my clutch... EXPLODED!

[matredd]

Yep. It flew to pieces. Sucks pulling a lowered car onto a trailer. Well, bed time. I'll post pics sometime tomorrow. Hopefully it's just the clutch...

[metalman]

My NB pulled a similar stunt, TO seized sending the clutch fingers flying about inside the bellhousing. Fun fun.

[RotorNutFD3S]

That sucks dude. If you need any help with it, give me a shout, I'm off work all week.

[Doppelgänger]

Hopefully it doesn't look like this...

http://img223.imageshack.us/img223/6083/780034fu9wt0.jpg

[Sawyer]

That picture = :eek:

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

How on Earth does that happen??

[caseyfoster]

lol wtf is that

[GraffitiPanda]

MOTHER!!!!!! *picture* WTF! how do you do that beside maybe trying to mate it with a jet turbine LOL

[Doppelgänger]

I wish I could find the picture of the one that blew up in a Skyline doing a 10,000rpm clutch drop.....part of the clutch/flywheel came through the hood.

[MeFryRice]

There was something similar on EvoM but I can't seem to find the thread. Although I'm not making as much power as the other guy was, I'm considering getting a scatter shield just for insurance. :)

[Doppelgänger]

OK, did some detective work, that picture IS from the Skyline that did a clutch dump... and here are some more awesome pictures from it...

Flywheel/clutch in many pieces
http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/6775/780036qs9dp4.jpg

Hole in the hood
http://www.imagelinkers.com/out.php/i50688_780050oh0sy2.jpg


Yes, that funny brown thing is the exhaust...and it's shredded...and that's a hole in the car above it.
http://www.imagelinkers.com/out.php/i50689_780039wy7ko5.jpg

Hole in floorboard
http://www.imagelinkers.com/out.php/i50686_24b1cg6.jpg

[MeFryRice]

That's insane. :jawdrop:

[Cool Cat Racing]

I remember those pics from a skyline forum a long time ago. I laughed a little, and then laughed a lot.

[wildfire0310]

I have a video on my personal computer from years ago of a 90-94 eclipse on a drag strip. About have way though, the flywheel/clutch comes flying out of the hood.

[amaff]

Holy ish balls at those pictures. Scatter shield is your friend!

matredd: sucks to hear it. I hope very much that the damage isn't quite so severe...

[matredd]

This is where my uncle (who happened to be in town from Birmingham with a trailer), my dad, and I used the roll bar and engine to push the car onto these 2" x 6" pieces of wood then onto the trailer.

The first pic shows where our initial push didn't go perfectly straight and the car was driving on the side. We were actually able to grab the rotas and lift/slide the car more evenly onto the trailer. :lol:

2548

2549

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So, it looks like I'll be getting it back up on jack stands this friday to see what all was damaged. :(
Eric, I figured you'd have a lot going on with your own car but if you're free, awesome! Anybody else is welcome as well just PM me. I'll have a friend helping that's done a couple other clutch jobs with me in the past.

Anybody recommend a good, strong clutch with minimal chatter? My uncle had a SPEC clutch as well which was chattering in a similar manner. He got it checked out and a few rivets had come undone! :eek:
I'm guessing something similar happened on my setup.

I'll post more pics when I get under the car. Hopefully it'll be better news than the pics Mike posted. Yikes.

[Georgia Cracker]

Exploding clutches is why drag racers use a scatter shield. They thought it might be a good idea after several drivers had their feet cut off.

[matredd]

Can you guys see the pics?

[Jack-MX5ATLanta.com]

I can't see the pictures. Those skyline pictures are brilliant.

[Cool Cat Racing]

I stick with ACT for performance clutches. My old 99 had a 1.6 flywheel and 1.6 Xtreme clutch in it, was very easy to drive on the street and held up to 2 years of abuse and racing and then another 2 years of my friend driving like a grandmother and now Lee drives it every day with no problems. Pretty good in my opinion.

[ben91]

Come on Matt, IT stud, I don't see no pics! :p

I've had good luck with ACT on the miatas. The new FM clutch is also supposed to be nice. Everyone I know who's had a Spec clutch on a miata has had some bad stories to tell.

[matredd]

Yeah, ACT is in the flyin miata kit as well. I'm also running an 8lb flywheel but thinking of going to stock. It idled fine until I added throttle volume with an intercooler.

Cool Cat - was there any chatter?

[ben91]

FM hasn't sold the ACT stuff in at least a year. They claim their new kits are better, but sell them under their own private label, and don't release the actual manufacturer's name.

[Cool Cat Racing]

Not with the organic discs. The silver race car has a Prolite flywheel and Xtreme 6 puck sprung hub race disc and still only chatters occasionally. Even that clutch is easy to drive. I got stuck in traffic coming back from Top Speed when they tuned it, it is a bit grabby and a little stiff but far from so annoying it wouldn't be driveable. The HD ACT clutches feel nearly stock in effort, just a bit more grabby and hold enough power to support anything a stock engine can produce, even turboed.

