Boxman Posted January 23, 2015 Report Share Posted January 23, 2015 I recently did an entire engine swap, and along with it replaced my stock clutch for a Spec Stage 3+ clutch and pressure plate. Upon reinstalling the clutch actuator, of course I tested it out and it feels much lighter than the stock T5 clutch that was in there. To check whether everyting was okay, I had my phone take vids while I depressed the pedal, and the actuator does work and the clutch lever moves. Because I have no exhaust yet, i haven't been able to drive the car yet, though when trying to change gears, I can't get into some with the clutch engaged, and I can when I depress the pedal. So long story short, the clutch seems to work, but the pedal feel is just too soft. It feels like something went wrong somewhere. I just don't want to be firing up my engine only to discover I can't change gears or anything. I have not disconnected the hydraulic actuator from its at fluid lines at any moment during the engine swap. Is this normal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookforjoe Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Spec Stage III + (full face?) What flywheel? Was it resurfaced? Was the stack height checked? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxman Posted January 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Forgot to list the specs of my car - it's a 94 850 T5 with M56H gearbox. It is indeed the full faced stage 3+, not the puck. The original (single mass) flywheel was used, checked and sandblasted only (shop said resurfacing was not necessary). All else being stock and unchanged, I did not measure the stack height as it's a bolt-on upgrade for the 850 specifically (SPE-SO133F). Also it came with a new pressure bearing. Do you think it might not be fully disengaging? Or (i'm not familiar with the hydraulics involved) is the clutch hydraulic system also loaded by running the engine, and will the pedal feel change as soon as I started it once? I haven't touched the clutch since starting my newly rebuilt engine yet.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookforjoe Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Forgot to list the specs of my car - it's a 94 850 T5 with M56H gearbox. It is indeed the full faced stage 3+, not the puck. The original (single mass) flywheel was used, checked and sandblasted only (shop said resurfacing was not necessary). All else being stock and unchanged, I did not measure the stack height as it's a bolt-on upgrade for the 850 specifically (SPE-SO133F). Also it came with a new pressure bearing. Do you think it might not be fully disengaging? Or (i'm not familiar with the hydraulics involved) is the clutch hydraulic system also loaded by running the engine, and will the pedal feel change as soon as I started it once? I haven't touched the clutch since starting my newly rebuilt engine yet.. If the flywheel height is appropriate, then it should function as intended. Until the disc is bedded, I'm not sure you can judge, really. Hydraulic system will not change with the engine running- there's no booster as with brakes to alter pedal feel/effort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxman Posted January 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Time will tell if it properly disengages, though I expected higher effort with the Spec 3+ compared to the stock T5 clutch. I read that air in the system could cause weak pedal feel, but nothing has been disconnected. To be sure I did the reversed-pumping of brake fluid through the slave-cylinder until my reservoir was topped up, but the feel didn't change. Anything else that could cause the light pedal feel or is de 3+ just not that stiff on the pressure plate? Could the travel of the pressure plate simply be less compared to the stock clutch, allowing for more leverage and thus less force required? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookforjoe Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 My Spec Stage III+ had much higher than stock pedal effort. Mine was for DM setup, so I cannot say whether it compares to SM design Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gdog Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 You know, you could put it in gear (engine not running), press the clutch pedal in, and then see if you (via a helper) can push the car and move/roll it at all (indicating clutch disengaged).. If it is not disengaging, I would try a pwr bleeder; the only way to bleed hydraulics IMO. Or if you don't have a helper, try a starter button, just for a sec, while it's in gear; if the car lurches, it's not disengaging.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandmas_racecar Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 How's the pedal feel with the stage 3+?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piet Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 I have exactly the same spec setup as you with a singel mass flywheel. The pedal feel of it is practically the same as the 850R clutch I had before. Maybe your stock T5 clutch was worn and felt heavier then normal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
venderbroeck Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 My worn t5 clutch has a pretty heavy pedal feel. Much heavyer than said spec3+ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxman Posted January 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Hmm, interesting notions Piet and venderbroeck. The car did have 395k km on it. I will try what gdog said and report back after I tested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
venderbroeck Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Mine has about 350k km. Clutch makes groaning noises on takeoff aswell if you don't handle it just right. I'll be replacing it soon. The spec3+ wont be nice to drive in its break in period btw. Very grabby. Will become much smoother over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boxman Posted January 24, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 Thanks for the info and the heads-up I expected it to be more of a pain than the T5 clutch to drive, but hey anything beats smoking the entire clutch after my tune Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fischmama Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 My Spec Stg3+ had a much heavier feel than stock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
venderbroeck Posted January 24, 2015 Report Share Posted January 24, 2015 single or dual mass? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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