Issues with my SB clutch, they are helping everyway possible
06-27-2011 | 09:26 AM
#16
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From: San Diego
06-27-2011 | 05:32 PM
#17
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From: Streator Illinois
South Bend Clutch
709 W Jefferson Blvd
Mishawaka, IN 46545
1-800-988-4345
And yea, no matter what you do, peoples perceptions of clutches will vary, but yours is called out specifically as a smooth clutch.
Talk to Peter, he will not BS you.
06-28-2011 | 01:00 AM
#18
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From: Chula Vista, Ca
I've run a SB CON OFE for the better part of 180,000 miles. At first, yes it was grabby and I honestly wasn't to crazy about it.
But the friction material of these clutches is more aggressive than your stock OEM clutch lining and YOU have to adjust accordingly.
Unlike the OEM clutch, you can't just release it from a stop and slip it a little to get going. You have to be a little more aggressive with it on release and you will be very happy afterwards. Give it some fuel and let the clutch out and it won't chatter.
I also found that with the OEM clutch on my 6spd, first gear wasn't used much because the truck would pull away easily in second. It is the same with the SB but again, you have to be a little more aggressive with it and you will be fine. But I tend to use first gear more now just for the sake of keeping my clutch happy and especially use first gear when towing anything behind me no matter the weight of it.
Backing a trailer up can be a challenge at times because of the grabby and chatter characteristics of the clutch, but again, being a little more aggressive on the release makes a big difference. If you have a 4x4, use low range more often.
It's a performance clutch, not an OEM smooth for the masses type of unit. Once you get used to it's workings and adjust to them, you will love it.
I won't use anything else for a clutch. I don't beat heavily on mine but I'm not easy on it and it treats me just fine.
Jeff
But the friction material of these clutches is more aggressive than your stock OEM clutch lining and YOU have to adjust accordingly.
Unlike the OEM clutch, you can't just release it from a stop and slip it a little to get going. You have to be a little more aggressive with it on release and you will be very happy afterwards. Give it some fuel and let the clutch out and it won't chatter.
I also found that with the OEM clutch on my 6spd, first gear wasn't used much because the truck would pull away easily in second. It is the same with the SB but again, you have to be a little more aggressive with it and you will be fine. But I tend to use first gear more now just for the sake of keeping my clutch happy and especially use first gear when towing anything behind me no matter the weight of it.
Backing a trailer up can be a challenge at times because of the grabby and chatter characteristics of the clutch, but again, being a little more aggressive on the release makes a big difference. If you have a 4x4, use low range more often.
It's a performance clutch, not an OEM smooth for the masses type of unit. Once you get used to it's workings and adjust to them, you will love it.
I won't use anything else for a clutch. I don't beat heavily on mine but I'm not easy on it and it treats me just fine.
Jeff
06-28-2011 | 07:57 AM
#19
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From: MN
Peter is the owner, here is the number off the website.
South Bend Clutch
709 W Jefferson Blvd
Mishawaka, IN 46545
1-800-988-4345
And yea, no matter what you do, peoples perceptions of clutches will vary, but yours is called out specifically as a smooth clutch.
Talk to Peter, he will not BS you.
South Bend Clutch
709 W Jefferson Blvd
Mishawaka, IN 46545
1-800-988-4345
And yea, no matter what you do, peoples perceptions of clutches will vary, but yours is called out specifically as a smooth clutch.
Talk to Peter, he will not BS you.
I have tried everything, but it is getting to the point where is is hard to drive the truck it is so grabby, when I try to back my trailer up its not pretty, also getting started on anything soft like gravel road is also very hard.
06-28-2011 | 07:58 AM
#20
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From: CLT, NC
My DD3250 was grabby at first and it took some adjusting of the HD clutch pedal and longer break-in then I expected, but it has come around nicely. I also had an issue when first installing my clutch. I called them up and they were more than happy to help and shipped what I needed over night. Their customer service is second to none. Give them the opportunity to correct the issue. They are the definition of "Good People".
Swordfish
06-28-2011 | 08:30 AM
#21
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You just have to get of the clutch and drive. I had a SB Con FE for 140k and the throwout bearing failed and now have a SB DD 3250 in my 03. My 3250 is way smoother than the Con FE but either way you have to get off the clutch to back a heavy load without bucking a little. People buy performance clutches expecting them to be soft and smooth. If you wanted 100% stock feel you should buy a stock clutch.
