In fact, the only possible way that shimming could cause this is if there were too much shim used and the plate was thus sitting partially released. A lack of a shim would lead the clutch to not release. I am sure you meant not harm by your initial post...about your issue and thoughts on the matter...though is sounded that way. No worries man...take it as you will...I was just making sure folks understood the nuances of a stage 3 and the cause/effect relationship of any issues.

killerbird

thanx everyone for input, i had the zo6 clutch in before this spec stage3, and zo6 held up fairly well, but once head/cam package went in a month ago, went to shy.lol.....i have got rid of a bit of chatter with slipping clutch a bit, but im pushing 508RWHP N/A so thats reason for going with this clutch/flywheel, ill see how it hold up at the track once broken in.and being its my only car(dily driven) its a bit headaching for now for the chater, but i guess ill deal with it.lol.thanx guys

TurdsOfMayhem

iTrader: (4)

No worries. No hard feelings. Thats text for you, can't always read the tone intended. While on the topic would I like a spec2?

SPEC-01

iTrader: (2)

If it is in line with your planned power output then yeah, I thing you would like it. I personally use our stage 2+ (though I have had stage 3, 3+ etc in personal cars and have driven everything that we produce). It provides really smooth engagement and good capacity. For the F-body my favorite kit we build is the 3+. It is just so rebust while still allowing for great drivability. Let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks!

Bad Blue WS6

iTrader: (41)

^ that will be my next clutch (3+)

wrd1972

iTrader: (12)

My full face 3+ has very little chatter at all. A minor change in driving style will nearly eliminate it.


The other thing that cause these performance disks to chatter more is the lack of marcels (springy things) between the facings. Look at a stock disk and you will see them. The lack of marcels also makes for a very "fast" to disengage clutch setup.

SPEC-01

iTrader: (2)

Marcel is great on a stock type disc but it has a tendency to affect the total disc thickness and can cause the clutch to drag. This will cause the clutch to engage and release lower and would impact the way that the car shifts (think of it responding like a car without the drill mod). Secondarily, use of marcel spring would necessitate the use of a thinner fin-type carrier. This could cause the material (especially those with a high friction-coeffecient) to have a great tendency to sheer off the carrier (not good). I hope this info helps. Please let me know if you have any further questions. Thanks!