NEW Clutch not Engaging...Money Pit

Spaghetti999

I've paired the JWT HD CSC, OEM CMC, and Z1 Street performance Clutch Kit. Any known problems with this combo?

POST INSTALL
1000 miles - fluid looks cloudy and dirty, vibration in clutch pedal present - shop says it's the parts...

2500 miles post install. Eventually loss of clutch pressure occurred on wide-open throttle (pedal would sink to floor-pressure returns seconds later).

3500 miles post install, grinding noise heard outside when releasing pedal after changing gears+pedal vibration. Also grinding noise from outside trans area occurs and becomes increasingly difficult to switch gear and put into gear when driving above 2500rpm. Clutch Master Cylinder reservoir has loss of fluid.

3500 miles- I went and had the Fluid flushed again with a different shop, had new clutch line put in since they said mine was rusty. GTR Brake fluid. Pedal feels great and strong. Good to go for now.... vibrations in pedal still present BUT I can WOT all day no problem.. 500 miles later, more grinding noise heard outside coming from trans area when letting off clutch after gear change. Can't WOT without problems now, can't drive above 2500rpm with issues being intensified. Now can't get into reverse- it's impossible. First is very difficult takes 7-8 tries feels very hard to get it in when it goes. Fluid looks dirty again 700 miles after fluid flush- but no loss of fluid.

Any idea for solution? Has the HD CSC been contaminated? Pressure plate not on right? What's going on...multiple problems here

I've ordered ALL new parts. Clutch, flywheel, pressure plate, OEM CMC, new CSC. I doubt a simple flush again would fix the issue and I don't want to change the CMC just for it to get contaminated and not work, so I'm going to change everything at once. Overkill?
Nearly $5k down the drain so far....before 2nd install here

sounds like pressure issue (CMC/CSC) along with engagement issue. Multiple issues at play? Could it be the piston rod not being adjusted? Idk.

DaveZ03

So there is a bit to dissect here....what's the name of the shop? Did you decide or did the shop decide to go with the JWT? I'm not entirely familiar with it, but a lot of folks around here recommend the ZSpeed or similar CSC. Have you thought about moving on from the JWT HD CSC? It looks similar to the OEM CSC where the slave is built into the housing.
Why did you go to a different shop? Was the first go around enough to tarnish your trust in them?
Maybe the pressure plate that comes in the Z1 kit and the JWT CSC aren't playing nice with each other?

Spaghetti999

small local shop, not a performance shop. Just a regular mechanic
Chose a different shop for the flush/clutch line because trust was shattered.

If the parts aren't compatible, that makes sense. But why the dirty fluid and loss of fluid too? That's two separate problems sounds like I could've chose a wrong combo of parts and the shop didn't properly flush/get containments out of the system the first time?

I chose the parts. Now I have my 2nd order of parts for the 2nd installation and have decided to go with ZSpeed CSC Delete, Their clutch kit, and OEM CMC

I will be reinstalling all parts myself (Goodluck me). Parts are ready, I am not. Before I dive in, I'm wondering if I should just swap the CMC+Flush fluid and hope it works, or not bother and just do the entire reinstall again myself?

DaveZ03

Sucks to hear about the first install not going well, I know it can be a tough pill to swallow to invest in parts/time at shop, only to be back where you started. The ZSpeed parts should get you situated nicely.
As far as the install, do your research and get all of the needed tools to tackle the job. I don't have the space to tackle it myself, but there are plenty of videos out there outlining what is needed and the steps to take in order to do this yourself.
Look up "The Carizon" on youtube and search on the channel for clutch install. Great breakdown of tools needed and what to look for when tackling this yourself. Best of luck and take your time.

40 to 332

A couple of things:

1. Confirm with Z Speed that the CMAK CSC delete kit and their clutch kit is compatible with the stock dual mass flywheel. If I recall correctly there was a need to modify the clutch disk if it was the be matched with the stock flywheel. I avoided the issue by installing the Southbend singe mass flywheel (... and now just ignore the gear chatter). Anyway, it would be worth a phone call or chat with Z Speed.

2. If you're going to all the work of changing the clutch system, I'd recommended contacting Ryan at RJM Performance and moving from the OEM CMC to to the Tilton HD CMC. It will make the system bullet-proof.

NorthStyle

Unfortunately, the Tilton is not "bulletproof" as I had one fail on me a few years back. I had planned on purchasing a replacement but Joe (ZSpeed pre-retirement) advised me to go back to stock.

OP, back to your issues, I'd recommend replacing the black hose that the CMC uses with one of the clear hoses that Mike Upton sells if you have to mess with the CMC again. The black one breaks down and contaminates the fluid, reducing the life of the CMC.

ZoomZ

If you use OEM clutch pressure plate and OEM FW with Zspeed CMAK, you have to cut the overcenter spring on the OEM Clutch PRESSURE PLATE.

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“Action without vision is a nightmare.”

phunk

I dont do service/repair on these cars much, so I am not great at remotely diagnosing problems that might be occurring due to age/wear;

but hasnt there been some known issues with the original master cylinder deteriorating and contaminating the fluid? and needing constant bleeding otherwise before long you have to start pumping the peddle to get pressure? It happened in my Z, required constant bleeding. It wasnt even that old when it happened.

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DaveZ03

My understanding is that when the internal CSC starts to go, the internal seals begin to degrade and show up in the fluid. Among the dirty fluid, this then trickles down to loss of fluid, inconsistent performance and eventually, no clutch.
Once you decide to tackle the CSC replacement, it's best to replace everything in the hydraulics of the clutch system...from the plumbing to the MC. That way everything is fresh, new and should lead to never having to deal with this again, so long as install and parts compatibility are in check.

Spaghetti999

UPDATE: I bled the fluid and it was so black, and filthy. Fluid was just bled 500 miles ago. This is clear indication of contaminated system. Car goes into reverse again and gears/pedal feel so firm, tight, and strong. Drove 50 miles, vibrations still present above 2500+rpm shifts. Come to a stop after driving 50 miles after clutch bleed, and pedal loses complete pressure....thought i was stranded

managed to pump pressure back just enough to get into 1st, nursed it home

get home, and clutch pedal is dead. Giant black puddle underneath....keep in mind I had replaced csc/cmc 4k miles ago. This tells me that the shop either 1. didnt replace the CMC and left old contaminated one 2. didn't bleed/flush lines properly because now my HD JWT CSC has failed in 4k miles after multiple bleeds....time to drop the trans. Putting in new clutch kit again might as well..im in $6k deep now...