I recently purchaced a centerforce dual friction clutch and a hurst shifter to go in conjunction with a rebuilt T-5. I am one day away from pulling out my T-5 to have it rebuilt, but i was reading a thread and was wondering if mabey all i need is a new clutch.

I bought the car used (obviously) and havent replaced the from the previous owner, here are the symptoms:

a) grinding from second to third when clutch petal is pushed to the floor (and not just under heavy accelleration).
b) a metal on metal grinding noise in 5th gear.
c) a PITA to put the car in reverse, even after puting it in first gear.

 

What did the clutch look like before you installed it? Was it used or brand new? Score marks or discoloured metal on the pressure plate/flywheel. Did you buy the T5 from the same person?

 

Sounds like the clutch isn't disengaging. Also sounds like maybe this is your first time putting a stick shift car together. So I'll post my famous pic.

Which way did you put your throwout bearing on the fork? One way will make the clutch fail to release, and cause the transmission to grind on shifts and all of those things, exactly as you described. The other way is of course the correct way.

Also, what kind of a pilot did you put in your crank? Bushing, or bearing?

 

no, i never put the clutch in this car, the previous owner did. I guess he may have installed it wrong. I am replacing the clutch tommorow and ill see what happens.

 

Well, the answer to the riddle is, the top pic is WRONg, the bottom pic is RIGHT. Note the little flat spring thing that's riveted onto the fork; see how its little ears are up out of the throwout's groove in the top pic, and how they're inside the groove in teh bottom one.

The pilot bearing or bushing goes in the end of the crank, and supports the front of the transmission's clutch gear. Without it, all sorts of evil things happen; up to and including total destruction of the transmission. ALWAYS replace it.

 

Do you have to machine the crank for a bearing as opposed to a bushing?

 

No, taps right in and is much better!

 

Im not trying to steal this thread from z28cmr83 but im having sort of the same problem. I just replaced my clutch in november then the car sat until last week when i got it out so it has probaly less then 10 miles on it. The clutch kit is a Zoom street strip clutch from JEGS. It is making a horrible noise in 5th gear sounds like metal on metal rubbing. If i push the clutch in it goes away even if i rev the car. And if i push the clutch in half way its still there. It doesnt do it in any other gear except i heard it one time when was starting of from a stop in 1st but that only happened once. I also hear a wining noise at all times. All noises are coming from the bellhousing area and sounds like it may be a throw-out bearing but i dont know. I also do not feel anything in the pedal. I had to replace the old clutch because one of the springs in the clutch disk broke out. Sorry this is so long and kinda jumbled together but i want to give all the info i can so mabey i can get some help before i take it to a tranny shop and give them all my money. Thanks for any help that you can give.

 

well i took your advice and replaced the clutch, pressure plate, throwoutbearing and had the flywheel resurfaced (Centerforce Dual friciton kit) and i noticed the old clutch was very worn and the throwout bearing was installed incorrectly.
I thought that the new centerforce clutch would give me a hard petal, but it was just the opposite, it feels like im in a little japanese car... its so light, the old clutch must have been installed incorrectly cause my leg used to be tired after a day of use.
anyway i dont know if my problems were solved yet because i only drove the car a few blocks since its not regesterd (monday it will be) pluse i need to break it in for 500 miles. But the shifter was also replaced (hurst) so if my problem isnt solved that only leaves one thing... transmission.

 

derek i had the same problem with 5th gear, when i take it in the highway i'll let you know if it stopped.

 

Cool thanks for the help.