Clutch Sticking
 

Ever since its gotten really cold out, if I drive the BRZ the clutch pedal sticks to the floor and then shoots up when the car is started cold. Eventually it gets better and is fine when the car is at temp, but its so hard to drive before that. In addition, it makes a loud squealing sound when you push the pedal when its cold.

There is some sort of ACT competition clutch in the car that my shop installed.

Is this normal or might there be an installation issue? The clutch rattles ALOT as well.

Rattling is normal, squealing when you push the pedal is usually the throwout bearing dying.

The sticking pedal could be the throwout bearing hanging up on the input shaft sleeve (not lubed well enough at install) or possibly something going on with the slave cylinder.

Sounds throwout bearing related to me.

So what can be done about the throw out bearings? Is it an easy fix?

Ok, this sounds snarky but... I think this is one of those things where, if you are asking, it probably won't be easy for you.

Especially if it's still in warranty, take it in and ask to see it when it's apart.

Take it back to the shop that installed your clutch, they should fix it for free...

Cool. Thanks for the advice, I will reach out to the shop, but I am not so sure to their abilities to fix it anymore. This will be the 3rd time ive complained about the clutch.

Also they said the chatter is causing the ECU to think that there is a knock and putting the car into limp mode. Does that even sound right?

From the symptoms described, I don't think you're in limp mode... If they are diagnosing that from the same symptoms, maybe you should find a better shop or find a mechanically inclined friend that can help you remove your transmission and change your throwout bearing, there is a good DIY for a clutch change in the DIY section of this forum, give it a read, I just used it last weekend to replace my throwout bearing. Surprisingly, I got the new one from the dealership for $22.... Not sure if there is a better one available from aftermarket but I could not wait as mine is my DD.


Best of luck whichever way you go with it.


Clutch replacement DIY:
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25054

No, the clutch chatter isn't going to make the ECU think there's knock... Need a new shop pronto.

ugh thats what I have been thinking. I should have listened the first time people on here told me to switch shops. Shame on me.

Which shop is it?

Its PrimeMotoring in East Rutherford, NJ

Maybe they'll let you borrow their clutch. Did you already know @PrimeMotoring is a vendor?
http://www.ft86club.com/forums/showthread.php?t=79708

What is failed to be mentioned that I had already replaced the last ACT clutch in the car with a Competition clutch for FREE back in the early summer. I lost money on the ACT and Comp to make the end user happy and have heard nothing back since. So now another clutch from another company had issues how long after? The only contact i hear from the customer is a text wishing me "happy holidays". This is a clutch we are talking about, its a wear item. I replaced one already out of good will but I or any other shop owner can regulate clutch use in a customers car.

Complaining about chatter on an afternarket clutch though with lightweight flywheel makes no sense. Some are hit or miss but most do make noise. Also another thing that is not mentioned is the driver and his A) ability to drive a standard car and also B) the use of the car. We have done countless clutches on different cars and a BRZ is pretty simple. My Competition Stage 5 gave me zero issues and found its way into another customers car with zero complaints and minimal noise so the installation of said clutch needs not to be questioned. Fingers need to be pointed elsewhere.

Thought you might want a fair shot.

Appreciate that kindly. People tend to leave details out when voicing their case especially on this forum especially since everyone is so quick to blame the installer. A BRZ clutch is not rocket science and definitely not my first rodeo. I replaced one already and ate the cost of the part and labor to make the user happy since the clutch chatter and engagement issues were premature. Now another issue, on a different clutch, from a different manufacturer that I personally ran along with countless other cars I have done? Maybe the issue lies elsewhere.

Again thank you for bringing this to light.

Knowing that Prime installed a clutch, without any cost to the customer, is why I will travel from Queens to NJ for any serious work on my car. Might trade in my AT for a manual and will definitely go to them to get after market clutch installed.

While I didn't have it done for free, the same shop installed the ACT #7 clutch on my brand new FRS, it was very chattery from the beginning and went bad within a couple of months. I have been driving stick for 25 years. ACT was kind to refurbish under warranty at no cost and they mentioned cause "installation error". Search on this forum to find out how things worked out for me with this shop...incredibly bad experience dealing with problems...all were fixed and more work was done by moto-east and EFI Logics, couldn't be happier.

So to keep this from getting into an argument about internet muscles ill state some of the facts from my side. I will leave it at that. I dont need to do business with you, but as many others have stated on this site, I think your shop doesnt have the technical skills needed to perform the modification you are doing, just my opinion.

Before we even started, I told you I had serious concerns about JR from his TurboTrix days. I own 2 evos and know of the floods of bad reviews on evoM, etc. I think hes in way over his head. You assured me he was one of the best tuners out there for the BRZ. I also had concerns when one of their guys, Mike or something, who was supposed to be a great tech left the shop. Also some advice, if you want to be taken as a serious shop, have an inhouse tuner. There were multiple times you told me you couldnt get a hold of JR because he was out doing his thing and he was just a contractor to your shop. What shop doesnt even have their own tuner on staff?

I have driven a few other SC BRZ and they are leaps and bounds above what my tune is. I have complained to you multiple times about the tune being off, hesitation in the throttle, etc. You have blamed it in rattles in the clutch setting off the limp mode, MAF sensors, etc. I think the only part you havent blamed is the heated seats. Maybe when they are on, they cause the transmission to overheat and the car goes into limp mode?

1) When we started the build, I told you I wanted a streetable clutch. The clutch you gave me was horrible. Was installed wrong chattered, etc. You replaced it and lost money?!? YOU DIDNT DO THE JOB RIGHT IN THE FIRST PLACE! I dont care if you lost money. You replaced it with a competition clutch? I didnt want a competition clutch. I wanted a STREETABLE clutch, but I said whatever and just took the car. Im guessing when someone wants a road race car, you are going to upgrade them to a drag car and cry about how you lost money but its better? Give the customer what they want.

2) I did complain to you many times. I have text messages from September 21st, very frustrated. You claimed you didnt get my emails at that point. I told you there was grinding noises, very similar to the last clutch. You said there was no way it could be an installation issue. I am happy to post the screen shots. This isnt the first time you had told me you missed my emails. This isnt a daily driver car and I travel a bunch so its not like I can just bring the car to you or let you know problems immediately as I only notice it when I take the car out randomly.

3) My text to you about happy holidays was meant to be genuine and a private conversation starter. Figured we might be able to resolve this without taking it to the boards. You never responded.

4) As for my ability to drive a manual car. I have two modified evos still on the ORIGINAL stock clutches. I have an e36 m3 lightweight still on the original clutch. I have a 1999 355 still on the original clutch. I can keep listing my cars with the factory clutch in them. For some reason I guess I just dont know how to drive a BRZ in manual. Its so easy to blame the customer on a "wear item" isnt it?

Also thanks dp1. I have had 2 other shops look at it and the consensus is what is stated in this thread. Installation issues. I will reach out to ACT and Jackson Racing as I think they make good products, but dont want them to get blasted due to bad shop performance.

This will be my last post in this thread. I wont be going back to Prime Motoring. Prime, Dimitry, etc if you want to talk to you have my phone number.

not vendor fault
ACT suuuucks

Merry christmas y'all...