New Clutch, Bad Friend, Major Problems!!

[TurboDreamzGST]

Well i just had a new clutch installed along with the throw-out bearing and pressure plate...i had broken in the clutch and it had just about 600 miles on it when i let my friend drive it....he knows how to drive so i trusted him but i forgot to mention that my clutch was almost brand new and to go easy on it and without a second thought he took off....when he shifted to 2nd, the tires chirped and sparks came out from the bottom of the car....ever since then the clutch/clutch pedal haven't been the same. I checked all the clutch lines and resevoir and they're good but what happens is instead of taking off smoothly in first gear, i take off as usual letting off the clutch pedal slowly but then it seems like the clutch catches extremely hard and the car just begins to buck really hard. Now it will do this even if i hold my foot in the same spot on the clutch pedal where it usually catches, but instead at first it wont catch and than it just catches really hard and abruptly. Also, the clutch pedal usually gets stuck now, whether it doesn't come all the way back up or when i push it down it won't go all the way down but i can still shift. Someone told me it feels like theres a problem with my pressure plate. I haven't had a chance to take out my transmission yet but can anyone help me out and let me know what it might be please. Thanks!

 

[FORMONTOYA]

Ouch, you let a friend drive your car? Hell I don't let my wife drive my car and she SMD!

Anyway, my wife had the same thing/symptoms happen in her old Bronco. Fresh clutch, maybe a week old when she accidentally hit 2nd instead of 4th. What happened was she ripped part of the binding material off the face of the disc and it had to be replaced. Fortunately we had a "friendly" shop that warrantied it, even though it was totally her fault.

 

[Dream On]

Ouch, you let a friend drive your car? Hell I don't let my wife drive my car and she SMD!

x10

 

[TurboDreamzGST]

I also forgot to mention that when i go to accelerate, my whole car shakes/vibrates and now when the clutch does grab really hard and the car begins to buck, im hearing this loud metal grinding/shearing noise.

 

[diablos991]

Stop driving it immediately until you find out the problem. You could be causing some serious damage.

 

[housegsx]

Clutch disc springs went KAABOING!!!

 

[TurboDreamzGST]

and also when i drive it over 4000-5000 RPMs.....the clutch pedal gets really really hard to push down and i have to put it in neutral and pump the clutch pedal to get it to soften up or turn off the car and pump the clutch....its really weird but i'm hoping to have a chance to take out the transmission this weekend.....thanks for all the help.....any more suggestions on what it could be?

 

[housegsx]

Quit driving the damn thing or you're going to find yourself $1000 in the hole for a rebuild on your transmission.

 

[AL92]

Hitting the clutch hard should not break springs especially after 500 miles think you said. That is lots of break in.Heck some cars go to dyno right after the are put together.

Its a defective disc. or crappy design. Seems act and lots of other makes have this problem. Makes you want an unsprung disc but they are not very streetable I guess.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

no ones addressed the sparks yet eh?
Sounds serious and that most likely it was a faulty clutch or that the whole thing was intalled incorrectly that caused this. Giving it some gas just made the problems apparent.

 

[phillabaum03]

Dont blame your friend

 

[quattro527]

Have you in any way opened the lines during the install? If so, have you bled your slave cylinder? It sounds like you might have some air bubbles in the line.

Also, if your clutch is grabbing more than it is slipping to engage since the install, it could also be a indication that whichever clutch you got is more aggressive and now broken in where the surface linings are now making full faced contact with your pressure plate and flywheel (not necessarily a bad thing, but just takes time to get used to). You will notice as the more miles you put on the clutch, your engagement point will change and the pedal feel will also stiffen quite a bit. You cant expect this to compare to your previous worn clutch. I would check the slave cylinder and lines regardless, and bleed it.