Tell me that my clutch will be ok..........

[Nsxotic]

I was letting a friend drive my car and all was well. Then, he somehow decided to ride the clutch all the way to 8,000 rpm. It smelled terrible and there may even have been some smoke. We drove for a bit afterwards..... (1 mile or so) and all seemed fine by his acclaim. I haven't driven it since. Is this something that could totally fry a clutch? It only has 5k miles now. Should I drive it to keep it working smooth while it's still warm rather than let it sit or is this no real big deal? I know it's hard to tell from just explaining but thanks for the help. Just tell me it'll be ok.

 

[ACR_Motorsports]

Unless he did this for a long time and/or your clutch was on the verge of dying, the clutch should be fine. The oem clutch disc is made of a organic material that has a very distinctive burning smell when doing something like your friend did. Just don't let your friend drive again until he can drive the clutch properly.

Originally posted by Nsxotic:
I was letting a friend drive my car and all was well. Then, he somehow decided to ride the clutch all the way to 8,000 rpm. It smelled terrible and there may even have been some smoke. We drove for a bit afterwards..... (1 mile or so) and all seemed fine by his acclaim. I haven't driven it since. Is this something that could totally fry a clutch? It only has 5k miles now. Should I drive it to keep it working smooth while it's still warm rather than let it sit or is this no real big deal? I know it's hard to tell from just explaining but thanks for the help. Just tell me it'll be ok.

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www.acrmotorsports.com

[This message has been edited by ACR_Motorsports (edited 18 August 2002).]

 

[Nsxotic]

Thanks, that makes me feel better. But, boy did that thing stink! In fact, it still does.

 

[ACR_Motorsports]

Hehe, just think of it as a built-in indicator for people who don't know how to drive a manual correctly.

Originally posted by Nsxotic:
Thanks, that makes me feel better. But, boy did that thing stink! In fact, it still does.

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www.acrmotorsports.com

 

[Nsxotic]

Uh oh. I just drove the car home and noticed that during 1st and 2nd shifts, there is suddenly shudder that wasn't there before. It definitely feels rougher. Will this go away after proper use for a while or is it permanent? Will it smooth itself out? This sucks.

 

[ACR_Motorsports]

It may be that some material has been worn off all the sudden and that you need to readjust to the new enagement point.

Originally posted by Nsxotic:
Uh oh. I just drove the car home and noticed that during 1st and 2nd shifts, there is suddenly shudder that wasn't there before. It definitely feels rougher. Will this go away after proper use for a while or is it permanent? Will it smooth itself out? This sucks.

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www.acrmotorsports.com / 949-929-8973

 

[SilverOne]

Sorry, don't mean to hijack your thread, can someone describe what 'riding the clutch' means?

is that when you drive with the clutch depressed somewhat so while the car is moving, but clutch is 1/2 engaged?

If my definition is correct, I don't think you can avoid it on low speed, ie backing out of garage, starting off red lights...etc, is that bad also?


[This message has been edited by SilverOne (edited 19 August 2002).]

 

[Larry Bastanza]

SilverOne,

Your definition is correct. But, it is not possible to engage any clitch without some, ever so small, slipage. This is not called "riding the clutch", just engaging it from a stop! If you do as described above you are "riding the clutch".

Nsxotic,

Probably your "shudder" is from an extra dose of clutch dust, that is now hanging up the clutch disks on the mainshaft. It very well may work itself out.

Alex,

"Adjustment"?? Please fill me in on that one. I know you can adjust the free play, and pedal position, but I am having trouble seeing how these adjustments will effect this issue. Very curious minds want to know

HTH,
LarryB

 

[ACR_Motorsports]

Well normally, as a clutch disc wears, the discs get thinner. The NSX clutch is a pull type clutch, so when you step on the clutch pedal, it is pulling on the throwout bearing and diaphram. Through normal usage, as the discs wear out, the engagement point of the pedal goes slightly higher as the space between the pressure plate and the surface of the discs increases. My theory is that since NSXExotic's friend burned some of disc material in such a short time, he could not adjust to the slightly higher engagement, therefore getting a shudder.

Originally posted by Larry Bastanza:



Alex,

"Adjustment"?? Please fill me in on that one. I know you can adjust the free play, and pedal position, but I am having trouble seeing how these adjustments will effect this issue. Very curious minds want to know

HTH,
LarryB

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www.acrmotorsports.com / 949-929-8973

[This message has been edited by ACR_Motorsports (edited 19 August 2002).]

[This message has been edited by ACR_Motorsports (edited 19 August 2002).]

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Thanks, Alex

LarryB

 

[sjs]

I am less optimistic about the condition of your clutch. First of all, when someone does as your friend did, the damage, whatever it is, is irreversible. Best case is he put several k worth of miles on it in seconds and you will just get less total life out of it. However, the severity and longevity of the smell says that besides wearing off some of the disk it got very hot, which can hot-spot both the disks and the clamping surfaces just like with brakes. It can also leave deposits on the plate surfaces or even warp the disk. (don't see that much). I mention this not to scare you, but because the new shudder is indicative of such damage. At this point, there is nothing you can do but live with it or tear it down. No real harm in driving it that way indefinitely until it starts to shudder real hard or fails, but it's real annoying and is not likely to get better by itself.

Sorry to say, your buddy is a doorknob.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Steve,

You make a good point. I was not thinking about the thing getting really hot and warping from the slippage. YOur diagnosis is worse then mine, but unforunately probably correct.

Good Luck NSxotic,

LarryB

 

[Nsxotic]

Yikes