ALL you crazy mo-fos!!!! IS ANYONE RUNNING SPEC FW - and SOUTHBEND STAGE 4...

[VTECCURED]

....

I will be removing my trans again.. to see what happen with the install. I dont think i did it incorrectly, but i need to take a look, at least make sure.

i just would like to know if anyone has installed a SPEC steel lightweight flywheel (16lbs)
and a Stage 4 Southbend clutch/pressure plate?
Any problems with the install or after the install?


****Problems im having (as described in another thread)
engine running...
i depress the clutch pedal to the floor, and i hear a faint grinding noise and goes away instantly ... and im not able to put into gear.

If i bring the pedal half an inch above the floor, it will go into gear as normal and im able to drive away...
while in gear... if i bring the pedal to the floor, it will give me the same grinding noise constantly... and im not able to take it out of gear.


thanks,
JOHN

[Don Supreme]

Best I can do:

I am currently running

A spec 9 lb aluminium flywheel and SOLID Southbend Stage 4 clutch disk + pressure plate...... I am not having any of your issues.

[317ssayzarc]

I have a Spec/Fidanza fw and SB stage 4 clutch... Its a bit harsh but it aint broken in yet

edit: dunno what weight but its aluminum with a steel friction surface

[B5A4Kevin]

don how long have you had your lwfw setup and is it a pita in heavy traffic? </threadjack>

sounds kinda funky. did you replace the T/O bearing during install? did you get sprung or unsprung (solid) hub? when you get it out check for grinding marks in the bell housing and also the metal mating gasket for the engine->bellhousing. Good luck.

[djwimbo]

don how long have you had your lwfw setup and is it a pita in heavy traffic? </threadjack>

I've had my 16lb SPEC F/W since 159K, I'm @ 177K now, and I still love it.
I'm running a full SPEC setup though(LWFW and Stage 2+ pressure plate and disc). No issues thus far, other than my own installation error right off the bat.

[bassed]

I have the AWE 12lb with the SB DXD STG5 and love it. I daily drove it for 7k no problems in a 30 mile commute that took 1.5hrs. You get used to it rather quickly and won't notice after a week.

[Euro-Tuner]

your pressure plate teeth are hitting your clutch disk when you "flex" them all the way, so when you depress the pedal to the floor you catching your flywheel a little bit, you'll also find it hard to start your car if your in gear b/c the started is in trun trying to turn your wheels a little bit due to the slight connection being made in your drive train thru the pressure plate teeth....follow me?

[djwimbo]

I have the AWE 12lb with the SPEC DXD STG5 and love it.

...? DXD is Southbend? Bright red pressure plate? I thought I remember the pics of the install.

[bassed]

...? DXD is Southbend? Bright red pressure plate? I thought I remember the pics of the install.

It's Southbend I was all confuseded by the LWFW chit chat.

[Don Supreme]

don how long have you had your lwfw setup and is it a pita in heavy traffic? </threadjack>

Yes its a PITA.

The first time I tried to drive it up a steep driveway, I stalled 3 times ahhahaha..

However, I am still pleased to have it in my car. It really compliments my setup and the engine is always ready to respond.

[rocky.ca]

anybody have the rattling problems that ive heard about?

[t1demont1]

clutch chatter? who cares about that lol. 9lb fidanza and unsprung sb stg5 here

[mike-2ptzero]

I have a Spec/Fidanza fw and SB stage 4 clutch... Its a bit harsh but it aint broken in yet

edit: dunno what weight but its aluminum with a steel friction surface

That is a 9 lbs flywheel if it is a Spec Billet Aluminum flywheel. Wrong choice for drag racing, write choice for road racing.

[VTECCURED]

your pressure plate teeth are hitting your clutch disk when you "flex" them all the way, so when you depress the pedal to the floor you catching your flywheel a little bit, you'll also find it hard to start your car if your in gear b/c the started is in trun trying to turn your wheels a little bit due to the slight connection being made in your drive train thru the pressure plate teeth....follow me?

i follow you..

except.. one thing... when i flex the pedal to the floor... and those pressure plate fingers are stretched... its probably hitting the hub(clutch).. not the flywheel. ...

if this is the case.. which i spoke with another audizine member.. (he has exact same issue, no resolution , except for changing his setup again) how can this be resolved.
The only way i see this being resolved is either keep my spacer at the bottom of the floor. this will prevent the slave to over expand! Or changing my flywheel!

there has to be something at fault here! problem is trying to determine it!
my money is on the flywheel... i dont think it was cut correctly and its out of specifications.. making the pressure plate/clutch/flywheel sit forward away from the engine , in turn making the slave over extend ...

