Broken clutch disc a must read.

[keltalon]

Well after purchasing a TRE stage two tranny with Quaife LSD because I though my 550whp beast broke my tranny I found out that it was the clutch disc that gave up not the tranny. I love this south bend disc and just so you all know the disc broke not because of poor quality but because of my being in a hurry to get the car going. when installing my transmission I broke the bolt that hold the tranny in the rear and was to sorry to take the tranny back out and remove the bolt. Most of you know that this is the only bolt in the rear that holds a 2g tranny to a 6 bolt block. IMPORTANT When installing a clutch or removing and reinstalling the tranny please make sure that all of your dowel pins are in place and that all of your bolts are in and torque to righ specs if not this will cause misalignment and eventually destroy your clutch disc. Just something to add to you roladex

 

[keltalon]

pics of the clutch disc.

 

[twicks69]

Sorry to hear your woes. I guess take it as lesson learned, that bolt along with the transmission alignment dowels are crucial to have installed. Also be sure to never allow the weight of the transmission to hang off the clutch assembly while installing your transmission as it will damage the clutch disk and can also damage the pressure plate.

Good luck,

Tim Zimmer via Evo Phone

 

[keltalon]

Thanks for the additional information.

 

[truwarrior]

Sorry to hear your woes. I guess take it as lesson learned, that bolt along with the transmission alignment dowels are crucial to have installed. Also be sure to never allow the weight of the transmission to hang off the clutch assembly while installing your transmission as it will damage the clutch disk and can also damage the pressure plate.

Good luck,

Tim Zimmer via Evo Phone

I don't know how you guys can not hang it on the clutch on accident a few times trying to get it back in. I basically had to lay across my engine and lift the tranny up off the transmission jack 20 times before I got it on right Maybe it's easier with two people, but I wouldn't wanna be the guy on the floor.

 

[turboglenn]

So how ya liking that turd of a trans i sold ya? ( i really do miss that thing and you had me freaking out when you called and said "it's grinding bad in every gear" I thought "dude you gotta adjuist something because that thing is like butter at 9k RPM when i had it)

I'm still waiting on logs from before and after to see the load differences you were telling me about. although we talked i had so much other stuff going on i didn't catch everything yhou said

later bud

 

[donniekak]

I don't know how you guys can not hang it on the clutch on accident a few times trying to get it back in. I basically had to lay across my engine and lift the tranny up off the transmission jack 20 times before I got it on right Maybe it's easier with two people, but I wouldn't wanna be the guy on the floor.

I lean over the passenger fender and stab them on in about 30 seconds. If you can't do it that way, use a hoist.

 

[crash89]

I don't know how you guys can not hang it on the clutch on accident a few times trying to get it back in. I basically had to lay across my engine and lift the tranny up off the transmission jack 20 times before I got it on right Maybe it's easier with two people, but I wouldn't wanna be the guy on the floor.

Im small enough to scoot in the wheel well with the trans on my lap and lift it into place.. I can have a trans out, clutch changed and back in about a half hour.. Pro status

 

[truwarrior]

Takes me 1/2 hour to find were I dropped a damn nut

 

[keltalon]

takes me 1/2 hour to find were i dropped a damn nut

rofl

 

[PieEyedPiper]

Im small enough to scoot in the wheel well with the trans on my lap and lift it into place.. I can have a trans out, clutch changed and back in about a half hour.. Pro status

Air tools?

 

[Rob10_99]

Need to be careful with those disc's, they are more brittle than street discs. See how the thin part of the friction disc broke?

 

[pauleyman]

Missing that bolt will cause alot more problems than a broken clutch. Cracked bell housing, tcase moves towards the flywheel and can hit it if you've missing the inspection plate. Might bend the plate if it's there. Ugly.

 

[Robbyd]

Missing that bolt will cause alot more problems than a broken clutch. Cracked bell housing, tcase moves towards the flywheel and can hit it if you've missing the inspection plate. Might bend the plate if it's there. Ugly.

been there.... twice. went through 2 bellhousings cause the ear on the block broke off and thats the only other dowel pin -_-. rigged something up and finishing soon hopefully it will stay this time. long enough for me to get rid of it hopefully..

 

[manny correa]

Need to be careful with those disc's, they are more brittle than street discs. See how the thin part of the friction disc broke?

Tim what's your input on this? I to am about to install the southbend Kevlar disc and hope not to run into problems.. Any other Kevlar users with miles on there setup feel free to chime in. Thanks

 

[twicks69]

Tim what's your input on this? I to am about to install the southbend Kevlar disc and hope not to run into problems.. Any other Kevlar users with miles on there setup feel free to chime in. Thanks

Manny, the disk damage in the photo above looks to be from a damaged hub either from factory defect or damaged from installation.

Simply use a transmission jack or use an engine hoist with a chain attached to the top of the transmission using a passenger-side mount stud or bolt hole to raise the transmission and help you position it while preventing it from putting load on the clutch disk hub.

To make life easy on the install, be sure you have your dowels in place, your starter plate affixed to the block on the two dowels, and use a clutch alignment tool to properly center your clutch disk for easy installation of the trans. Be sure to torque your pressure plate to 22-24ft/lbs in an even star-pattern sequence. Get them to hand-tight first, then progressively torque them to spec. Be sure your flywheel step height is between 0.608"-0.612" beforehand. Torque your flywheel bolts to 100 ft/lbs with Loctite Red threadlocker.

 

[keltalon]

Tim what's your input on this? I to am about to install the southbend Kevlar disc and hope not to run into problems.. Any other Kevlar users with miles on there setup feel free to chime in. Thanks

I would not be worried about installing the disc trust me its one of the best disc you could ever puchase. Infact I purchased another one and installed it into the car and was more attentive to all tim suggestions as to what could possibly damage the disc. I will say this that disc was in my car for over a year 500+ WHP with no issues. When I wrecked the spyer and transfered everything over to the new shell this is when I broke the bolt and two weeks after completing my transfer the clutch gave.

What I am most please with about the south bend kevlar is that disc after many wot pulls and many dyno session and much street abuse, it showed no signs of disc wear amazing. I have been through many disc testing trying to get a combination disc/pressure plate that would hold my power levels and have experienced damage ranging from eating up flywheels and 2 broken transmission from the harse 6 puck. to spings popping out from others this disc is the best

 

[hotrodssnova]

That back bolt will break flex plates on automatics if its missing. It's a definate have to have bolt

 

[1MeanTSI]

Sounds like a beefy disc! Lol I still would love to know what a 500hp FWD would feel like. What a rush it must be.

 

[ed1380]

Haha traction? What traction?

 

[manny correa]

thanks for the imput tim, sounds like i wont have any worry putting 400whp to this disc. cant wait for the install and break in. on a side note, break in for the kevlar the same as the 500miles recommended for an organic disc? thanks in advance

 

[keltalon]

thanks for the imput tim, sounds like i wont have any worry putting 400whp to this disc. cant wait for the install and break in. on a side note, break in for the kevlar the same as the 500miles recommended for an organic disc? thanks in advance

Definitely follow traditional breakin procedure.