New slipping clutch

[Street_Killer]

I was wondering, I just put in a new clutch. A fidanza 3.2. The guys who installed it adjusted the clutch to the point where it disengaged 8-10 inches off the floor. I new it was only suppose to be 2-3 but didnt really think much of it at the time. I go a day driving easy, then the next day I punch it in fourth a little and it revs up to 5k, obviously slipping. I slipped it a few more times testing it out in different gears. I took it home and adjusted the clutch to a few inches off the floor. So my question is.........

Did I hurt the clutch at all by it slipping like that? It doesnt slip now and seems to be working good. Still have 380 miles to break it in.

 

[ThingyNess]

According to fidanza, the 3.2 is a pucked clutch, but with 100% kevlar buttons. Kevlar is very very picky about how you break it in, and is known to slip quite easily before it's broken in properly. I've used two kevlar faced clutch discs so far, with no issues, but I followed their break-in procedure to the letter, for 500 miles of easy city driving, never going above 50% throttle, and never dipping into boost. They held great after that.

There are lots of reports of them never being the same if you slip them or abuse them during break-in though.

 

[Street_Killer]

Are you saying my clutch could be no good now? From what I have read the clutch is good for 390 tq and the kevlar mkes it last a long time.

 

[7"exhaust_tip]

You should take it easy, and definitely break it in the proper way. I would even go longer than the recommended miles during the break in period.

 

[ThingyNess]

I'm saying be very careful, and don't abuse it any more than you already did. Broken in absolutely perfectly, yes, kevlar has a good friction coefficient, and lasts a long time.

It is not tolerant of abuse during the break-in period however, and it doesn't like heat very much either.

 

[Street_Killer]

Do you think there could be damage though from slipping it because a badly adjusted clutch pedal? Other then that I have been easy on it.

 

[white90gsx]

Yes. Most likely its destroyed i had one and i got inpatient and i abused it and i took it apart and the clutch just crumbled i would suggest at least 500 city miles before abusing it

 

[GVR4592]

I would take it straight back to the shop and have them take it apart and check the clutch, then if it's bad they can replace it and adjust your clutch properly.

 

[Street_Killer]

Well I adjusted it properly myself and its working fine, IM going easy on it, all I have done was punch it in 5th to see if it was slipping and it wasnt.

 

[white90gsx]

But once it slipped for too long or too many times it wont matter how you drive it now. It will slip until its destroyed all the way. My advice has been said look at it to see if its bad and if it is send it back.

 

[Street_Killer]

Well its not like I abused it, it slipped pretty good 4 or 5 times though. In 4th and 5th. Ill have to decide on what to do.

 

[white90gsx]

Yes it will most in high gears because theres more strain..Those clutches are pretty picky on breaking in but i suggest you take it to the guys and make them fix it other wise you will be responsible to replace it after so many days so to save money i would have it looked at asap.

 

[Street_Killer]

How bad did you abuse yours when it was ruined?

 

[white90gsx]

I was on the interstate in 5th got on it and it slipped for like 3 sec. i launched it once and the car stood still but probably had about 5 secs of slipping and it was toast and that was at like 400 miles of it already.

 

[white90gsx]

Every clutch i put in i put 1000 city miles on it to be safe. I never had any problems.

 

[Street_Killer]

Well but wouldnt it be slipping even now if it was messed up? Im thinking maybe I should just double the break in to be safe and let it be, because if it was destroyed it would still be slipping.

 

[white90gsx]

Mine still work fine but i wasn't able to tromp on it but it held up under normal driving.

 

[Street_Killer]

I read something that said, the act guys said your suppose to slip your clutch to help it seat better. Im not really worried about mine.

 

[Locke]

I read something that said, the act guys said your suppose to slip your clutch to help it seat better. Im not really worried about mine.

And the ACT guys were right. Slipping the clutch is what beds it. Every time you accelerate from a stop, and even a bit when changing gears, you are slipping the clutch. What you must avoid, though, is glazing. Glazing can happen quickly if the clutch has not fully seated.

 

[white90gsx]

Yes that defiantly aids in the breaking in period. But i never did it i didn't see a difference.

 

[Street_Killer]

They actually said, go into 5th gear and slip it that way. I got a question. If I glazed my clutch doing what I did, wouldnt it slip now in 5th like it was before I adjusted the pedal?

 

[white90gsx]

Yes..The reason for slipping it in 5th is because by the time your in 5th gear you really aint pulling the car hard so you have less strain compared to 1st and 2nd.

 

[Street_Killer]

Ya, Figured that. Thats why im not to worried, i only slipped it in 4th and 5th at relatively low rpms's. That and it doesnt slip at all now.

 

[white90gsx]

Yes by the sounds its not too bad i just don't want to see someone get ripped off.

 

[Street_Killer]

Well thanks for the advice.