[FE3tMX5]

My spec clutch:
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t86/m2cupcar/current%20FEmx5t/sCRW_1044.jpg

[ben91]

^^
See, bad stories. :lol:

Too bad, in some OTM markets their products are well regarded.

[Doppelgänger]

FM uses Competition Clutch products. I know this because someone I know works there and tells me how much of a kick he gets out of painting the parts purple/pink that go out to FM :lol:

[matredd]

I'm looking at the FM level 2 clutch.

[ben91]

I'd be inclined to give Comp Clutch a call too, just kind of casually ask them if they have anything for the miata, and get some prices. Might be possible to skip the FM mark up.

[damham]

Matt, Sorry to hear about your clutch. I hope damage isn't too bad.

[darknessprevails]

I have a comp clutch and love it!! i did get the stage 4 clutch though its a pretty serious setup it can get a little old in traffic because when that stage 4 clutch engauges its freaking engauges. but i could drive it everyday in traffic no problem its just something you get used to with the stage 4 clutch but i havent been able to make it slip.

There 1.6 clutchs are a little pricy but i got a good deal on it from knowing a fella down there : ) the 1.8s are well priced though.
but if theres a clutch i could reccomend its CC got a few buddys that have had Act Exxedy and some weired named one over all we all run Competition Clutch even my bud with the 2jz supra has a stage 4 comp without anyproblems

[silver280zx]

I have a centerforce clutch in my Z and love it. I have beat he crap out of that car for years, and have had no problems with it.

[Stealth97]

I have an ACT flywheel and clutch, it rocks.

the carnage above is why I would never use a aluminum flywheel. people have lost limbs because of exploding flywheels/clutches/torque converters, etc. that's why the drag sanctioning bodies require scatter shields on the fast cars.

[DecoyOctopus]

aww poor matt another damaged miata. :cry: sorry bout the car man. hopefully it dosent look like what mike posted. when you say clutch chatter i guess you mean that weird drive-train vibration when letting go of the clutch at low speed. i used to have it and alot of people told me that there are no permanent remedies for that problem that i would just have to sort of live with it but when i changed my clutch out it stopped and it still hasn't came back.


Exploding clutches is why drag racers use a scatter shield. They thought it might be a good idea after several drivers had their feet cut off.

thats scary. could matts feet have been cut off by this? does it have something to do with improper assembly or overpowering the clutch?

[ericsbestshot]

the comp clutch location is in conyers i think. I went down there when they wanted to take a look my clutch plate and see if it was a problem with their product (it was not). Even thought they hooked me up with a new clutch plate racing style. Awesome guys and great products as far as i can tell.

[ben91]

Oh wow, I didn't know they were a local company. Heck ya, I love supporting local business. I'll definitely look there for my next clutch.

[matredd]

Ok, I pulled everything out and it looks like the clutch is FINE?

Here are some pics after pulling.

2559
2560
2561
2562
2563

So basically what happened when I was driving was I shifted into 2nd or 3rd and heard a pop and grind a bit like the supercharger belt flew off. The car then shut off and I started it after I rolled to a stop. It idled fine but would grind like it was only partially in gear. This made me think the flyweheel was intact but the clutch had come apart.

Is there a way to test the transmission without putting it back on the car?

I guess I'll be looking for a replacement 5 or 6 speed either way.
I'll probably go ahead and change out the clutch as well.

[matredd]

Also, one of the bolt heads snapped off and I'm left with this to pull it out. Any recommended tools to pull? It appeared that a good few of the bolts were stripped when getting them out of the flywheel. They were torqued to spec during install... weird.
2564
2565

[mustangtomiata]

bolt fatigue looks to be your problem. The clutch would act like that if it wasn;t being held down evenly and properly. I think I have a bunch of spares. I'll go check that flywheel when I get back to my house. You can have them if you'd like.

[amaff]

To test the transmission, just slide the prop shaft on to the tail-shaft of the trans, put it in gear and see if you can turn it. Try a few different gears and see what you get.

[matredd]

bolt fatigue looks to be your problem. The clutch would act like that if it wasn;t being held down evenly and properly. I think I have a bunch of spares. I'll go check that flywheel when I get back to my house. You can have them if you'd like.
You have spare bolts? I will need to find some after looking at the threads on these. It looks like I'm going to go the route of getting my stock flywheel lightened. The 8lb was nice but harder to idle with the SC and intercooler.

[mustangtomiata]

You have spare bolts? I will need to find some after looking at the threads on these. It looks like I'm going to go the route of getting my stock flywheel lightened. The 8lb was nice but harder to idle with the SC and intercooler.


Yeah I'm pretty sure I do. I'll check and let you know.

