Topic: Spec clutch woes....

[ryansalazan]

So I have installed a spec stage 3+ clutch with a lightweight flywheel a while back and had many problems with it first not fitting, then not completely disengaging and what not. Well I finally have a better working set and everything runs fine except for two things...

Does anyone have this setup and have trouble with downshifting from 5th to 4th gear? I've heard that there are now about 4 people having this problem... I'm even having a little bit of trouble going into 4th period. I believe this is due to the fact that the clutch is not entirely disengaging because when I'm at a dead stop and push the clutch in and put it in first, the car will move forward a little bit.

Does anyone have a solution to this problem? I'm thinking of looking into the zzp adjustable master slave cylinder. I know that maybe with that piece I could be able to adjust the pedal a bit with and possibly get the clutch to maybe disengage just a little bit more? I have had soo many problems with this spec clutch setup. If any other company makes a clutch for our cars please let me know haha

[Kelu]

From 5th to 4th it grinds if i don't let rev down a little.

The other issues sound like similar to mine, I bled the system 4-5 times and still does same, I blamed the factory master cylinder which I re-used and had some wear but I don't think that's the issue.

I have SPEC Stage 3+ and their flywheel, non SAC version.

Now that I have a medium turbo and I don't have tq spikes anymore I'm thinking to install a stock clutch in future

PS: Please share if you find any solution for these issues.

[ryansalazan]

Ya thats about the same issues as what I'm having. Its def not the master cylinder either as I have bought a brand new one when I installed this setup. I now even have a little trouble just going from 3rd to 4th at lower rpms. I know its not my synchros because they shifted like butter before this clutch installation and then it just got worse after the installation.

[kwtoxman]

ACT makes clutches, not much feedback for the sol. Seems to be a fair amount using it in the cobaltss.net forum on the LNF.

[SKY888]

if you are experiencing grinding...........it's not your Spec Clutch issues.


I believe its time to replace your synchros........

That's what happened to me.......it started grinding from 1st to 2nd.     After a month......2nd to 3rd starts grinding.


I replaced the whole tranny with a slightly used one.

Then voila........no more grinding.   With the same Spec Clutch kit that I have.


good luck!

[ryansalazan]

Its not really a grinding noise for me. Its the fact that the clutch will not properly disengage all of the way. Even at a dead stop I will push the clutch all the way in and put it in 1st and the car will move forward like a couple of inches.

Due to the clutch not wanting to disengage all of the way, in some gears its wanting to lock out. Specifically 4th. Multiple people have had this issue as well. I'm also on the 3rd clutch I believe now from spec? I just dont see why these arent working... Synchros shifted like butter before the clutch and then after got all tough and blocks me out sometimes

[SKY888]

i was about to say it might be your master cylinder.....but you already installed a new one.

hmmmmm.......

did you install WERKS clutch spacer?

some people have good results using that spacer.


I personally didnt install it, and don't have that engaging issue that you are having.

[ryansalazan]

No no werks spacer. I made it clear with spec that no extra spacer was going to be needed with the revised version that they sent me and they said no the spacer and pressure plate were changed and that I would not have to add anything to make everything work.

[Kelu]

if you are experiencing grinding...........it's not your Spec Clutch issues.


I believe its time to replace your synchros........

Is not the gearbox, as in Ryan's case, the syncros were butter before installing the SPEC clutch, that pressure plate is the issue, when I'm standing still and push in 1st gear the car moves a bit.

I bled the system with vaccum 4-5 times, didn't help, now Ryan confirms the issue is with new master cylinder (actually is bearing), i'm sick of this clutch. It killed my ET time at the races, I need to spend a lot of time shifting slowly to get it in a gear.

I'm going back to stock next year.

[SKY888]

yeah.....my synchros were butter too....before my spec clutch was installed.

but eventually my synchos  died.    Then I had the grinding issues.    This is a common case......   The synchros are a weak link.    I wish we have the carbon fiber ones.....

so instead of just replacing the synchros, I just bought a slightly used tranny from Werks.   After that, things are good again.

I don't know how things will hold up....after my build.    I might end up just going with the t56 kit from DDM.   we'll see.



Ryan, have you tried going back to stock clutch?   And see if you will experiencing the same issue?
Let's just hope that its just the spec kit........but if you still have the same issues.......you really have to find out what's causing it.  Hopefully you dont need a new tranny.....

[Kelu]

Normally SPEC should fix the issues with their clutch kit, not us as customers.

[SKY888]

I doubt any of these big companies will do that tho.

Remember your EFR turbo issue with borg warner?    They didnt do shit......

[Kelu]

They replaced it after 4 months, my problem was not with the BorgWarner, the issue was with the distributor Full Race Motorsports delaying all the process and changing their statements about when is going to be delivered.

[boboborino]

No no werks spacer. I made it clear with spec that no extra spacer was going to be needed with the revised version that they sent me and they said no the spacer and pressure plate were changed and that I would not have to add anything to make everything work.

As much as I like the spec clutch as a product, their PR does not have good reviews, and I would not take what they say to be truthful. I was also thinking of the spacer being required.

Bert

[boboborino]

I'm going back to stock next year.

Which I understand is a LUK, I would stay stock. Between LUK and SPEC, I've heard LUK first, SPEC second. The only problem with LUK, they do not make aftermarket clutch for the kappa,as in different plate compounds, but why mess with OEM if it works?

