Urgent How the HECK did this happen??

94blackterror · 03-07-2010, 10:58 PM

I would take a picture but my camera is broken right now.........last fall my clutch went out in my car, so i put it away for the winter. Anyway, today i took the trans and clutch out............now for the fun part.

The middle of the clutch disk, the part that slides on the shaft, seperated from the rest of the disk. So the entire 6 inch center broke away from the actual friction part of the disk. Putting it another way, i have a big donut shaped piece with a big hole in it, and a pancake looking piece with the springs on it.

My question is what can cause this??? I dont want to just replace the clutch and have this happen a month down the road again. The PO of my car told me it was a new clutch with only 3k on it, but going off how hard everything came apart and how dirty everything was, im thinking more like 35k.

Spartan7 · 03-08-2010, 12:57 AM

I've seen it before. Usually aggressive driving with a clutch that wasn't made to handle the power. And the previous owner probably lied to you about how long it was in there.

94blackterror · 03-08-2010, 06:36 AM

thats what i was thinking myself but i didnt want to chance it. I dont want to do this job again for a while, lol.

TheKon · 03-08-2010, 09:54 AM

Holy crap! Thats the same thing that happened to me! I bought my car...drove it a good 10 miles and then poof clutch was gone. We got it to the garage and thats exactly what we pulled out. That can be caused by excessive hard launching. He must of had his fun with the car before he gave it to you....or he was REALLY REALLY REALLY bad at driving stick. Haha

94blackterror · 03-08-2010, 12:14 PM

well, i just ordered a new clutch kit, rear main seal, u'joints, and slave cylinder today. Parts should be in the store tomorow so looking at putting my car back together on wednesday. Am I forgetting anything while i already have it apart that i could replace to be on the safe side?

94blackterror · 03-09-2010, 06:46 PM

Got all my parts today and got started putting everything back together. Today after work i was able to get the new flywheel on, along with a new rear main seal and pilot bushing. Then got the new clutch and pressure plate bolted up and aligned and torqued down. So tomorow is gonna be work, then come home and bolt the bell housing and trans back up, along with everything else.........then the wheels go back on.......then the fun starts. Finally going to have the car back on the road!! (been up since October last year)

Wooshie · 03-12-2010, 01:15 AM

My stock clutch did the same thing also. I would guess that it was from someone who thought they know how to drive stick. My wifes car has 150K (we are the second owners 96 neon) and it still has the original clutch. I will be replacing it soon since it is starting to slip. A clutch won't last long with a bad driver.

94blackterror · 03-15-2010, 12:10 PM

well i got everything put back together on it a couple days ago and been drivin it around breaking it in. When i replaced the pilot bushing i noticed that the one that was in there was half the size of the one that went in there. Doesnt look like they replaced it when the put the "new clutch kit" in it "3000 miles ago". Oh well, now that ive got it taken care of i know it was done right.