[matredd]

To test the transmission, just slide the prop shaft on to the tail-shaft of the trans, put it in gear and see if you can turn it. Try a few different gears and see what you get.
Thanks Andrew. I finally tried this tonight convinced that the issue was the bolts backing out a bit.

It seems like turning the driveshaft in first is making a popping sound and then locking up. Second gear was smooth... Does this sound like a new tranny is needed? Hopefully I'll be able to pick one up tomorrow if that's what I need. This is my daily driver.

[ben91]

What specifically is making a popping sound Matt?
Doesn't sound promising.

[matredd]

Something internal. I guess I was just hoping there was something that could happen by just turning the driveshaft as a test. It sounds like something is in there moving or bouncing around and then locking. It sounds awesome.

[ben91]

Oh, the trans is out of the car right. So maybe the gear or counter gear is missing a tooth.

[matredd]

Yes, it's out of the car. Missing a tooth would make sense.

[ben91]

Well, time for a 5.0 and T-5 swap then.

[wildfire0310]

damn man that sucks.

If you need to find a transmission, I got a spare one at my place, that I was about to sell.

[metalman]

If you need to find a transmission, I got a spare one at my place,

As do I and I am 'open' sundays. :lol: ;)

[wildfire0310]

As do I and I am 'open' sundays. :lol: ;)

haha.. I wasnt sure if you had any. Granted your at a much better location for Matt then I am.

[metalman]

haha.. I wasnt sure if you had any. Granted your at a much better location for Matt then I am.

I was just messin' with ya man. :lol: Its kind of a given that I may have a transmission around.

[wildfire0310]

I was just messin' with ya man. :lol: Its kind of a given that I may have a transmission around.

haha I know.. but truthful, you are at a better location for Matt then I.

[mustangtomiata]

I have two transmissions I'll sell you for $100. One doesn't have fifth gear and the other is stuck in fourth gear. LOL

[metalman]

I have two transmissions I'll sell you for $100. One doesn't have fifth gear and the other is stuck in fourth gear. LOL

Sounds like perfect items for 'no offer refused' thread. :D

I'll give you a bent Coke can for them. :lol:

[wildfire0310]

I have two transmissions I'll sell you for $100. One doesn't have fifth gear and the other is stuck in fourth gear. LOL

no offence but really... I have a perfect 91 transmission with 110K on it that I was going offer to this board for $100 to $150.

$100 for a damaged tranmission just seems high, or I am really letting mine go for way to cheap.

[mustangtomiata]

I know thats why I said 2! lol I know I just want them gone. I'm not going to rebuild them anymore since I don't have a car to put them in so I might as well just give them tom someone.

[metalman]

$100 for a damaged tranmission just seems high, or I am really letting mine go for way to cheap.

Some of each. ;)

[wildfire0310]

Some of each. ;)

I figured. I am also at the point of just letting mine go to a good person for cheap.

[matredd]

Ok FINALLY. The car is back on the road as of tonight. I upgraded to t-bolt clamps and the throttle response improved dramatically. The replacement transmission is soo nice to have after driving with bad synchros and a first gear that would pop into neutral if you didn't hold it in place. Thanks Kurt.

Next step, install the Xede and RX8 injectors.

[mustangtomiata]

then dyno!

[RotorNutFD3S]

Ok FINALLY. The car is back on the road as of tonight. I upgraded to t-bolt clamps and the throttle response improved dramatically. The replacement transmission is soo nice to have after driving with bad synchros and a first gear that would pop into neutral if you didn't hold it in place. Thanks Kurt.

Next step, install the Xede and RX8 injectors.

Woot! :party:

[matredd]

Ok, one problem. The electric speedo sensor wire/grommit came apart when I pulled the transmission. The grommit is greased and just slides in and out. Does anybody know how the two wires are supposed to stay in place? Also, the polarity?

[ben91]

The speedo sender has a pigtail coming from the end opposite the mechanical gear. The end of the pigtail has a locking tab harness connector housing 2 wires. If the locking tab is facing up and you are looking into the connector, blue/yellow is on the left, blue/white is on the right.

The sender itself just slips into the tranny and is secured by a 10mm bolt.

[matredd]

thanks ben. the polarity definitely helps. i'm still curuious how the locking tab harness stays in place. it seems to slide right out without any effort.

[ben91]

Matt are the pigtail form the sender and the harness still intact and simply no longer lock in place (probably from a broken tab)? If so, plug it in, then secure with zip ties or duct tape.

[matredd]

zip ties might work. I just figured there was a right way. I didn't appear that something broke but I have nothing to compare it to. It's just the two ends of the wires sticking out of the rubber piece that slides in.

[ben91]

Plug it in, fold the connection over on itself (assuming there's enough slack), and zip tie it together. I don't think anything else will be necessary.