Bert

[SKY888]

but why mess with OEM if it works?

Bert

OEM can only handle so much Torque.    Once your kappa has 350-370tq.......oem clutch starts slipping

[kwtoxman]

OEM can only handle so much Torque.

Bang on. OEM is great up to a point. Beyond that, more is needed for a long service life.

And I appreciate the honest feedback in this thread. To help the community is huge. Cheers.

[boboborino]

OEM can only handle so much Torque.    Once your kappa has 350-370tq.......oem clutch starts slipping

I understand that, and to be clear, I am not trying to argue, I am just curious, where did you get those numbers from?I have not researched it but if you came across this info somewhere then ya OK, my forgiveness.  Many,MANY are running around 340 Tq on stock clutch with no problems, so the jump up of 10 - 30 tq is an issue?
I can see in your case where you will be what? over 400 tq ?
Bert

[SKY888]

I understand that, and to be clear, I am not trying to argue, I am just curious, where did you get those numbers from?I have not researched it but if you came across this info somewhere then ya OK, my forgiveness.  Many,MANY are running around 340 Tq on stock clutch with no problems, so the jump up of 10 - 30 tq is an issue?
I can see in your case where you will be what? over 400 tq ?
Bert

no arguments here bro!     Its a discussion group.

some people who has 340 tq.....and experience no problem right now......might drive differently.   And not really pushing their cars.     And also, the stock clutch might be able to handle that tq.  But might eventually die.   Who knows.


But what I observed personally, 4 years ago...... when I had my very first turbo upgrade (GT3076r)....it has about 350-360tq......and the clutch just started slipping

Some people who started using e85.....w/ gt2871 turbo upgrades a couple of years ago..........with 350-370tq.......started slipping on their oem clutch.


20-30 tq difference......can easily make a difference..........especially if the owners drive more "aggressively"..............or the way they use their clutch in driving.

those people who has 340tq w/ stock clutch might be fine right now..........but might be playing with fire......and will one day just start experiencing slipping. 


but from what I observed, once you go above 350-370tq........you will need to upgrade clutch......

[Kelu]

Which I understand is a LUK, I would stay stock. Between LUK and SPEC, I've heard LUK first, SPEC second. The only problem with LUK, they do not make aftermarket clutch for the kappa,as in different plate compounds, but why mess with OEM if it works?

Bert

My car after catless exhaust and tune was doing around 380tq, I did about 15 000 miles and about 200-300 passes at a strip. On top of that I added a 50hp wet nitrous shot and it was measured with about 450tq and then the clutch started to slip even in 3rd gear at the races. Wasn't the value of the torque, but also how it was doing it, a huge spike around 3200rpm and it was dropping a lot, you can find the dynos in this forum.

Now with GT3071 I do around 350tq with no big spikes, with over 300tq at 7000rpm, very constant and gentle delivery, which made me to think that stock clutch would handle it without problems. I just hope I won't be wrong 

[solli]

I've experienced manual transmission problems for the first time this week, 1st and 2nd is giving me real trouble. What's the solution?

[SKY888]

My car after catless exhaust and tune was doing around 380tq, I did about 15 000 miles and about 200-300 passes at a strip. On top of that I added a 50hp wet nitrous shot and it was measured with about 450tq and then the clutch started to slip even in 3rd gear at the races. Wasn't the value of the torque, but also how it was doing it, a huge spike around 3200rpm and it was dropping a lot, you can find the dynos in this forum.

Now with GT3071 I do around 350tq with no big spikes, with over 300tq at 7000rpm, very constant and gentle delivery, which made me to think that stock clutch would handle it without problems. I just hope I won't be wrong 

yup...it really depends on the surge of TQ giving stress to the clutch.  Different engine set-ups........will have different results.

and how you drive the car.

But I'm very surprised that your stock clutch survived those 300 passes at the track!   damn!

[SKY888]

I've experienced manual transmission problems for the first time this week, 1st and 2nd is giving me real trouble. What's the solution?

slipping?

or grinding?

[ryansalazan]

Ya everything for me is new which is what I made sure from when I was installing the clutch. New thor out bearing, master cylinder, pressure plate, flywheel, etc. even new transmission fluid. And with the stock clutch the gears all shifted perfectly fine!

If this is true that my synchros are going out after just 3k miles on this clutch than it is that this clutch is a REAL problem! I had a clutchmasters stage 4 on my cobalt ss a while back and I loved that thing! I slapped it in there and it worked and I could bang every gear just like stock but it help the extra power. Unfortunately clutchmasters doesnt make a clutch for us which sucks because this leaves us as the only option. I think I may have another option here pretty soon, but I cant say if it will be yet.

Point is, the spec clutch is terrible. It may hold the extra power, but you have to granny shift almost any gear, and with alot of customers paying over $1000 for this setup, it should be a install and go and not have problems. Even then I would understand that if maybe 1 person had a defective clutch it happens sometimes, but theres now probably over 7 people if not many more with this issue. If I can find a way to make this problem be gone, that would be great and I will not purchase a spec clutch again.

[solli]

slipping?

or grinding?

The shifter is hard to engage fully into first or second gear. It feels like I'm hitting a wall and I can't move the car. After a couple tries, the shifter engages and I'm good to go but I def don't like it or  the thought of it happening more frequently.