I just got the clutch replaced, quick question....

Ok, here's the story:

When I bought the car 3 months ago, the guy let me know that the clutch had never been replaced. Ok that's fine and all.

So I started driving it easy, but as I got used to the clutch, and I started pushing the car harder I started to like it :)

I was slamming the Gas on 1st gear and getting to 6k RPM before switching gears.

Anyway, I finished off the clutch by doing that :( and had to get it replaced. (about $500 US)

I couldn't believe all the hot spots on the pressure plate and the Clutch Disk, it was covered in them. What the hell? could it have been slipping when I was slamming the Gas?

Now that I have a new Clutch in there, I'm afraid of peel outs because I don't want to screw up the new Clutch again. I'm thinking that I shouldn't have to worry about it too much because a new clutch should have a tighter spring to hold it in place, but still I fear :(

What sort of mileage was on the original clutch?

I am still on my original at 230000Km and I drive it hard at times and I always did. I am sure most 5.0 drivers do too. They are fairly robust and well suited for the cars.

Most of the damage may have been done prior to you buying it

The original had 1440000km on it.

The actual clutch disk was worn to the rivets. and it was littered with heat spots all over. I couldn't believe it.

Well, the new clutch is in there, hopefully it lasts me a while.

I am noticing something weird though.

If I stay at 1k rpm on 1st and 2nd gears, the car wobbles slightly, but when I stay at 1k rpm on 3rd gear, it wobbles a lot more (maybe 2 or 3 times as much) and then goes back to normal on 4th and 5th.

I'm thinking it could be the engine, or transmission mounts, but I'm worried that it could be the tranny itself. Any ideas?

Most of the damage may have been done prior to you buying it

It wasn't, prior to me starting to do some serious peelouts, the clutch was engaging nicely. After a couple of weeks I started to notice a heavy amount of chattering.

I couldn't believe what I saw when the mechanic showed me the old pieces. Only explanation was that the clutch disk was slipping causing major heatspots all over, and it's my fault :( I suck :(

if you ride the clutch it can wear it out quick. i wouldnt want to spend 500 bills every 6 mouths or so .A mustang trans'.will darn near fall out of the car if you yell at them . about 3 hours or less . If the clutch wears out again put a new one in yourself and than that 500 could go towards a high quality clutch kit and still have a couple hundred left.You have to drive a stang hard for it to be happy LOL.

I am noticing something weird though.

If I stay at 1k rpm on 1st and 2nd gears, the car wobbles slightly, but when I stay at 1k rpm on 3rd gear, it wobbles a lot more (maybe 2 or 3 times as much) and then goes back to normal on 4th and 5th.

I'm thinking it could be the engine, or transmission mounts, but I'm worried that it could be the tranny itself. Any ideas?

this is puzzling me... the car shouldn't be wobbling... if it were the engine or tranny mounts it would jsut get worse as the rpms climbed. i'm thinking that perhaps you're having timing or fuel delivery issues. what your'e describing sounds like consistent low rpm misfires. maybe if you went into more detail about the problem i would have more ideas for ya.

Well, I've been driving mine hard for over a year now with track time and lots of fun on the street and it works as well as the day we bought it. No clutch problems for me yet....

if you ride the clutch it can wear it out quick. i wouldnt want to spend 500 bills every 6 mouths or so .A mustang trans'.will darn near fall out of the car if you yell at them . about 3 hours or less . If the clutch wears out again put a new one in yourself and than that 500 could go towards a high quality clutch kit and still have a couple hundred left.You have to drive a stang hard for it to be happy LOL.

What do you mean by "riding the clutch"?

I usually do "granny" shifting, and usually will ride it a little when starting off. Something like this:

1. Turn the ignition on
2. Slap it on reverse
3. Hit the gas to 1k RPM and ride the clutch a bit to exit the parking lot.
4. Slap it on 1st.
5. Ride the clutch a bit for 2-3 seconds to get it to engage smoothly (usually at 1k RPM, but on a steep hill I have to ride it at 1.5k RPM and if it's really steep, then up to 2k RPM)
6. Get to 2k RPM and slap it on second.
7. Match RPM to the speed (usually about 1.2k RPM) and smoothly engage clutch in 1-2 second time.
8. Do the same for all other gears.

That's the best way I've found for a smooth jerk free ride, maybe I am riding the clutch a slight bit, but what can you suggest I can improve on?

this is puzzling me... the car shouldn't be wobbling... if it were the engine or tranny mounts it would jsut get worse as the rpms climbed. i'm thinking that perhaps you're having timing or fuel delivery issues. what your'e describing sounds like consistent low rpm misfires. maybe if you went into more detail about the problem i would have more ideas for ya.

With the old clutch it would do some severe shaking on any gear below 4th, being the worst at 1st gear to the point that I'd have to give it gas to 1.5k RPM and ride the clutch a lot (5-6 seconds) to get a smooth take off. and to switch gears I'd have to match to a higher rpm than normal and ride the clutch slowly to get a smooth shift.

Now with the new clutch I notice this:

1. Once the clutch is engaged the car wobbles slightly on 1st when going at 1k RPM, as soon as I go over 1.2k RPM the wobble is gone. Keep in mind it's a very light wobble, almost unnoticeable unless you pay attention to it.

But on 3rd gear it's really noticeable, maybe 2 or 3 times as much as on 1st and 2nd while running at 1k RPM.

I haven't had any problems with the car, but I'm wondering if this is normal behaviour.

By wobble do you mean jerking slightly? If you are going everywhere in ever gear at 1000 rpms then you are seriously lugging the hell out of your car. Speed it up.

by riding the clutch i mean taking too long to let the clutch out all the way. By doing this it allows the clutch to slip, in turn wearing down the clutch disc material prematurely.