Welded Clutch Disc what to do?

[frontierguy25]

I was driving around and launched hard to get around another car that was about to come in my lane after picking up my son from school and now my clutch disk is welded to the flywheel. I went and drove the car around trying to break it free. Anyone have any suggestions on what to do or a way to break it free?

This is the second time that it has done this as well. I can't figure what will cause this.

Thanks in advance.
Fidanza Flywheel

Clutch Disk

Pressure Plate

 

[MK3Brent]

With the engine off, shift the transmission into reverse.
Depress the clutch and attempt to start the engine. If the disc is attached to the PP or FW the car should lurch backwards and with a little load it will break free.

That's how I got mine dettached.

 

[frontierguy25]

Yeah I read that when I searched. I tried to do this a couple of times even twice in my drive way that has a small incline. I guess I could try it a couple more times. I think that I was pressing the clutch in though. I'll try it with out pressing it in. I don't have to press the clutch in to start my car.

Time for new clutch, what do you recommend Brent? I was thinking of the DM stage 3.

 

[MK3Brent]

I still love my RPS clutches.

 

[frontierguy25]

See I had the RPS clutch, the Max PP stage 3 with the 6 puck and it Grenaded itself so that is when I bought this one.

 

[frontierguy25]

Wow!!!! I just called South Bend and they are awesome!! I told them what happened to my car with the clutch and he said send it in and they'll fix it for free for me and send it back the next day. I have to pay shipping most likely but that is fine. They even offered me a new disk they have that is a 8 puck ceramic with kevlar buttons, (I think that's right) as well if I didn't mind the little bit harsher engagement. That's fine with me because I'm used to it.

So far they have been great to deal with, I talked with John there and he seemed very knowledgeable and very nice with understanding the problem.

The problem is with the Feramic Disk, it can't be slipped very much if you have a Fidanza flywheel (which I have) because it heats up too fast and fuses itself to together.

I'll send some updates once I get everything apart and send it to them.

 

[figgie]

I was driving around and launched hard to get around another car and now my clutch disk is welded to the flywheel. I went and drove the car around trying to break it free. Anyone have any suggestions on what to do or a way to break it free?

This is the second time that it has done this as well. I can't figure what will cause this.

Thanks in advance.

sorry

that is not possible. What really happened?

It will take more than ONE single launch to weld the clutch to an aluminum flywheel. Even coming off the line hot with ALS and positive manifold pressure and slipping the clutch for a good 30 - 40 feet won't do it. Do it more than once or for say 100+ feet and that is a different story. With Fermaic, the issue has been well documented and you are NOT supposed to run Feramic with Al flywheel.

RP$. Avoid like the plague. Shitty customer support. South bend or SPEC or any other company save for RP$.

 

[frontierguy25]

sorry

that is not possible. What really happened?

It will take more than ONE single launch to weld the clutch to an aluminum flywheel. Even coming off the line hot with ALS and positive manifold pressure and slipping the clutch for a good 30 - 40 feet won't do it. Do it more than once or for say 100+ feet and that is a different story. With Fermaic, the issue has been well documented and you are NOT supposed to run Feramic with Al flywheel.

RP$. Avoid like the plague. Shitty customer support. South bend or SPEC or any other company save for RP$.

Seriously, this is what happend, I haven't been to the track in a couple of months and this happened there too. I made a thread about it. But I had my almost 3 year old in the back seat and my 9 year old in the front seat. Now there is a lot of start and stopping by his school, it takes me like 20 min if I show up right on time and I have to use the clutch a lot. So maybe it was because of that heating up a lot. I don't do anything in my car with my kids in it. They are my #1 Priority!

I read the problem of the feramic clutches with aluminum flywheels after I installed the clutch because some one told me to because this might happen.
but nothing I could really do about at that point. But I won't have another feramic disk,

I couldn't understand your last sentence, I will not buy another RPS, because of their shitty support and shitty clutches. I spent $700 on a RPS clutch to have it last less than 10k miles!

I've had this one for a while now and it's been great! And so far South Bend has been too.

 

[dok33]

In my experience South Bend is FTMFW as well, I'm really happy with my clutch and their service!

 

[MK3Brent]

sorry

that is not possible. What really happened?

It will take more than ONE single launch to weld the clutch to an aluminum flywheel. Even coming off the line hot with ALS and positive manifold pressure and slipping the clutch for a good 30 - 40 feet won't do it. Do it more than once or for say 100+ feet and that is a different story. With Fermaic, the issue has been well documented and you are NOT supposed to run Feramic with Al flywheel.

RP$. Avoid like the plague. Shitty customer support. South bend or SPEC or any other company save for RP$.

Happened to me... one launch... one stuck clutch. (on a stock FW however)

 

[lintlars]

Same thing happened to me Feramic fullface with the Fidanza flywheel 1 Launch I switched over to the 6 puck and the factory flywheel I will be staying with this setup no problems I bought both setups from HPF Im shocked they are still selling this setup considering how many people this has happened to If you bought it from them Id be giving them a call.

 

[lintlars]

To seperate you can put the car on jacks remove the trans inspection covers and depress the clutch and wedge a screw driver ir similar item between the flywheel and clutch disk.

 

[frontierguy25]

To seperate you can put the car on jacks remove the trans inspection covers and depress the clutch and wedge a screw driver ir similar item between the flywheel and clutch disk.

That is what I am doing now!

 

[frontierguy25]

Ok, I tried like 50 times to get this clutch apart. Well we ended up putting it on jackstands and took the pressure plate bolts out. The disk finally came off but there is a inner lining or something that was only around the center of the disk that came off. But it was in pieces! However the outer ring of the clutch was fine and it actually engages fine once we put it back together. Do I plan on running this past this weekend? No! I'll be pulling the tranny this weekend or on Monday to send it to South Bend. those guys are great!!

Thanks YotaRob, couldn't have done it with out ya.. Well ya I could but it wouldn't have been near as fun and quick!!!

 

[frontierguy25]

Updated with pics of carnage!!

 

[Satan]

Glad that them SouthBend ppl are doing ya right. Although it's inconvenient, at least you don't have the issues (or potential damage) that the RPS users are facing.

 

[frontierguy25]

Yeah they are going to take care of me! You got PM!