I just installed my new clutch and for some reason it isnt realeasing all the way. I bled the lines several times and to no sucess it still doesnt work. The car is driveable but it takes some force to get it into gear and i basically have to stand on the clutch pedal to get it to do so. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

I'm working the same problem right now. See my FX300 post in the drivetrain section section on the second page for a few tips. Firsty off you MUST vacuum bleed the clutch. Then try the hand method I posted in the other thread.

 

i saw ur post thanks.

 

Let me know how it goes because I have to help the GM mechanics do it Monday!

 

Everyone with aftermarket clutches is having this problem. Everyone was real quick to say that spec is junk, but every brand is doing the same thing. There's a bigger problem there.

 

read my post in the drivetrain section, my dad is so irate right now

 

same problem fx400 6 puck

 

wow I have the same clutch and Im not having any problems.. my clutch is working great and i was at the track racing with it last night.

 

^^^^You went to the track already? Nice! How did the clutch feel, and can you shift quickly with it? By the way, how did you bleed it? Sorry about all the questions.

 

You dont techncially vacuum bleed the clutch. You use the J 43485 and a Mity-Vac to apply 15-20" of vacuum right at the reservior/master cylinder fill neck. This causes all of the air in the system to come out of suspension and rise up into the reservior.
THEN
you manually bleed the clutch at the slave cylinder
Repeat until you get all of the air from the system or you will have the improper release discribed

HTH
WopOnTour

 

clutch felt great at the track. Although I did miss the shift into second on two passes and that has never happened b4. Other than that I made 12 passes last night and the clutch still felt strong.

 

wop, got a pic of that j43485 tool.....

 

DING DING DING DING DING DING, we have a winner!!!!!!!!!!


Thats is the EXACT issue you will have just as I have and many others are having with aftermarket clutches!

It is NOT releasing! These companies need to take notice and rectify this problem ASAP!

 

We took Dan's to 27" of vacuum, 3 times, bled a total of 2 quarts of fluid thru the system!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STILL NO RELEASE! Theres is a different issue going on here,
1) air gap in clutch stack-up

2) Slave cylinder not providing enough force do to cheap plastic lines flexing an/or quick connects flexing. ( we have viewed this personally!)

3) On a side note, the GM race team in the time attack car had to completely redesign the clutch system to prevent this EXACT problem!

I may do this swap to mine as i'm fed up with this shi#!

 

If your clutch is truly not releasing then with the clutch pedal in you will be creeping forward. and hard to shift into any gear. the Real problem is the the tranny will prematurly where out the synchros. You need to fix before you drive it. If your driving it, it better be to just test it out.

Two things can cause this.

1. pilot bearing - not likely but possible.
2. the hydraulics which all have identified. very probable
3. the pressure plate fingers do not have the proper leverage point. fault of the design of clutch. this has happened to me with other vehicles. what did I do. compared new pressure plate. the slightest difference in the height or the length of the fingers to and from the pivot point will affect the clutch in its ability to release.

If your not sure what I have described here as to what to look for then send me a picture of a side view and top view of the pressure plate.

edit did not see your post fast06ss, your really on the right track with point three.

 

Well it's not much really. Just a vacuum chamber with a fitting to connect yout Mity-vac and a vacuum line to a large rubber stopper that seals to the rim/edge of the reservior fill-neck (where the cap screws on)
HTH
Wop

 

Rob
I totally agree with you, the issue is especially prevelant with an aftermarket clutch with additional release pressure and more required volume. I believe the key was to eliminate that 90-degree fitting at the housing.Which if I'm not mistaken, even includes a valve/restrictor in it which controls the pressure drop across the fitting- much like those POS factory clutch line on the F-bodies. On the Cobalt Cup cars I recall seeing a braided line going straight into the bell-housing- but they may have also used a different master cylinder.
john.heinricy@gm.com ??

 

WOP, I was just doing some research on stainless steel clutch lines. It seems a lot of people in the tuning world replace them as they add perofrmance clutch kits. Goodridge has a catalog full of different sizes and strengths for clutch/brake lines. I think if we could replace the stock lines with the stainless steel braided ones, that would solve our problem unless the stock slave cylinder is just to week. Tilton clutch also make a slave cylinder kit that comes with stainless steel lines for GM products. I however don't know if it would fit our cars. Any input on this idea?

Here's the link to the Tilton Slave cylinder kit: http://www.tiltonracing.com/content.php?page=hydraulic

 

This is dumb why would an aftermarket company give you the same stock slave cylinder for and aftermarket clutch that needs more pressure to push on the clutch fingers, a stock slave cylinder is only ment for a stock clutch. DUH!

 

my dad just got off the phone with ultrarev and they sent an email to CM to call my dad tomorrow at work, but the guy at ultrarev thinks that there is something wrong with the replacement slave cylinder they sent me cause he said they have sold 72 of these kits and not one of them has come back. so idk i guess ill wait and see.

 

damn it and i just ordered the fx300 from ultrarev.. i really really dont need more clutch problems now.i really hope some1 comes up with a fix soon

 

Funny thing is, my old SPEC stg2+ worked flawless!!!!!!!!! NO MISSED shifts at all!

I may go back to it if we can't find a resolution.

 

I agree. If I need to do some changing of stuff I would rather do it now that the engine is out and the car is sitting on tall stands.

 

sounds like these really HD pressure plates are the problem...

 

I dont think my two missed shifts meant I am having clutch problems.... I think I just got ahead of myself and pushed the clutch in and back out so fast that i had already starting to let the clutch out when i wasnt in second yet..... hard to explain/// talkin abotu hundredths of a second here makes the difference between a missed/ good shift.