Time for a clutch- need reccomendations

[reklund]

Well, it seems my clutch is slipping. If I open the throttle fully in 4th gear, there is noticable slippage and it's worse when rowing through the gears. My truck is modded, and will likely get more goodies in the future, since we've ruled out the possibility of a new truck for the forseeable future.

I'm running about 9-10psi max right now, but have room for more before the EGT's get too high. Currently, I'm out of fuel, as the DPS pump can't keep up. I'm planning on some Moose fuel products and some MLS headgaskets and ARP studs nest summer. For now, though, the truck has to be a daily driver and tow rig, and for that I'll need a new clutch.

I'm unsure how I feel about the DMF setup. The factory one provides nice and quiet operation, and has been flawless for the 112k miles it has on it. Clamping force is probably fine for my power level, as I think my slippage is caused by a worn friction disc rather than too much HP/Torque. I'm not very excited about the cost of a new DMF, however. Can I re-use my DMF since it seems OK, and replace the disc and pressure plate? Is that a recipe for disaster? I know the DMF is a wear part, and should be replaced, so I'm leaning towards replacement.

I've heard that SMF conversions are much cheaper, easier to service, and provide years of reliable service, but that gear rollover noise is higher, and the transmission takes a beating from the torque pulses of the engine. What kind of clutch was the ZF5 designed to be used with? Can I put some sound deadening material under the carpet to cut down on the noise? Will as SMF reduce rotating weight enough to provide a difference in RPM Drop between shifts? I know a lighter flywheel in my Supra made a world of difference in how I had to drive the car to get the power to the ground. I don't want my truck to be a nightmare to shift- the idea is for me to be able to toss the keys to my Dad and not worry about him having issues.

I've looked at Southbend clutches, but nowhere else. Please provide me with some reccomendations. My trucks specs are in my sig.

Ryan

 

[97idi]

i put a southbend in my truck when i did the zf conversion, and its a smf i love it my old clutch couldnt hold at all anymore and this one will grab and stay grabbed when i relese it also it feels just like the stocker(pedal pressure) and it is louder but only cetain times and iam shure sound dedoning material will help, and its still verry streetable not really any different shifting than the stock clutch and the SB is way more beefy

 

[zpd307]

i put sound deadening material on the flor, two layers, and one layer on the tunnel when i did my conversion. it is pretty loud now. i would hate to hear it without any sound deadener on it.... the tranny guy is going to drive my truck when he gets back from vacation. i told him it was really loud even in the upper rpms and thought it might need to be rebuilt. that might be my problem. all i know is that when the clutch is pushed in, it is soooooo much more quiet! also, i am getting a lot truck shaking when i release the clutch in 1st or reverse, from a stand still. it is bad enough that i am embarrassed to think that someone would think that i dont know how to drive a stick. at the very least, i will be getting an actual smf kit. he carries several brands and i havent figured out which i will go with. we will have to see how the kevlar pilot bearing held up in the short time it was driven....

 

[Hybrid455]

Well, it seems my clutch is slipping. If I open the throttle fully in 4th gear, there is noticable slippage
I've looked at Southbend clutches, but nowhere else. Please provide me with some reccomendations. My trucks specs are in my sig.
Ryan

Definitley more roll over noise. A lot more in mine. I think I've seen your truck and if it's the one I am thinking of it is very clean. I don't know if you would like pulling up to a light, throwing it into neutral letting out the clutch and listening to what I hear. I have added insulation when I had the carpet up. The noise isn't noticeable in gear,and it's not bad cruising. It's in neutral with the clutch out. It doesn't bother me, my truck is a beast with a staight pipe. Yours however is well... unmolested. If it was mine I might keep it that way. On the other hand I got my fifth wheel in a tough spot once and the clutch got a real work out. There just wasn't any way around it. Long story short the DMF took a dump and screwed up the brand new clutch I had in it. By the way this all took place when the drivetrain was in the 2wd donor truck I used to build this one. If I would have had the 4X4 then I could have just dropped in 4 wheel low and probably saved the clutch. So there you go a definite

 

[RLDSL]

I have a solid flywheel it's setup for a 12 1/4" clutch and I got a 12 1/4" rebuilt kevlar clutch from Ft Wayne clutch real reasonable and with that size clutch setup you end up getting more center dampening springs than you have with the DMF so the rollover noise really isn't an issue. I can see how with an 11"disc you could get some noise as there is usually only 4 or5 springs in the center hub of those

 

[Smokey73]

I went with Ft. Wayne's SMF setup. Cost was about $700, came with the new flywheel, kevlar pilot bushing all the hardware and a 13" sprung disc. Rollover noise was bad at first, but I ended up swapping to some 30w non-detergent engine oil in the trans, and that made a world of difference, so much that you can't even notice it any more except at about 1500 rpm's cruising. I've got some 30w synthetic oil that I plan to put in it as soon as I get a new shifter boot. From what I here that is the best solution.

