New clutch - more stable at 60 mph

[jdcaples]

This is a general question. I'm not sure if it belongs in drive train or in Misc CJ Discussion...

I'd had it with the PO's three finger clutch. The chatter was vicious and has been getting progressively worse.

I wasn't going to do it myself. I don't have the muscle, or a garage, so I hired the job out.

I have a LUK diaphragm clutch now and I swear the rig doesn't wander around so much at highway speeds.

For the last few days I've been telling myself that I'm so pleased with the new clutch that I'm not perceiving reality correctly.

Then I had a thought: I know the flywheel was resurfaced.

Is it possible that my flywheel was so "not flat" that the uneven centrifugal force of the spinning, unbalanced flywheel caused enough wobble to make going straight at 60 mph more of a chore?

Or was I right at first: I'm imagining things are better because I lost all the clutch chatter and I'm just sensing things through the rose-colored hue that comes with just being tickled pink about the new clutch?

Thanks!

-Jon

 

[Torxhead]

I am going to guess that the wandering was due to clutch slippage from your description. Good to hear that another problem got fixed.

 

[007]

I honestly wouldn't rule out either scenario. I've been amazed at how nice and smooth and quiet things are after a good washing by hand and some tire shine.

 

[Hedgehog]

Maybe your impression is not so crazy. Remember, many important parts of your CJ were removed and replaced. Supposedly replaced properly with the correct torque, new bushings, everything nice and straight. Did the repair guy grease up the drive shafts, he most certainly tightened up the universal joint brackets. And the whole thing should be cleaner. So, yes, it is possible that your CJ drives better now than it did before.

 

[tarry99]

If the clutch or flywheel was that far out of balance to make your Jeep wander it would have showed up long ago..........

As far as the chatter both the three finger and the diaphragm have basically the same plate load to do the required work.........when installed properly they both should have a similar release feeling.........more than likely your original disc or the flywheel or pressure plate surface got scuffed up or heat checked from dirt , debris or slipping that caused an uneven plate surface......

Your old 3 finger probably would have been just fine if you had the tools to resurface the parts. Unfortunately auto parts stores and machine shops only do flywheels.......Race car shops have the ability to surface the pressure plate , flywheel and clean up up the disc.

 

[Lumpy Grits]

How do you know that the f'wheel was resurfaced by the PO?
YES-A flywheel resurface is VERY important to a 'clutch' job!
That said-IMO-The diaphragm type pressure plates do have 'smoother' engagement and release.
In my wrench turning life-I have seen more clutch 'chatter' issues with 3-finger type p'plates than with diaphragm type.
LG

 

[tarry99]

In my experience Clutch chatter is not created by the type of pressure plate but as a result of un-even wear created by slippage and contamination on the surface.......


Manual Transmission Clutch Chatter

 

[jdcaples]

How do you know that the f'wheel was resurfaced by the PO?
YES-A flywheel resurface is VERY important to a 'clutch' job!
That said-IMO-The diaphragm type pressure plates do have 'smoother' engagement and release.
In my wrench turning life-I have seen more clutch 'chatter' issues with 3-finger type p'plates than with diaphragm type.
LG

I don't know that the PO resurfaced the flywheel.

The person I hired to install my new clutch resurfaced my flywheel before installing my new clutch. I saw it dropped from the Jeep, and carried over to a machine.

So, yeah.... I didn't see the flywheel while it was being resurfaced, but don't think that god-awful noise was a recording being played over hidden speakers.

-Jon