1990 NA 1600 clutch judder

[dylan0451]

Hi there, i've just bought a 1990 eunos roadster, been used as a track car most of its life since it was imported in 2005

when pulling away in 1st or reverse, unless i slip the clutch at 2k or so rpm i get huge amounts of clutch judder, i could just keep slipping thhe clutch but obviously i'll wear it out fast

i know there's a ton of info about the mk2.5 + mk3 regarding clutch judder, but i get the impression that it was more a mazda issue rather than abuse which i assume is more likely for a track car

is it likely or would it be prudent to change the flywheel as well as the clutch?

does anyone have experience with better quality / longer lasting components?

cheers for replies!

[Stickers]

Might be a trait common to all Roadsters/MX5's? I have a '92 Mk1 Roadster & I have the same clutch judder issues - they can be more severe once the car has been driven a few miles.

The stick can sometimes thrash about a fair bit so & tend to try & get the car rolling, drop the revs & let the clutch out completely then throttle again - this is fairly easy to achieve but easier said than done when pulling away up a hill.

[dylan0451]

i've done the same as you've said - lettinng the clutch out at low revs then putting the power down, but its annoying you should have to pull away in such a slow controlled way

it would seem to me if your gearstick thrashes about a lot it would be worth changing/checking engine and gearbox mounts as the engine and box are moving about seperately and excessively from the shell - change gear boots upper and lower also - i found my turret was completely dry of oil!

as for the judder, i don't think its something you should have to live with, i can't believe mazda would have released cars from the factory like that, so they can't have designed them to have a 'characteristic' like that

maybe the flyin miata stuff is worth a looking at?!

[Stickers]

dylan0451 said:

i know there's a ton of info about the mk2.5 + mk3 regarding clutch judder,

I think that speaks for itself!

[dylan0451]

hehe, well i see where you're coming from...

but i read that when mk2/2.5/3 owners replaced the clutch (after a new OEM flywheel i presume) with an aftermarket one all was fine, or atleast was fine at their time of writing...

[MazDave]

I've given the (presumably standard) clutch in my 1.8 a fairly hard time (hill climbs and tyre warming) as I did on my previous 1.6 for over a year and I was pleasantly surprised to never have a problem, neither with slip/wear or judder.
In my experience judder results from over heating the clutch/flywheel mating faces resulting in deposits of clutch material altering the surface of the flywheel (much like "warping" brake discs) Minor judder usually improves with use but won't completely disappear. The only sure fire fix is new clutch and flyweel.

Dave

[Stickers]

MazDave said:

I've given the (presumably standard) clutch in my 1.8 a fairly hard time (hill climbs and tyre warming) as I did on my previous 1.6 for over a year and I was pleasantly surprised to never have a problem, neither with slip/wear or judder.
In my experience judder results from over heating the clutch/flywheel mating faces resulting in deposits of clutch material altering the surface of the flywheel (much like "warping" brake discs) Minor judder usually improves with use but won't completely disappear. The only sure fire fix is new clutch and flyweel.

Dave

So are you saying that the flywheel itself may be warped?

[MX-5 Lazza]

When a clutch judders it usually causes hot-spots on the flywheel which slowly harden the metal. The only way to get rid of the hard spots is to machine the face of the flywheel or replace it. I doubt it's warped.

[MazDave]

As Lazza says I'd be amazed if its warped. But the surface may well be uneven. Usually when brake discs are referred to as warped they aren't either - its a similar process of deposition of friction material. A skim on a flywheel may be all that's needed.

[dylan0451]

i guess getting the surface machined would be the cheaper option, though i'm growing quite fond of these:

http://www.flyinmiata.com/index.php?deptid=4531&am...