 

[RLDSL]

. I've got some 30w synthetic oil that I plan to put in it as soon as I get a new shifter boot. From what I here that is the best solution.

That should do the trick, I forget, I run synthetic 30wt ATF in mine. It really makes that ZF shift better, I don't know about a difference in noise because I had it in there before I did the flywheel swap

 

[lotzagoodstuff]

I have the Fort Wayne kevlar clutch and I was really impressed with the easy pedal pressure and holding force, even with a couple thousand pounds in the bed. Very inexpensive, easy peddle pressure, great holding force. I wish I would have done it sooner as it eliminated all the chatter and grabbing that my original clurch provided.

I have a SMF and all I can say is you need to drive a truck that has the SMF conversion before you make a purchase as the rollover noise is pretty hard to describe. I turned up my idle per Mel's recommendation and it's better, but it's still very noticeable. I can live with it but I am also under the false impression that my racecar isn't that loud.

 

[reklund]

Clint- I'd really like the chance to check out your truck and the rollover noise if you have the time. Sounds like we're getting more and more of the local IDI guys on the list here- perhaps we should all get together soon.

Anyone have any insight on what the ZF5 was designed to be put behind? SMF or DMF?

Ryan

 

[franklin2]

I just finished my zf swap with a bolted together DMF, and here is what I have learned so far;

You are going to have to do something with the DMF. I am willing to bet that IS what is slipping. I believe they are only rated for 425ftlb(or something like that) and if you are pushing more power, and it's wore out anyway, it's probably slipping. You probably can get under the truck and take the flywheel cover off, and wiggle the pressure plate back and forth and see how much play is in the DMF. I think I read here over 5/8" is too much.

About the noise; I don't know if I should comment on this yet, since I only have run the truck on one road test trip, but if the noise I hear is what everyone is complaining about, I don't get it. When the tranny was cold, I didn't get any noise, and when it was warmed up after the road test, I get a slight noise like you would get with a loose catalytic convertor shield. Certainly nothing I am going to worry about, and mine as far as I know still has the ATF in it(I haven't checked it yet).

The noise may get worse the more I drive it, I don't know, but right now I am wondering what everyone is complaining about. It may be a function of how smooth the engine is running, and I have to admit, my engine right now is running a lot smoother than it used to since I have been running the new fuel southern states sells.

 

[Hybrid455]

Rollover noise was bad at first, but I ended up swapping to some 30w non-detergent engine oil in the trans

That should do the trick, I forget, I run synthetic 30wt ATF in mine. It really makes that ZF shift better, I don't know about a difference in noise because I had it in there before I did the flywheel swap

I have heard this before but I am still running Mercon. Here in the New Mexico Mountains it gets really cold in the winter. The trans is tight in the morning as it is. I was afraid that the added viscosity might make it impossible to shift. How is it where you guys are?

 

[Hybrid455]

Clint- I'd really like the chance to check out your truck and the rollover noise if you have the time. Sounds like we're getting more and more of the local IDI guys on the list here- perhaps we should all get together soon.

Anyone have any insight on what the ZF5 was designed to be put behind? SMF or DMF?

Ryan

We can do that. I had knee surgery and am off work for awhile. Where are you? What might work?

 

[reklund]

I'm in ABQ- Tramway and I-40 area. Tried to PM, but you're not setup. eMail me directly at [email protected] if you have a chance and we'll see what we can work out. I appreciate your time- I want to know what I'm in for before I lay out $800

Ryan

 

[RLDSL]

I have heard this before but I am still running Mercon. Here in the New Mexico Mountains it gets really cold in the winter. The trans is tight in the morning as it is. I was afraid that the added viscosity might make it impossible to shift. How is it where you guys are?

Actually, I switched to the synthetic 30wt atf in mid winter ( it was right around low 20s overnight) and I noticed the difference immidiatly in that I wasn't grinding gears the first five miles every cold morning anymore Even though it's a heavier wt, it's a synthetic so it flows better when cold, it doesn't get all thick and gooey like the dino oil that was in the thing before, so no worries

 

[97idi]

I'm in ABQ- Tramway and I-40 area. Tried to PM, but you're not setup. eMail me directly at [email protected] if you have a chance and we'll see what we can work out. I appreciate your time-

I want to know what I'm in for before I lay out $800

Ryan

my complete SB clutch with smf and kevlar pilot bushing was $702 shipped