Another Clutch bites the dust !!!

[c-l]

Guys,

There has to be a Fiero clutch expert somewhere in this world and I am looking for him/her.

Clutch have been disintegrating in this car ever since it was new (85GT, 2.8L, 4spd). The first clutch change was done when the car had only 3,500 KM. The AVERAGE survival milleage of a clutch in this car is around 25,000Km(this is not normal  ). EVERY previous cluch change where done by GM dealers. Obviously, there has to be something else wrong that they missed all along...

No it is not my driving... I have had a few other vehicules and never replace a single clutch in any of them.

This is a description of the ongoing problem:

The clutch plate is nice and do not show wear on the flywheel side.
The material that is left on the cluch plate on transmision side do not show wear. But about 3/4 of the clutch plate material has come off and has lodge pieces of itself under the forks preventing them from coming all the way out.
The release bearing's came out  without any problem, no apparent rust or binding spot on the transmission shaft.

Has anyone else experienced this problem. Can anyone tell me how to resolve this problem once and for all.

Thanks !
C-L

[2ML67]

Is the fly wheel balanced ok still as vibrations from it could cause damage, also check for play on the i/p shaft of the tranny. Unfortunately most garages just replace parts, investigating a problem is some thing they rarely do. Personally would replace the flywheel, inspect the tranny as well as clutch fork for wear and install a new clutch complete along with a new pilot bearing. Dan 

[c-l]

Dan,

Thanks for the prompt reply, will check all items you listed. If you think of anything else, just add to the post.

[aaron88]

If it was a dealer doing the work it is possible that they didn’t bother to replace the pressure plat.  They may have just replaced the clutch disk and called it a day.  But if it’s your pressure plate that is defective (weak springs or something) then that may have caused your disc to wear prematurely.

Or maybe they put in really cheep parts.

Aaron

.

[c-l]

Aaron,

Or maybe they put in really cheep parts.

It is possible for every clutch except the original. The clutch that lasted the least amount of time was the original (manufacture installed).... it lasted only 3,500KM (that is the right number, I am not missing a zero). This is what drives me to think that there is something else wrong that has not been discovered or investigated before.

I am the original owner of that Fiero, therefore I know it's repair history. One clutch disintegrating at 3,500Km would have been fine by me if the replacement would have lasted the rest of the car's lifespan. But as it stands right now, the car is a tad over 100,000Km, GM dealears have already put in 3 clutches, I am in the process of installing the 4th.

Something has got to be wrong from day one, none of the clutches where replaced because they where worn down, they where all replaced because they disintegrated (There was very little clutch dust but I recovered chunks of disintegrated material that where the size of a quarter an smaller).

As you suggested, I will replace the pressure plate... just in case !

 
Thanks,

C-L

[aaron88]

As you suggested, I will replace the pressure plate... just in case !

I really can't think of what else it would be given your last post.  But I'm not an expert, and have been known to be wrong.

Good luck.

Aaron

.

[GoFast88]

I just talked to a buddy of mine and he replaced a cam on his sons Toyota 2 weeks ago. I told him it was easier to just buy a used motor and replace the entire motor.  They drove it for 2 weeks and I talked to him again and the the cam just broke again. He now figures that the head is warped (maybe) as the cam split in the same place.  Moral of this story??  Unless you like a puzzle, I have a working 2.8 for sale.

[c-l]

Thanks GoFast88,

I'll keep that in mind.