clutch shudder fix?

[-rick-]

A local newspaper auto column mentioned this device in
response to a question about Subaru clutch shudder.

http://www.tranquil-usa.com/index.html

Would any one here care to comment on any experience with it
regarding cost and effectiveness?

Thanks,
-rick-

 

[BD]

I have to question this, simply due to the fact that my 02 WRX had
pretty bad cold shudder right out of the box; not even 5000 miles on it
and it was happening. When I got the clutch replaced, the mechanic
could still see the white labeling on the face of the plate. It had
nearly no wear on it at all.

The problem (at least in terms of the WRX) is documented in a service
note, which I have at home; the recommended solution is a heavier
flywheel.

I got the clutch replaced, and the throw bearing gave out on the new
clutch within 2 days. I was stranded and needed a tow.

Got another clutch put in, and afterwards, the car started making some
very odd noises at about 4000 rpm. The mechanic spent the next week
troubleshooting the problem, pulling the entire rear end apart (because
that's where the noise was coming from). Never occurred to him to
address what was recently changed - the clutch. He finally did so, and
the problem went away. So, for a WRX that now has 40,000 km on it, this
is my 4th clutch.

This is basically just a rant, but I also wish to suggest that in my
experience there were _definitely_ manufacturing issues with the clutch
hardware, and I expect that this piece of kit may or may not be
effective, depending on the root cause of the problem.

BD

 

[WRX UK]

This is a well-documented problem with the 02 WRX...there's been much
discussion here on the subject.
Originally described as a 'characteristic' of this year of manufacture
(I put up with it for 2 years and every time the car threatened to
shake itself to bits my wife asked how much it cost...ouch!) Subaru
finally got real and admitted the problem.
Those of us with good dealers or loud voices got the problem fixed
under warranty with a new clutch and flywheel assembly.
I saw the old one...cracked flywheel and blued through excessive
heating so the problem is the flywheel and not the clutch as I
understand it.
My new clutch is a pleasure to use.
Good luck with yours.
WRX UK

 

[BD]

Good luck with yours.

Mine's fine now - I'm just bitter that I had to go through 4 to get one
that behaved properly.

 

[BD]

every time the car threatened to shake itself to bits my wife

Out of curiosity - do you fear any long-term side effects of the
shudder? I know that when mine was in the throes of the seizures it was
very violent, and I could do nothing about it. I have to wonder if that
issue may have had side effects that have not yet made themselves
known....

 

[WRX UK]

The clock housing rattles like hell on some road surfaces and defies
all efforts to fix it...maybe something got bent...but beyond that no
problems
experienced or expected.
WRX UK

 

[BD]

The clock housing rattles

Mm. I have a couple of rattles to deal with as well; one happens when
running over moderate bumps, and the other kicks in when the motor is
idling really slowly. Totally different spots; one is somewhere under
the dash on the left and the other is somewhere under the dash on the
right. Tough to pin these things down when you're solo in the vehicle.

 

[-rick-]

Mm. I have a couple of rattles to deal with as well; one happens when
running over moderate bumps, and the other kicks in when the motor is
idling really slowly. Totally different spots; one is somewhere under
the dash on the left and the other is somewhere under the dash on the
right. Tough to pin these things down when you're solo in the vehicle.

'02 wrx wagon...

The rear seat belt position adjusting mechanisms rattle and
buzz like hell on anything but a smooth surface.

My clutch is original and rarely shuddered badly so I didn't
pursue a warranty repair, now it's too late... guess I'll
have to live with it until it's time for a new clutch.

I was hoping the quill thing might help but so far no one is
claiming any benefit. Has any one tried it?

-rick-

 

[Tom Reingold]

My clutch shudders when cold, also. My car is a 2000 Legacy L wagon.
It's not that bad. Will it get worse, and is there anything I ought to do?

Thanks.

 

[Larry Van Wormer]

My clutch shudders when cold, also. My car is a 2000 Legacy L wagon.
It's not that bad. Will it get worse, and is there anything I ought to do?

Thanks.

My Impreza sometimes shudders when cold, and seemingly when the weather
is damp. It hasn't got any worse in 100,000 miles.

My car does have a mild case, compared to what some other people have
described. On first startup on a cold, wet morning, I can get a nasty
shudder the first time I use the clutch to start moving. With a very
little bit of deliberate clutch slippage, maybe two seconds, under light
load, to heat the clutch up, the shudder goes away until the next cold,
wet start.

Sounds like other people have encountered much worse problems. So, you
will have to judge for yourself how bad your problem is.

Larry Van Wormer

 

[Edward Hayes]

That has been an issue with most of my vehicles (Volvo, Saab, and VWs
and I've always done what Larry W. does, just don't over do the
slipping part. These problems seem to have surfaced when asbestoes was
removed to protect people & the environment. ed

 

[Tom Reingold]

Sounds like other people have encountered much worse problems. So, you
will have to judge for yourself how bad your problem is.

These are my questions.

My clutch shuddering isn't really that bad. It's just a little unnerving.

1. Is there a fix?

2. If I don't do the fix, will I create worse damage that I'm likely to
regret?

If the answer to either of these questions is no, I'm content to live
with it.

 

[Larry Van Wormer]

These are my questions.

My clutch shuddering isn't really that bad. It's just a little unnerving.

1. Is there a fix?

2. If I don't do the fix, will I create worse damage that I'm likely to
regret?

If the answer to either of these questions is no, I'm content to live
with it.

Is you clutch shudder about the same as I described with my car? If so,
I'd live with it. It won't cause any damage if handled as I described.

If it's worse, or maybe getting worse, it can be fixed by a fairly
expensive clutch replacement. Of course, if you can get that done under
warranty, fine. If not, you have to choose whether or not to pay for it.

Larry Van Wormer

 

[Tom Reingold]

Is you clutch shudder about the same as I described with my car? If so,
I'd live with it. It won't cause any damage if handled as I described.

If it's worse, or maybe getting worse, it can be fixed by a fairly
expensive clutch replacement. Of course, if you can get that done under
warranty, fine. If not, you have to choose whether or not to pay for it.

Larry Van Wormer

Yeah, it's not that bad, and it's only the first couple of times I pull
away after starting up. So I'll live with it. I take it you're saying I
should try to slip the clutch in such a way as to avoid the shudder, for
longevity, so I'll try to do that.

 

[Larry Van Wormer]

Yeah, it's not that bad, and it's only the first couple of times I pull
away after starting up. So I'll live with it. I take it you're saying I
should try to slip the clutch in such a way as to avoid the shudder, for
longevity, so I'll try to do that.

Yes, a little bit of slip only. About like just being slightly slow to
release the clutch, with the engine under light load. Not enough to get
any smell from the clutch.

I doubt that will improve clutch longevity, but it shouldn't hurt it (my
clutch feels just the same after 100k miles), and it makes the shudder
much less annoying.

Larry Van Wormer