DAMN this sucks

[VTECCURED]

I have a Spec/Fidanza fw and SB stage 4 clutch... Its a bit harsh but it aint broken in yet

edit: dunno what weight but its aluminum with a steel friction surface

spec/fidanza...

is there a difference between that flywheel and a regular spec steel 16lbs?

[Siena]

I'd put my money on the flywheel too...

[317ssayzarc]

spec/fidanza...

is there a difference between that flywheel and a regular spec steel 16lbs?

Spec is a re labeled Fidanza... Mine is aluminum with a replaceable friction plate, which Ive replaced and its easy, not steel like the 16 pounder... I get zero chatter btw... Aasco is the same thing if you want a cheaper alternative

[Don Supreme]

Spec is a re labeled Fidanza... Mine is aluminum with a replaceable friction plate, which Ive replaced and its easy, not steel like the 16 pounder... I get zero chatter btw... Aasco is the same thing if you want a cheaper alternative

I don't really notice any chatter, but my car is loud...

[317ssayzarc]

I don't really notice any chatter, but my car is loud...

My car was pretty quiet with the neuspeed.. open downpipe now haha

[mike-2ptzero]

Spec is a re labeled Fidanza... Mine is aluminum with a replaceable friction plate, which Ive replaced and its easy, not steel like the 16 pounder... I get zero chatter btw... Aasco is the same thing if you want a cheaper alternative

They are all pretty much relabeled Aasco flywheels cut to the buyers design specs.

[VTECCURED]

so the bottom line is , looks like all these flywheels , are all the same !!!!

so there really shouldnt be any problems of mix and matching parts...
it might be that i have a "bad" flywheel!

i just finished donig a few things to the car, and i took it for a spin... it seems that the clutch is breaking in, as the pedal doesnt seem as stiff as before and it has lost that on/off feeling.



i wonder if i can leave it like this... and not cause a major problem...


john

[Poopie]

are you running a solid or sprung hub?

[VTECCURED]

Sprung

[djwimbo]

Spec is a re labeled Fidanza... Mine is aluminum with a replaceable friction plate, which Ive replaced and its easy, not steel like the 16 pounder... I get zero chatter btw... Aasco is the same thing if you want a cheaper alternative

I called them out on that one before I bought mine. The steel F/W's are made in house at SPEC. I'm not sure about the aluminum F/W's though. I remember them saying "we've been making all of the flywheels we well in house for >1yr now".

... food for thought

[Poopie]

Sprung

did your flywheel come with the correct recess in the flywheel to accept the springs and make room for the bolts?

[mike-2ptzero]

did your flywheel come with the correct recess in the flywheel to accept the springs and make room for the bolts?

All of them are made that way now.

[djwimbo]

All of them are made that way now.

you'd be surprised. I talked to another member than managed to put his disc in backwards. He didn't think it fit that well the proper way.

[DND]

I'm running the 16lbs Spec flywheel and stage 4 OFE Southbend clutch.
I don't believe I have any chatter (although I've got shudder I think from sloppy drive train mounts if I let it out wrong, which I usually do ). I've got similar issues getting in and out of gear but that may be related to changing the transmission oil at the same time as the new clutch went in (oops).
No grinding noise though.
I'll have to double check and see how things behave if I let the pedal up a little...

P.S. Daily driving is fine once you get used to it and it breaks in, the first week or so can be awkward though.

[Wizard-of-OD]

John if you hold out for a little longer,
I am organising a South Bend GB for all the members of AZ.On principle I wont be selling anymore Spec clutches (the guys @ 034 will but I wont) as I surpassed there "hp limit".
haha

[VTECCURED]

when i was doing the install... i tried to place the clutch with the hub towards the flywheel and it didnt fit!
then at that point i assumed that the hub goes to the outside facing the pressure plate.

