before I go pulling the tranny out - AGAIN - I want to see if maybe it is a normal occurance, hopefully Spec can chime in.

I am running the stage "e" I believe it is twin, which is the iron discs, on a steel flywheel that came on the clutch kit. Stock hydraulics.

when the clutch was new, it was a bitch to drive with ZERO slip or give, so taking off from a light was a challange. Now that it has some miles on it it has softened up a bit, to the point that it started slipping a little on initial tip in then it grabs again and lever slips during the pull again (roughly 1100 rwhp).
Once the clutch gets some heat in it it grabs hard.

Last night was the first cold night of the year for us and I went to a local gathering, it was in the low 40s, and the strangest thing happened. The clutch would not grab at all, I could hardly start from a stop, car would barely move in 1st gear, shift to 2nd and it would keep slipping, under normal load but if I jsut floored it, lol , it would grab again and not let go for the rest of the pull but as soon as I came to a complete stop again and tried to take off the same thing would happen, it had almost no grab so car would not move.

I was thinking the clutch may have just worn into the flywheel enough to where there was not enough load from the pressure plate and it was time for a refresh.

I was planning on pulling it out today but as a last try this morning I took it around the block again, and ****, its back to normal, takes off from a stop just fine, temps in the high 50s today. I am wondering if the clutch can actually "shrink" that much in the cold to where it doesn't have enough pressure on the discs from the pressure plate? thats the only thing I can think of.

 

Sounds like a iron disk problem.The 5's and yours holds like a **** but wear out very quickly due to trying to slip it from a stop.I ussually expect 5-10k miles out of a stage 5 with minimul slip from stops.

 

I have maybe 1k miles on it lol

I just don't understand how it can go back to acting ok, after doind that? thats what is making me think there maybe something else happening, maybe the pressure plate stuck, I don't know.

 

Your situation is unusual...as that seems like very little mileage but life expectency is affected by a number of factors as I am sure you know. The fact that the clutch slips initially and then grabs as it heats-up is likely an indication that you are seeing a reduced contact surface on the disc. This would mean that the kit would slip initially and then as it heats up and its friction coeffecient increases that it hold. But here is the questions. Is this an issue of wear or some other unknown factor. A contaminated disc could cause this to happen to. As heat begins to burn the contaminent off the clutch will grab again. The only way I can tell you what is ultimately happening is to see the parts. Where is the engagement point at this time? Has the engagement point changed over the life of the unit? Let me know and I will be happy to provide more info. I would like to see pics too if possible. Thanks!

 

thanks for the reply!

I don't have any pics of it yet, resisting taking it out of the car until next weekend.

The engagement point of the clutch from day one has been at the extreme top of pedal travel, and it has remained the same. When the not moving problem happened, it basically never engaged with the pedal all of the way out. But the next day when it "worked" again, it was back to the very top of the pedal travel.

 

When and from where was this originally purchased? Let me know so I can have some reference of time line. Thanks!

 

I bought it through Sixspeedsinc, Amber spoke directly withsomeone at your place.

It was sometime in sept/october of last year, but car really hasn't been driven much, Ive been through several transmissions, that has kept the car on jackstands alot lol.

 

I would like to see the kit. I will issue an RMA# so you can send it back to us for a check-up and we can thus assess the issue, determine the cause, and provide a resolution. Having it here is the best way to accomplish these three things. Give me a call at your convenience and I will provide the RMA#. 800-828-4379 x.109

 

excellent, I will give you a call, thanks!

I will be pulling it off the car on saturday so I can send to you on monday.

 

Thumbs up for Spec clutch

 

well I pulled the clutch off today, I still need to give you a call.

I Don's see any excessive where anywhere on the clutch, no groove worn on the flywheel and the discs still have lots of material left.

What I do notice is the heat marks on the discs and the pressure plate indicate that the inside half (smaller diameter) part of the friction area saw more wear then the outside areas, almost like some part of the assembly is warped radially. Maybe the pressure plate lost strength also. Any way here are some pics:

The assembly in order:

PP:



friction surface of the PP:



PP side of first disc:



FW side of first disc:



PP side of floater:



FW side of floater:



PP side of second disc:



FW side of second disc:



FW:

 

It looks to me to be wearing-in nicely. The pics indicate that it is contacting pretty well on the outer edge and that it is pregressively moveing inward as it should. You mentioned that you thought it was wearing on the inside more (or at least that is how I read your post) but the pics indicate that it is wearing properly. I got your message and will be calling you shortly to provide an RMA#. We can then check it out and let you know what we find. Thanks for the pics.

 

Its hard to tell in the pics, but there is a "heat mark" on the inside surface, the outside surfaces looks to have been running cooler, but I'll let you see it when you get it

 

I'm sure Spec (Jeremy) will take care of you. He's a great guy to deal with and really helped me out with my 3+ issue. I had purchased an older unit and had issues with it and they swapped me into the new material and really gave me a break. I haven't looked back since and will continue to recommend Spec as they've always treadted me right!

 

Thanks Fast...I really appreciate the kind words.

 

Just an update for others who maybe looking at this thread, I shipped the clutch back to SPEC and they took care of it, sent it back I just installed it and took a test drive and it is like a totally different clutch, drives great now!!!

 

What was the problem with it?

 

I have always had good luck with Spec, and they have held their rating for me also.

 

Tiago has the parts back in and everything is good to go. His assembly had some wear and the diaphragm was rather high. We rebilt it for him and I am sure he will be posting more here shortly!

Js...Tiago has a twin disc...you have a single disc...they are completely different units. Again, I know you are frustrated...but as we discussed on the phone earlier if you won't let me see the parts there is no way I can help you. I know, it is easier to get on and talk smack then it is to let me check your parts out...and you clearly have more fun that way but I have offered to assist you more than once on the forums and now over the phone.

The sad reality of it is that you seem to have some facts wrong...in regards to your own unit. I haven't lied to you about anything and despite your ridiculous tendency to post repetitive miss-information I am still happy to assist you to the best of my ability. As I told you on the phone a few moments ago...if you don't like our parts then don't buy them. However, if you have an issue with them and you want us to help you...that is what I am here to do...send me some pics and I will let you know if I see anything funny.

The original kit you returned to us was contaminated (it took 20 days to work out with you what you wanted...you had conversations with more than one of my sales and tech guys regarding our findings) and we shipped your parts when you ok'd the rebuild. I never lied to you about anything...I am sorry if you feel that I did, my guess is that there was a misunderstanding somewhere along the way that I was unaware of...it happens but for my part I apologize.

As for ratings...we don't rate our kits by horsepower; we rate them in terms of torque capacity at the crank. This is calculated conservatively, as a number of users can attest to. As most of you know contaminated parts don't provide the best in holding power. Neither do parts that are worn out...of course most would view this as logic...but it seems that js may not. Despite the fact that the kit you originally returned to us has reached is wear life in regards to thickness and the fact that was fully contaminated we still rebuilt the assembly for you at a minimum charge ($149 + shipping).

Here we are nearly a year later and you have another issue. You have pulled the kit but haven't provided pics. You have talked ^&*) yet you don't seem to get the fact that I have offered to assist you. I have tried being nice as I understand how it is to have a car down...but for crying out loud...if you won't allow me to even see the parts assessment is an impossibility. Merry Christmas!

 

you will have parts as far as contaminated. You say yes my guys no way I looked at it I say no. All new hydraulics in car at install and a remote bleeder used.</a>