Decent shifts/bad noise

[EightSparks]

Well, I finally bought the correct clutch calble, looks like a good piece, made by Pioneer. Istalled it, and it's hard to put the car into gear now, and the pedal feels much firmer. Thing is, I can keep on tightening it up (stock quadrant), and it doesn't make it any easier to put into gear. I have to put the cluch all the way to the floor to even get close to putting the car into gear.

Now, the clutch isn't slipping, but I hear chatteting coming from the trans, and today it sounded like buzzing, and now does it at all times (intermittantly). I really don't want to drive it this way. As I mentioned in another post, I've been told that these symptoms can either be the release bearing retainer shaft, or the input shaft bearing. I was wondering if anyone had the same symptoms. I would much rather it be the clutch than the trans!

[svono50]

If you are still having issues getting it into gear with the new cable with the quadrant adjusted properly, then you likely have a dragging throwout bearing. The new cable is probably stretching when the throwout bearing gets to the worn/grooved section of the bearing retainer snout (i.e.- it don't have any more strength).

When my snout became worn bad enough I stripped out my original quadrant, once replaced I started snapping my dogbone cable. Best bet would be to order up a new steel bearing retainer and throwout bearing ASAP and get it in there. Your car and your clutch leg will thank you. Just my $0.02.

[BrianO]

that chattering is probabaly the throwout bearing as mentioned, had the same thing. a firewall adjuster solved that, it took up the slack in the cable. Is the cable routed in such a way that it's binding on something?

curious...how are you able to keep tightening with the stock quadrant? I thought it only gets to a point that takes up the slack and that's it.

[EightSparks]

The cable doesn't seem like it's binding- it has a little bit of play on the trans, and decent amount of travel. I couldn't get the car into gear without pushing up on the clutch and depressing it again. It seems like it's not getting any better, and that's what I meant by "tightening" the cable. I guess you're right about the setting on the quadrant; it only makes up for so much slack.

I think the tranny's coming out this week. I'm really curious to see what that clutch looks like. I'm dreading it with just car ramps... lowered car...

[svono50]

You can reach up under the dash to manually pull the quadrant back and add some extra tension on the cable, to a point of course. The quadrant has a limited number of teeth available for adjustment.

[SVOeric]

If you are still having issues getting it into gear with the new cable with the quadrant adjusted properly, then you likely have a dragging throwout bearing. The new cable is probably stretching when the throwout bearing gets to the worn/grooved section of the bearing retainer snout (i.e.- it don't have any more strength).

there's my vote...

[EightSparks]

I noticed that the retainer is made for V6 and V8 Mustangs. Hanlon lists V6 and V8 Mustang retainers. Does SVO have similar input shaft to the V6, so that would be the correct retainer to purchase?

Well, I guess the trans is coming out. I'll keep posted. Thanks everyone.

[svono50]

Interesting, never saw a retainer listed like Hanlon has.

Looking over at D&D Performance (NOT D&D Motorsports), they have their listing for 85-93 V8 only retainer [AC3] and 94-04 V8-V6 retainer [AC34]. The AC3 retainer works on our cars just fine. The retainer from D&D comes with the seal pre-installed and all I did was transfer over the bearing ring and shims from my stock unit to the steel versions w/o any issues.

You would do best to call Hanlon to find out the model years the retainers they list cover. The one covering the 85-93's would be your choice. Good luck. That is a great picture of a worn retainer snout on Hanlon's site too!

[SVOeric]

yep, call linda @ hanlon, she'll get you the right one, she did for me.

[EightSparks]

Yea, I was looking at that picture too. Yanked a BW T5 out of my buddy's S10 this week, and his retainer shaft looked like the one in the picture also. You could shake the input shaft too. Also, one of the forks broke, so that trans is a mess; I hope that mine won't be like that.

By the way, has anyone had issues untwisting their shifter knob?

[gbeaird]

I think the first time I tried to pull the shifter, I had significant problems getting the handle off. Yes, they can be a beast.

Gene Beaird,
86 2R SVO, G Stock,
Pearland, Texas

[EightSparks]

I pulled the trans today. It turns out that the car had a Centerforce clutch in it; about halfway worn. The release bearing was starting to go out, I don't think that it has been changed out. The car already has a brand new steel release bearing shaft! The shifter had no gasket- only RTV. I don't like the design of the clutch for two reasons:

1. The friction material on the flywheel side of the clutch disk was puck-style w/ Kevlar material, but the pressure plate side looked like it was stock organic.

2. Never seen this before- the pressure plate, has little metal inserts between the teeth, which are tied together by a cable; they look like counterweights. If anyone seen a clutch like that- please give me a 411 on it. Wouldn't those make a lot of noise?

I think that I'll just put a replacement clutch in it.

[SVOJames]

Those counterweights are standard on the Centerforce. The theory is that at higher RPM they offer more clamping force.

I've run a few of them, I never noticed any extra noise.

James

[EightSparks]

So there aren't supposed to be any gaskets between the shifter and the trans? I thought that some had some kind of rubber insulator?

[Alex L]

So there aren't supposed to be any gaskets between the shifter and the trans? I thought that some had some kind of rubber insulator?

nope. there is a rubber insulator between the shift boot and the trans tunnel though.