06-29-2011 | 07:32 AM
#23
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From: CLT, NC
Good point Rebel. I am actually receiving mine today. I wish it would have gotten here sooner because I am hauling over the holiday weekend, but it will be on as soon as I get back!! Recently when I backed my trailer I used 4Lo and that worked like a champ, so 2Lo should be even better without the wheel hop.
swordfish
swordfish
06-29-2011 | 07:47 AM
#24
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From: MN
I have never had an issue with my CAD, so I have never thought about doing it. I do have an extra CAD housing from another axle.
Guys I understand this is a aftermarket clutch but I don't think it should be this bad, it just start getting real grabby in the last 1000miles or so, before that is was nice. As for getting of the clutch and driving, I would prefer no to tear up the driveway or have the feeling like I'm going to break something everytime I drive. I have not had a change to call peter yet this week due to working long days(intern)
Guys I understand this is a aftermarket clutch but I don't think it should be this bad, it just start getting real grabby in the last 1000miles or so, before that is was nice. As for getting of the clutch and driving, I would prefer no to tear up the driveway or have the feeling like I'm going to break something everytime I drive. I have not had a change to call peter yet this week due to working long days(intern)
06-29-2011 | 08:22 AM
#25
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From: CLT, NC
Is there any chance something could have gotten on to the clutch facings causing them to be more grabby then what they were? Any recent maintenance, leaking oil from rear main? Just a thought.
swordfish
swordfish
06-29-2011 | 09:07 AM
#26
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you definitley need to just call peter, very stand up guy and very helpful as well. i love my sb clutch, smooth as stock? no, but my truck is not stock and i dont know of anything else that would hold up to me, i.e 30lb boosted launches in 4th gear lol. personally from my experiance with the product and customer service, i will never own anything other than a southbend
06-29-2011 | 10:17 AM
#27
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From: Yuba city Kalifornia
[QUOTE=Purplezr2;2987204]I have never had an issue with my CAD, so I have never thought about doing it. I do have an extra CAD housing from another axle.(insert)/QUOTE]
no need to mess with the cad all you need to do is splice a air switch in ... that easy
no need to mess with the cad all you need to do is splice a air switch in ... that easy
06-29-2011 | 11:09 AM
#28
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From: Red Deer, Alberta Canada
06-29-2011 | 02:23 PM
#29
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From: Cummins Technical Center, IN
Funny, I have the FE and thats supposed to be at least 2x more aggressive than the OFE. I have not had any of the issues here with regard to chatter. It grabs hard and I expected that.
The only clutches that made the idle sound different were the dual disk versions without the sprung center.. I suspect something was not right with that OFE making noise and chattering from day 1.
The only clutches that made the idle sound different were the dual disk versions without the sprung center.. I suspect something was not right with that OFE making noise and chattering from day 1.
I suspect the installation may have leave something to be desired. The clutch should not chatter.
What you may be hearing is not clutch chatter, but pilot bearing chatter. The wimpy needle bearings in the stock OEM do NOT survive well with power upgrades and towing. As this bearing gets pounded, the clearance on the trans input shaft gets bigger. This leaves the shaft some room to wiggle, which you will hear as a sharp metallic grumbling rattle sound.
So it might be pilot bearings that are causing a rattling sound (if that's what you hear). If so, fix it soon because that take out the tranny if it gets severe.
You need not worry about "eating" the flywheel. The Con OFE and Con FE are both very easy on the flywheels-- MUCH easier than a metallic clutch face would be.
When I first got my Con FE (yes, FE-- very grabby) in, it was very tricky to drive it.
The solution to a grabby FE launch was simple-- bring the engine up to about 1100 rpm and smoothly engage the clutch. Result: rapid launch, no smoke, very smooth.
I only use first gear now for slogging through super slow traffic or idling at very low speeds.
JH
06-30-2011 | 12:40 AM
#30
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From: Red Deer, Alberta Canada
After the warranty replacement of my Con FE on a defective center section, I had a chance to inspect the flywheel, obviously, after about 80,000 miles on the clutch. Resurfacing the flywheel was a breeze as the wear was less than about 0.010 that they took off in the grind at the machine shop. I don't worry much about it at all anymore. It is grabby, but I expected that. It holds though even when playing around.
I added a photo of the flywheel when I pulled the clutch.
I added a photo of the flywheel when I pulled the clutch.