Well, after a few days of researching, (as you can tell, first time clutch replacement for me- im not a pro) i believe the hub part of the clutch goes to the flywheel. THe hub shoud sit inside the recessed part of the flywheel.

i havent had a chance to remove the trans yet... but doing so... i will see the clutch in the wrong direction... but the flywheel or flywheel bolts is preventing me from placing the clutch in the right direction!!!

ill see exactly whats holding me back...
if indeed i need another flywheel... i think i would go with a lighter aluminum one!

Thanks...

JOHN

thanks for all your help guys, i appreciate helping me figure this thing out...
but apparently it was my fault for putting this thing on backwards. And not having the correct flywheel.

[mike-2ptzero]

you'd be surprised. I talked to another member than managed to put his disc in backwards. He didn't think it fit that well the proper way.

But what exactly does that have to do with the flywheel? Would that pretty much say he shouldn't be doing the install.

He also might have had an old Fidanza flywheel which was cut like a stock flywheel putting the bolts up at the same level as the surface area. Those flywheels can only be used with a unsprung hub so it wont catch on the bolts.

John if you hold out for a little longer,
I am organising a South Bend GB for all the members of AZ.On principle I wont be selling anymore Spec clutches (the guys @ 034 will but I wont) as I surpassed there "hp limit".
haha

Why would John need to hold out if he already has a clutch that he just bought?

[VTECCURED]

But what exactly does that have to do with the flywheel? Would that pretty much say he shouldn't be doing the install.

He is just saying that other member did the mistake i did! Where you physically cant place the clutch flat on the flywheel because the hub doesnt sit in the recessed part of the FW. So he and i assumed that the hub part of hte clutch should be facing the pressure plate which is incorrect.



JOHN

[mike-2ptzero]

He is just saying that other member did the mistake i did! Where you physically cant place the clutch flat on the flywheel because the hub doesnt sit in the recessed part of the FW. So he and i assumed that the hub part of hte clutch should be facing the pressure plate which is incorrect.



JOHN

Did you end up finding out that you put it in backwards?

[VTECCURED]

Did you end up finding out that you put it in backwards?

i havent confirm... ill be pulling the trans out this weekend..
but i do remember having the issue with the clutch not sitting correctly...

it was a stupid mistake that i should have searched for an answer, instead of just assuming!

That half an inch where the hub protrudes is why my pedal now has to sit a half an inch from the floor!

with the clutch the other way.. everything should go back to normal...

john

[GetBoosted84]

SB Stage 5 and a Spec LWFW here. Works great. Launches hard as hell!

Really impressed. No issues here.

[Poopie]

i havent confirm... ill be pulling the trans out this weekend..
but i do remember having the issue with the clutch not sitting correctly...

it was a stupid mistake that i should have searched for an answer, instead of just assuming!

That half an inch where the hub protrudes is why my pedal now has to sit a half an inch from the floor!

with the clutch the other way.. everything should go back to normal...

john

Did you say you tried to face the hub in the other direction? It sounds like your flywheel does not have the correct recess for the springs to me. Where did you order the set up from?

[Poopie]

I reread you post on the first page, and the correct way to install the disk is to have the hub and spring assembly face towards the pressure plate. The recess in the flywheel is just to accomadate the flywheel bolts.

Either way, we'll find out what you did when you remove the transmission.

[VTECCURED]

I reread you post on the first page, and the correct way to install the disk is to have the hub and spring assembly face towards the pressure plate. The recess in the flywheel is just to accomadate the flywheel bolts.

Either way, we'll find out what you did when you remove the transmission.

im confused...

u are saying to have the hub springs facing the pressure plate...

thats where i get all confused!!! some people say to have the hub face the flywheel and other say to face it to the pressure plate.


i think the hub should be facing the flywheel ,
why do you say differently?

i purchased southbend stage 4 and flywheel from boostfactory...

are there any writeups on replacing clutches? or official directions?

i emailed SPEC>. and they said that the flywheel should be recessed enough to take any clutch hubs.

WOW...
i never thought a clutch replacement could be so complicated! lol

john

[Poopie]

i'll take pics now. hang on a sec. i'll update after the phillies game

[Poopie]

sorry for the iphone pics. This is the clutch from my sedan waiting for the next build.

here is my spec/awe 9lb flywheel. I think awe claims its 11lbs but the shipping weight was exactly 9.... sooo i dunno.


Here is the clutch disk with the hub facing the flywheel. You can see the gap it creates.


Here it is correctly oriented.