Strange clutch/tranny issues...

Well, I just installed a new clutch and swapped the diff. out. last month and everything has been fine untill the past week. Shifter is notchy and at sometimes hard to put into gear (3rd has grinded a bit a few times) and also seems like it engine brakes a lot harder and shifting is very twitchy now! It has been fine for the past 2 months since I installed the clutch and got the pedal adjustment where I thought was just right. Not sure what could make this change all of a sudden and haven't had much time to diagnose it. I did bleed the clutch line the other night and seemed like a lot of air and seemed like I couldn't quite get all the bubble out of the line so maybe a clutch master cylinder for that. Even if it needs the master cylinder, that doesn't seem to explain the other issues.

Any thoughts???

I'm usually a pretty good mechanic but seems I'm a little rusty the last few times I've had an issue on my car!

Did anything about the clutch engagement change?

Well, I think I know what the problems is now just need to find time to take it by Gary's and see what he thinks. I have a defective SPEC clutch and/or pressure plate. It has never felt right from the initial install a couple months ago and since the clutch engagement and feel has changed. I even doubted my abililty to adjust the pedal calling Gary to make sure it wasn't missing something. Also the clutch is glazed and now squeals when attempting to take off at a normal pace. The car is annoying me to the point that I don't enjoy driving it!

Curious if anyone else has had issues with SPEC clutches??? BTW my friend's new SPEC clutch that was just installed is chattering and very twitchy/jerky. Maybe a bad batch? Damn this sucks, assuming SPEC will handle this I don't have time to install another clutch!

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Originally Posted by icepenguin66

Well, I think I know what the problems is now just need to find time to take it by Gary's and see what he thinks. I have a defective SPEC clutch and/or pressure plate. It has never felt right from the initial install a couple months ago and since the clutch engagement and feel has changed. I even doubted my abililty to adjust the pedal calling Gary to make sure it wasn't missing something. Also the clutch is glazed and now squeals when attempting to take off at a normal pace. The car is annoying me to the point that I don't enjoy driving it!

Curious if anyone else has had issues with SPEC clutches??? BTW my friend's new SPEC clutch that was just installed is chattering and very twitchy/jerky. Maybe a bad batch? Damn this sucks, assuming SPEC will handle this I don't have time to install another clutch!

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Yeah, you'll definitely want to let Gary know that there is an issue and find out if SPEC will warranty it. I've met the main 3 guys at spec and they're real cool guys. Hopefully there is a reasonable solution for you.

SPEC will warranty it. They are good about that at least.

I had a bad pressure plate from them years ago that was promptly replaced... with another bad pressure plate. Decided to never give them another try.

I vote for broken fingers on the pressure plate.

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Originally Posted by mr brg

I vote for broken fingers on the pressure plate.

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Really? I doubt Gary installed clutch with broken fingers. Diaphragm issues have plagued companies like spec, clutch net, etc... Maybe you see drooping fingers from bad diaphragm and call it "broken fingers"?

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Originally Posted by slowchildmiata

Really? I doubt Gary installed clutch with broken fingers. Diaphragm issues have plagued companies like spec, clutch net, etc... Maybe you see drooping fingers from bad diaphragm and call it "broken fingers"?

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I doubt they were broken when he installed them.

I doubt he installed the clutch at all. I believe icepenguin66 installed his own clutch.

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Originally Posted by black roadster

I doubt he installed the clutch at all. I believe icepenguin66 installed his own clutch.

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Yes, I installed it myself and know that installation was not a problem in case anyone was wondering! I inspected the hell out of it too before installing it and compared it ot the ACT I took out. The pressure plate looked perfect at time of install at least. Broken fingers seems to be a very good possibility from the issues that I'm having and they seems to have become worse just in the last week. I'll see if Gary maybe has time this weekend and I can stop by the old dog house or at the shop if he's working there so I can get a second opinion and see what we can do to get my car driving like a Miata again and not a busted ass truck!

Well, good to know SPEC is good with warranty I guess.

Gary will be at the shop on Saturday.

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Originally Posted by black roadster

Gary will be at the shop on Saturday.

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Great you guys can see if my front lip is what you need while we are at it! What times will he be there? I can come early or late...daughter's 2nd birthday party is tomorrow from 2-4! Or I suppose I could just call him.

Call him. I won't be there. We might need to reschedule a time for the GV Lip deal. It's on the agenda, just not immediately. I will let you know when were ready.

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Originally Posted by black roadster

Call him. I won't be there. We might need to reschedule a time for the GV Lip deal. It's on the agenda, just not immediately. I will let you know when were ready.

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Okay will do, I will give him a call in a few and talk it over with Gary.