How Much Louder is a SMF Over a DMF

I just installed mine. The SMF seems to be louder than the IDI.

What have your experiences been?

They can be very loud. Lots of variables. Mine is very loud, but I bolted together the original DMF and used a clutch disc with springs in it from Autozone. So mine probably has the least amount of dampening compared to a official smf kit. But even the kits as you have found out can be loud. The way your engine runs has a lot to do with it, some people's engines run smoother than others. You might try turning up the idle speed a little bit. I found with mine it made a very noticeable difference with less noise with the idle speed turned up a little bit.

I tried all the different types of oils and overfilling trans to help the noise. Didn't really help mine, just made it harder to shift especially in cold weather. I have the standard dexron auto trans fluid in mine now.

There is a reason Ford spent all that money and complication of the dmf. It's really the only setup that is going to really quiet the trans. If they could have used a smf and saved a few dollars on each truck I am certain they would have.

Some are quite, some are noisey.
Most will over fill the trans.

Probably more involved than you want to go, but some have had the flywheel balanced.

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I had a thread somewhere with my experiences. The Sachs HD disc made a TON of noise but the standard duty disc is quiet as my DMF ever was.

I changed and noticed a bit more noise especially when idling around in low rpms like 1200- it seemed to quite down a little when I changed my pump and injectors though. Overfilling the transmission a little helped also just a little bit though. I do like how the clutch feels a lot more solid now compared the driving with the DMF.

For what it's worth, I'm running an SMF with my 12 valve conversion and it made no difference at all between the two. The conversion has a reputation of being brutal on ZF5s with all the low frequency vibes the 12 valve puts out. I went to Valair and they put together my flywheel/clutch/plate/TO bearing. I told them I wanted one with the most springs to help combat the noise. He told me all the clutches for my truck have springs and the noise is more due to imbalance than cushioning. Essentially, get a high quality clutch/plate and the noise will be better.

I have a very slight swishing noise at idle and a slight whine under load; mainly in 3rd and 4th. But then again, it did this with the 7.3/DMF as well. You can't really tell the swishing is there until you push in the clutch.

I'm not a drivetrain expert so I have no way to confirm what he said. All I know is I don't have any of the roll-over horror stories others have.

I switched from my failing DMF to the cheapo Duralast SMF conversion kit and it sounds just the same with the ZF5 slightly overfilled. Duralast disc is starting to rattle intermittently now (installed in the spring/summer of 2015), but I also got hit and took a ditch at 45 or so mph in 4th gear. Drivetrain in gear killed the engine when I was stopped by the deep ditch mud, so that was pretty ******* it.

My next clutch will be a Luk. Thankfully, I have this F350 together and it's time to sell it.

Bump up your idle a little and see if it makes any difference. It did for my old truck.

These are old trucks that were never meant to be quiet, unlike the luxo barges on the road today. Mine makes a bit more noise at very low rpm's, but nothing that would be considered annoying.

firehawk said:

These are old trucks that were never meant to be quiet, unlike the luxo barges on the road today. Mine makes a bit more noise at very low rpm's, but nothing that would be considered annoying.

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This truck was very quiet before I replaced the clutch. It has the smoothest IDI of any of my trucks.

firehawk said:

These are old trucks that were never meant to be quiet, unlike the luxo barges on the road today. Mine makes a bit more noise at very low rpm's, but nothing that would be considered annoying.

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They will drive just as good as a new truck when everything is as it should be, except the ride is a little bit stiffer. I just put a muffler back on mine, so much more enjoyable to drive. I think I am going to put the soup bowl aircleaner lid I have back on, I noticed when I cut the soup bowl out I have a drone coming from under the hood when going down the road. I happened to get another lid with it still in place, so I think it's going back in place. If I could afford a DMF I would have a very quiet truck, will a nice diesel clatter just noticeable under the hood.

My is noisy and rattles. I hate it . Hate it enough that I bought a new valeo DMF and valeo clutch kit and am going to change it back out this winter when i put synchros in my zf5 . Some guys don't know this but there is an upgrade kit you can actually buy from valeo for our trucks making more hp. The standard kit was 11" , they actually offer a 12" kit for factory turbo and aftermarket turbo trucks. Which is plenty of clutch. I couldn't slip my 12" clutch in my 6.0L pulling 23,000 lbs at 400 rwhp

I have the AZ Duralast SMF and was pleased that is is very quiet. It probably wouldn't hold much HP but in a stock truck it was the economical choice for me.

I am using and AMS clutch and flywheel, single mass; and once the truck is moving, there is some typical rumble/growling which doesn't bother me at all....but at idle with trans in neutral, wow...sounds like the through out bearing is about to grenade. Loud rattle especially once its warmed up. Tried every type of fluid in the trans. Overfilled and otherwise. My timing is set at or near 9, can't remember now. I have read that the timing and/or the way the injectors are performing can effect noise. I have new BB codes and a baby moose pump. No issues there. I will try playing with timing some more, I have a bit but didn't make much difference.

Next ZF swap will bet getting a DMF....in fact I may even do a DMF swap back into the truck that I am referring to if the clutch wears out