Author Topic: Strange vibrations (Read 3369 times)

cuda346pk · « **on:** October 24, 2018 - 02:59:25 AM »

A couple of years ago I replaced my clutch. I installed a McLeod Super Street Pro Clutch Kit. Had flywheel surfaced. All was well for a couple hundred miles then it started acting like the pilot bushing was going out. I pulled trans again and sure enough the pilot bushing was trashed. When I first replaced the clutch the old bushing came out easily with grease and a wooden dowel, but this time I tried everything to get it out and ended up carefully cutting it then splitting the rest of the way with a chisel to finally get it out. Installed new pilot bushing and throwout bearing. Once I had it together again I started getting a strange vibration in neutral. If I depress the clutch it goes away and if I keep depressing/releasing the clutch to "reposition" the disc and input shaft I can get it to lessen in intensity and in the right spot it will go away. It is to mild to tell if it is doing it while in gear and driving.
When I first replaced the clutch I did it alone using a floor jack, I know it slipped a few times and I would have to say it is entirely possible it slipped off jack and hung on the input shaft for a few seconds. I do not remember the vibration when I put the clutch in but I assume it could have been there then too. I'm pretty sure when I pulled it the 2nd time it never fell off as I used a trans jack with straps. Is it possible that the input shaft got slightly bent or buggered the input shaft bearing if it slipped off jack before any bellhousing bolts were holding it, or maybe tweaked the splined hub in the disc? I have not messed with it for a year or so as I've been working on the house so we can sell and move. But now I have it up on jack stands and am having to pull oil pan so exhaust will have to come loose and may be a good time to go ahead and pull trans to see what is going on. Welcome any opinions/experience.

70chall440 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2018 - 03:25:49 PM »

Id say anything is possible and I agree that pulling the trans is going to allow you to access it. There are a number of things going on here that could potentially be causing the issue, bent input shaft could be it but I would suspect the bearing behind it as well. Another potential issue is a damaged pilot bushing or out of center bushing.

cuda346pk · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2018 - 08:25:13 AM »

I agree anything is possible. I am hoping it is only the input shaft bearing and not a bent shaft, but I don't have a good feeling about it. Also you mention damaged or out of center pilot bushing. I did not check for center on the bell housing when I did the clutch but the vibration was not there originally. As I said in my original post, the pilot bushing originally came out easily and wasn't in bad condition but when it acted up shortly after replacing it I pulled it again, and it was trashed and very stuck in the crankshaft, so I assume it is either shaft or maybe bearing. Looks like I'm in a bit of a fix if it is the shaft as they don't appear to be readily available. I am on the list for a 5 speed with Passon Performance, but no telling how much longer that will be.

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70chall440 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2018 - 12:02:27 PM »

I would think that Brewers or Passion would have the input shaft, I just checked at it appears they are available

http://www.brewersperformance.com/products.php?cat=261

cuda346pk · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2018 - 12:45:47 PM »

Nope, appears only for early 70 models or 18 spline. Mine is a 72 small block, 23 spline.

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70chall440 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2018 - 03:10:29 PM »

Have you called them?

cuda346pk · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2018 - 03:41:22 PM »

I emailed Jamie at Passon to ask that and ETA for 5 speed. I had read an article about using his od gearset special input bearing and retainer and upgrade to a 18 spline shaft so I will see what he says.

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70chall440 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 31, 2018 - 06:08:26 PM »

I thought they were shipping those 5 speeds? Someone just told me that they just got one.

cuda346pk · « **Reply #8 on:** October 31, 2018 - 10:20:27 PM »

I know he is slowly getting them out. I got a auto reply email, they are closed this week so it will be next week before i get a response. Hopefully mine is close, that would solve that problem.

