lots of clutch questions

[manicdan]

ok all ive driven 4 different cars with manual transmissions. a 92 eclipse with 95hp. a scion xa, a cavalier Z24 thats right around as fast as our GTs, but does it through torque, and my vibegt.over the time ive never had any experience with transmission failures. the eclipse had a brand new one installed, the scion was brand new. but the cavalier ever now and then would jump a few hundred rpms as if i quickly pushed on the clutch and let go. the problem never got more serious than that.ive herd about how our clutches have a horrible life for some people and so i want to be prepared. and i have no idea how to notice what a problem would feel like and what its related to. any insight would be great as i have been taught how to drive stick very well, but i just lack any experience with problems that would be from wear and tear or overheating.

[injun_josh]

sounds like we have had a few of the same cars i had a 93 95hp eclipse, a 97 cavalier z24, and a gt vibe.. quick question first you said the z24 you had was as quick as a vibe gt, what did you have done to the thing? mine had the upper and lower motor mounts from rksport, cai, header, catback exhaust, and the low resistane springs that connected the spark plugs also from rksport. and my stock vibe gt would have totally smoked my z24. best 0-60 i ever pulled out of it was 7.6 while the beest i have gotten out of my vibe is 6.95. anywho.... the problem with the clutches is that the clutch in the vibe gts, matrix xrs', and celica gts' were made for the 1zz motor, when they introduced the newer higher horsepower models they should have given it a beefier clutch, but they didn't. so the clutch does go out way faster. i have replaced mine with an exedy stage 2 unit. it is wonderful. but it was a pain putting it in. when i got the stock clutch out i was looking at it and started laughing at how toyota really believed that thing was gonna hold down almost 200 horsepower. my advice, when you have the money free go ahead and get the exedy stage 2, that way you know everything will be fine.

[Sublimewind]

Being that you have driven cars with clutches in the past you WILL notice if the clutch starts going on you, if it is slipping, you'll either see it or SMELL it (I'm sure you've smelled burnt clutch, smells like burnt brakes, acrid) If it's the throw-out bearing, you'll hear it as it start to "squeal" and if the disc just wears out you'll hear that as well as the rivets holding the friction material will start making contact with the flywheel and make a grinding sound, kinda like rivets against a flywheel......So, all in all you'll know, just don't be thinking every little noise is something new, no need to live paranoid.... You'll know

[Legros]

Grinding noise... That i do get this when i try to have some fun with the lift... Either difficult to pass to the next speed or a nice grinding noise. I was told that it was the synch and i was doom to live with it....

[Dezz1]

If you drive it and have fun with it everyonce and a while it should last you until around 80k miles before you get tired of the slippage. I changed mine around 75k miles, but still had plenty of mileage left. I went with the ACT clutch and Pressure plate, and had the flywheel turned, it had grooves in it. I am too old to deal with a stage 2 Exedy, too rough for me. My advice, If you drive it like you stole it 45% of the time, the clutch will start slipping around 50k, maybe sooner. Drive it like you stole it on the weekends, it should last to around 75k miles. If you have more questions holla at me, i've been following the clutch situation threads for years, i'll be more than happy to help any way I can.

[manicdan]

ok heres a quick one, whats the proper way to down shift into first gear without all the grinding

[tcam]

Quote, originally posted by manicdan »ok heres a quick one, whats the proper way to down shift into first gear without all the grindingdownshifting into first gear is a B@#$! I honestly have to drop down to like 4 or 5mph's sometimes otherwise the snychro's just won't line-up or something. My friends always freak out when they are driving it and think they can't get into first.

[Sublimewind]

You shouldn't be trying to get into 1st unless your almost stopped, you can run 2nd down almost to a stop and still take off, if need be...You will eventually kill the syncros if you keep trying to shift into 1st at anything above ~10mph'ish.

[manicdan]

in autocross theres reasons to drop it to first. and i tired it one time and it took 4 seconds for me to finnaly get it in gear, im getting better at doing it when im about 15mph but when its a really tight turn and i need to be at 25-30 and second gear feels like crap for anything below 40.

[Sublimewind]

Well, you may try "bliping" the throttle. I keep forgetting that these are a 1.8l and not a 2.5l like my Subaru... I have much torque down low in my Subie...

[goodvibe]

The base and GT clutches are not the same and they seem to last longer in the lighter and effectively lower geared Celica.(smaller tires) I think the got caught out by the extra loat of the Vibe/Matrix and people trying to catch lift when shifting.

[JustinVGT]

I have over 77,000 miles on my stock GT clutch and it is still strong with no slipping at all. Granted, I don't bring up the revs and drop the clutch for fast take offs, but I do still use lift almost daily if given the opportunity (not stuck in traffic).