True Clutch Chatter (not NGR)... How many have it?

[Ron]

Have experienced mild clutch chatter, meaning at mid engagement from a dead stop, clutch skips and car hops a bit till fully engaged rather than smoothly slipping towards full engagement.

I've had this problem over the past 4,000 miles or so and experience it 90% of the time. Oddly, 10% of the time, engagement is smooth as silk. No relation to heat, useage, humidity, etc., and car is babied, i.e. no burnouts.

Started with installation of an aluminum flywheel, though it was installed with what in my opinion an oiled clutch disc. Replaced disc, pressure plate and returned to stock flywheel, no improvement. Replaced OEM flywheel with new OEM, no improvement.

Since I find it quite annoying, I have 2 questions:

How many experience similar symptoms?

Any ideas on it's cause?

Thanks

 

[Frank 03SRT]

I had it. Thought it was a seal leak but no oil evident below clutch. Mine hopped 20% of the time, but I didn't do anything about it, except sell the car.

 

[viper spray]

My kevlar clutch did that untill I abused it a bit and I guess I broke it in. ?

 

[Ron]

Also the recommendation from the Wizard! Will bed it is a bit an see if that helps.

Thanks

 

[Dixter]

It sounds more like the throw out bearing to me. Did they replace it
during all of this activity??

 

[2BADD 4U]

Ron, I have an 02 GTS FE...I only have 1100 miles on her (and adhered to proper breakin) Car was babied....But I also noticed that when I back out of the garage, I get that chatter...... shake ...etc. When I back out of my garage, I do not use any gas...I just let the clutch out and cut the wheel and carefully back out. I also noticed that when I pull in, it chatters too...this in my opinion happens only when my Viper is cold...I have not experienced this chatter after the Snake has warmed up and I am out crusing the streets..I also noticed that if I give it some gas in the garage( when cold) it engages smoothly... and NO chatter!!!

Dave

 

[Vipermed 97.01]

 

[Mike 99ACR]

I have the same problem now. I always thought it was headers or exhaust touching frame somewhere until I really heated clutch up doing a burnout at track. To this day it is worse now. It has and is only bad in first gear from a dead stop. Anoying but I'm going to wait until I attend a few more events before I replace everthing. By the way mine does seem to get worse the hotter it gets.

 

[2BADD 4U]

Hmm, can it be a bad motor mount?

Dave

 

[Ron]

Dixter - Same throwout bearing. Was told it was fine and it feels smooth while in use, but a good point. Will investigate.

Dave - Mine seems to be worse when engaging rapidly, though it does chatter a bit even when driving as you mention. Will also check mount.

Mike - Agree, is worse with heat but still get some cold.

Nice to know I'm not the only one....

Thanks

 

[Russ M]

Yes my 6 puck solid hub use to do it all the time.

 

[BigCarrot]

My 01 did it, and I drove my friend's 01 the other day and it did it. My 99 never does!

 

[Jim Hodel]

At about 12,000 miles my 99 clutch started to feel soft and a little chattery. The dealer replaced it with a kevlar clutch and I also put in an aluminum flywheel (the labor was covered under warranty).

The new clutch is quite a bit better although it still has a minor chatter every once in a while. The only real 'problem' with the new clutch is the 2 points that I have to add for Viper Days because it is non stock.

Jim

 

[Steve-Indy]

...and now Ron...is it "chatter" or "judder" that you are feeling?

 

[Ron]

Steve,

Clearly both. How about you?

 

[2BADD 4U]

Ron, I took my son for a ride tonight and noticed it more. 1189 miles on the odom. It seems to really do it when backing out or carefully pulling in the garage. I tend to let the clutch out very slow during these times. I feel that when I give it more gas( on the street) and let the clutch out faster or normally. It does not chatter at all.

Ron, I am going in next week for an oil and filter change, I will talk with the Service Mgr, about this problem. I will let you know whats up .

Dave

 

[Ron]

Dave;

It seems to defy logic in that it happens 80% of the time and with no apparent logic, i.e., hot, cold, soft release, hard release, forward, reverse. All the time I could understand. Always hot, etc., but randomly I don't get. Worse, it seems never to happen when I'm at the dealer!

Surprising that after almost 100 years of clutch design & usage, that it's so hard to diagnose...

Thanks for you comments. If you ever find the cause, please let me know.

Ron

 

[Steve-Indy]

Ron, I took the 97 GTS out today...and I really don't feel anything at all...but maybe I am "insensitive" !!

 

[Ron]

Steve,

We'll trade for a day and you can experience the judder first hand....