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70chall440 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2018 - 11:48:54 PM »

cuda346pk · « **Reply #10 on:** November 23, 2018 - 02:47:47 AM »

I have not had a chance to pull the tranny yet but I did talk to Jamie at Passon. He does have a reconditioned input shaft if I need it. He agreed it is probably either bent shaft or misaligned bell housing. I am still expecting the shaft because of the vibration it has. I also got some info on the 5 speeds.
He is cranking them out for A and B bodies but nothing on E bodies for over a year. He is waiting on tailshafts. As of now he is "hoping" they will get them done and to him shortly after the first of the year.
I was added to the original list on 6/8/15 at #438. He now has 3 lists and I am # 78 on the E body list. As a very tentative answer he said "if" he gets the parts in January "and" there is no more delays I would realistically be looking at July to September for mine to ship out. Not exactly what I wanted to hear but it is more promising than 12-18 months. Plus he is pushing them out for the A and B bodies. Just thought I would give an update and help him avoid a few calls asking about it.

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Beekeeper · « **Reply #11 on:** November 23, 2018 - 09:22:14 AM »

Quote from: cuda346pk on October 24, 2018 - 02:59:25 AM

A couple of years ago I replaced my clutch. I installed a McLeod Super Street Pro Clutch Kit. Had flywheel surfaced. All was well for a couple hundred miles then it started acting like the pilot bushing was going out. I pulled trans again and sure enough the pilot bushing was trashed. When I first replaced the clutch the old bushing came out easily with grease and a wooden dowel, but this time I tried everything to get it out and ended up carefully cutting it then splitting the rest of the way with a chisel to finally get it out. Installed new pilot bushing and throwout bearing. Once I had it together again I started getting a strange vibration in neutral. If I depress the clutch it goes away and if I keep depressing/releasing the clutch to "reposition" the disc and input shaft I can get it to lessen in intensity and in the right spot it will go away. It is to mild to tell if it is doing it while in gear and driving.
When I first replaced the clutch I did it alone using a floor jack, I know it slipped a few times and I would have to say it is entirely possible it slipped off jack and hung on the input shaft for a few seconds. I do not remember the vibration when I put the clutch in but I assume it could have been there then too. I'm pretty sure when I pulled it the 2nd time it never fell off as I used a trans jack with straps. Is it possible that the input shaft got slightly bent or buggered the input shaft bearing if it slipped off jack before any bellhousing bolts were holding it, or maybe tweaked the splined hub in the disc? I have not messed with it for a year or so as I've been working on the house so we can sell and move. But now I have it up on jack stands and am having to pull oil pan so exhaust will have to come loose and may be a good time to go ahead and pull trans to see what is going on. Welcome any opinions/experience.

I remember when I put a Tremec in my Vette, they were really big on checking alignment of the input shaft to the pilot bushing. Wasn�t hard to check and sure enough, it was out of alignment by 5 thousandths. According to the instructions, misalignment of that amount would eventually trash the bushing and cause vibration. It wasn�t difficult to put in offset bell housing pins and correct the problem. I would guess the new transmission will require you to check the alignment and bring it to a tighter spec than the factory permitted.

After that, I helped a friend check the alignment of his during a clutch replacement and although it was within factory tolerance, it was still a little off so we fixed it. Even though he retained the original four speed, he said there was a huge difference in shift quality after the correction.

1 Wild R/T · « **Reply #12 on:** November 24, 2018 - 12:55:08 PM »

FWIW I seriously doubt you bent the input shaft...... But once out it's easy to check, put it between two live centers & use a dial indicator.... I'd expect the clutch disc center to bend long before the input shaft.... And that too is pretty easy to check... While your there you should indicate the bell housing in both planes.....

Author Topic: Strange vibrations (Read 3369 times)

cuda346pk

Strange vibrations

70chall440

Re: Strange vibrations

cuda346pk

Re: Strange vibrations

70chall440

Re: Strange vibrations

cuda346pk

Re: Strange vibrations

70chall440

Re: Strange vibrations

cuda346pk

Re: Strange vibrations

70chall440

Re: Strange vibrations

cuda346pk

Re: Strange vibrations

70chall440

Re: Strange vibrations

cuda346pk

Re: Strange vibrations

Beekeeper

Re: Strange vibrations

1 Wild R/T

Re: Strange vibrations