clutch chatter

[Kurt Henzler]

does anybodys clutch chatter in first and second gear while towing. i have 15 k on mine and with the trailer on if you are on any kind of hill there is clutch chatter. it does not slip, it is just not as smooth as my 03 with 90k and still the stock cutch. it also has all towing miles as well. is this the two piece clutch with springs causing this? kinda sucks.

 

[roperteacher]

I only have 4,000 on my 06 and I pull pretty heavy, no chatter. I did notice a SLIGHT bit of noise when it's in Neutral and the clutch is out... . I didn't notice it when new, but it is so slight you can't even hear it over the radio being on low so I am not going to worry about it... .

 

[Kurt Henzler]

anybody else, is this normal or do you think there is a problem



thanks for any help or sugestions

 

[jelag]

We have several trucks with the 4:10 and my boy has the other rear end... . He see's chatter at about 12 to 15K of trailer weight and we see it all the time at 22K of trailer weight... . on a slight grade it gets worse... I've learned not to add fuel... let the truck idle and slowly let the clutch out to the friction point and when I know the trucks not going to stall, I just let the clutch out the rest of the way and than add fuel...



When backing a load like this I sometimes put the truck in 4 low and let the clutch out... my 04 is now at 235K miles and on clutch 3, all have been the same... I've decided to put Kevlar in my other trucks at the time of a clutch change now that I've got the pressure plate rate to a point where we can hold the kevlar... .

 

[DPKetchum]

You sure its clutch and not the differantial or driveline shudder?

 

[Kurt Henzler]

i am thinking as well it might be driveline shutter. what is a good way to tell. i can not make it happen with the truck empty. only with a load. you can be going in second gear at idle (clutch fully out) and hit the gas, if i am on any grade that is when there is shutter.

 

[DPKetchum]

Its eaither in the differantial and the reason I say that is there has been some instances of shudder from them. I have this issue and recently added some liminted slip additive to mine. I know,the AAM diffs aren't suppose to need it but some are using it. OR there is a TSB on checking driveline angle with truck loaded and eaither shiming the driveshaft carrier bearing up or down. Really sounds more like this is your issue. To check this only takes the dealer a few minutes in their parking lot and get the correct carrier bearing mount or shims ordered. Little dealer near me keeps some on hand because this issue is fairly common. One easy thing for you to do is buy some liminted slip additive and pull the fill plug and add it. Won't hurt it if it dosen't help.

 

[Kurt Henzler]

my trailer tongue weight is pretty heavy. it pushes my wheels up into the wheel wells and truck does not sit level. i added two inch spacer blocks in rear and front when truck was new and firestone air bags to level truck when loaded. it takes 60 psi in air bags to level truck loaded. with the air bags i level change driveline angles with air pressure. i understand i am not moving the carrier bearing, but i can but the diff. from 2 inches high in rear to 3 inches low by letting out the pressure. there seems to be no difference in shutter.

 

[DPKetchum]

I pull about 10k 3 horse 8 foot living qtrs. horse trailer. Mine does this BAD shudder on take off after a few HUNDERED miles of towing. Let it sit and cool down it goes away for another couple hundered miles. Mine feels or I should say I'm about 100% postive its from the diff. The it started a shudder unloaded on left turns. I added some liminted slip additive and it cured the left turn thing. I have not towed at hiway speeds a few hundered miles again so not sure if fixed or not. I did find another post or two on other sites with same complaints and issues. My trailer sits my truck on the helper springs and I like it there. It rides level only then and gives me plenty of trailer to bed clearance. I do NOT want to add air bags or raise the back end of the truck. It should NOT shudder if its slam down on the helpers etc. Fliud in my diffs have about 10k on it. Amsoil 80w90 Severe Gear. I added a additive from a auto parts store. Like $8 bucks.

 

[Kurt Henzler]

i can see the diff on turns, but not the straight aways pulling out from a stop sign. for those that have shimmed there carrier bearing, how much shim. is it very slight. more or less than 1/4 inch. ?

 

[DPKetchum]

Some are shimmed and some are shortened. I have had the shudder on STRAIGHT line and I found other posts on other forums that have. DTR and do a shudder search and a post from MADDUC. Carson Dodge also mentions the STRAIGHT line. The straight line may not be 100 percent straight. Been told even a SLIGHT differance from straight will cause the issue.