Noise after clutch install

[JKreiss]

So about 2 weeks ago i had a SB DD 3250 installed with new hydros, bearings etc. My concern is that every time i push in the clutch pedal, it makes a high pitch whistle or whining sound. It's loud enough to where people in the car next to me will look at me like "hey dummy, something's wrong with your truck!" It is very grabby, hard to get into gear and makes stop and go traffic unbearible, but i knew that was the trade-off. I called SBC and they weren't sure what it could be. I definitely understand it's hard to diagnose a sound via telephone description or by reading about it but i was hoping someone else may have had this happen and can provide some input. It's going back to the installer tomorrow morning for them to take a listen. It just stinks they are an hour away and i have to take a day off work. I hope it's something simple.

 

[Lumpy]

Could be a bad or improperly installed throw-out bearing. I put one in backwards once in an old ford truck and it made a god awful skreeching/grinding noise when you disengaged the clutch.

 

[JKreiss]

Thanks for the advice Lumpy. Yeah SBC said that might be a possibility. I've never done a clutch on these trucks, is there a sure tell way to know that you've put it on backwards or is it really easy to do?

 

[DE Jeeper]

Sounds like you may have put one of the disks in backwards. The are suppose to be installed in a specific direction. The hub on the disk will rub the flywheel if installed wrong.



Aaron

 

[JKreiss]

Hi Aaron, thanks for the help. Would that allow it to make that noise with the pedal pushed in? I would think if it was rubbing on the flywheel it would make that noise only with the clutch engaged right?

 

[steved]

When engaged, everything rotates together... push the pedal in, and everything rotates independently.

 

[DE Jeeper]

It doesent pull back far enough when you step on the clutch. When you release the clutch you will sometimes get a squeak. The clutch disk will actually engage for a while but as it wears the clutch disk hub will engage the flywheel. When mine was installed backwards it caused hard shifting and even worse down shifting. Aslo reverse always grinded.



Aaron

 

[JKreiss]

Well after picking it up from the shop today, it is the opinion of the owner that what i'm hearing is the rubbing or contact being made between the two clutch disks. He showed me multiple things and tests he did and i feel a better about it i guess. I'm just going to drive it for a while and see what happens. After breaking my jeep tonight doing a stupid simple shock replacement, I've come to the realization that i don't care anymore. I baby and knit pick my vehicles to death, and for what. I'm constantly trying to "upgrade" and "improve" things and it just ends up going to crap. All my beat the heck out of their stuff and seem to have it last forever. I'm just going to roll with the clutch the way it is, if it breaks so be it. I'll take it back to the installer and we'll go from there. Thank you everybody for your help, i really do appreciate it. Sorry for the whiny pathetic rant, it's been a long day

 

[HBarlow]

Joe,

Are you sure about the course of action you've decided on? It's your truck, your money, and only your decision to make and I am no clutch expert but I think it is very likely you will have to pull the transmission out again. If I am correct, the question becomes now? Or later?

I would be concerned that ignoring the problem is very unlikely to make it go away but may destroy an expensive double disk clutch assembly. I'm not familiar with double disk clutches but if a disk is installed backward, as someone suggested, it can't remain that way and will probably damage it.

It could be a bad throwout bearing or a to bearing improperly installed or a missing or damaged pilot bearing/bushing.

I sympathize with your disappointment and frustration but I think you know postponing the inevitable tear down won't fix it.

If it was mine, I would have the shop that installed it take it apart or, if you did it, I'd recommend you do it now rather than later.

 

[Nyoest]

Joe I put a dd south bend in my 96 and was never so mad in my life. I spent so much money and time to ruin my truck. I had funky noises during engagement, severly retarded shifts and long waits to get into gear at a light. I broke it in just as the directions called for and as soon as I could I strapped the truck to a 16,000'pound 5 er for 1,200 miles. It is a completely different animal now that I have several thousand miles and a few third gear launches.



I'm suspect of your noise and think you would be ahead to heed harvey's advice.

 

[AH64ID]

Joe I put a dd south bend in my 96 and was never so mad in my life. I spent so much money and time to ruin my truck. I had funky noises during engagement, severly retarded shifts and long waits to get into gear at a light. I broke it in just as the directions called for and as soon as I could I strapped the truck to a 16,000'pound 5 er for 1,200 miles. It is a completely different animal now that I have several thousand miles and a few third gear launches.

Same thing with my OFE. Those first few miles were horrible, truck rattled and shook so bad at low rpms my rear view mirror fell off one morning. . Got the break-in done, turned the power back up and did a few WOT runs, a few 3rd gear take off's and some towing... It's SOOO much nicer now!



I don't think that's the OP's issue, but you never know. . maybe a good break-in will help.

 

[JKreiss]

Thank you very much Harvey and everybody else for your advice, I really do appreciate it. I slept on it and had a chance to rationalize everything. I'm going to call a couple shops this morning and see if i can come in and have them take a listen. While i was at the shop yesterday he had me convinced of his solution. I just don't know enough about these clutches to know what's right and what's wrong... even as an SBC installer he had not done any of the newer DD's. The shop i took it to was the only one within 100 miles that is on SBC's website as an installer. Everybody has talked about how loud and noisy they are, but really SBC has done some AMAZING refinements. This clutch is very quiet at idle, no noise during engagement, just that high pitched vibration/whistle when the clutch pedal is about half way pushed in. I'll call around today and see what i can learn. Thanks guys for your help.

 

[SierraRam]

My truck has a noise at clutch disengagement as well, sounds like a throw our bearing. Made the same exact noise for 50K miles. I believe the sound I am hearing is the center friction plate rattling with the clutch disks. The clutch work great, engages well and hold power. I have just learned to accept the noise. I even had SB send me a new throwout bearing after we first installed the clutch. Pulled everything back appart to ensure we did nothing wrong and install the new throwout bearing. Makes the same exact noise.

 

[JKreiss]

Thanks SierraRam, that makes me feel a lot better. I'm going to teach myself how to post a video when i get home from work. Maybe hearing the sound will help others diagnose it better.

 

[JKreiss]

Soooo, here's a very quick video of the sound i'm hearing. It's only when i push the pedal in. The truck is nearly impossible to get rolling from say a stop sign. Getting going when stopped on a hill is entertaining to say the least. I've never stalled this truck, EVER, until i got this clutch in. I'm definitely depressed after the financial offload and now have a truck i don't even want to drive. Anyway hopefully somebody can confirm what this is. Thanks guys!



Noise after clutch install - YouTube

 

[Prairie Dog]

I'm no clutch expert either but I've never heard one make that kind of noise.
Maybe you could email SBC and have them view your video.

 

[AH64ID]

That's not right!

Send that video to SBC, they have excellent customer service.

 

[SierraRam]

Similar sound to mine but I have never had any issues with engagement or disengagement.

 

[JKreiss]

I've emailed South Bend with a link to the video. SierraRam, is your engagement similar to a stock clutch or the does it requires some effort? Mine bucks hard then the truck shutters and i have to feather/ride the clutch out to get rolling. I'm parking it until i figure out what's going on. Thank you for your help!

 

[Nyoest]

I've emailed South Bend with a link to the video. SierraRam, is your engagement similar to a stock clutch or the does it requires some effort? Mine bucks hard then the truck shutters and i have to feather/ride the clutch out to get rolling. I'm parking it until i figure out what's going on. Thank you for your help!

I had some of that lurch myself. I finally started applying fuel gradually as I was taking off in the break in period like a small gas engine with a decent load on. It helped a lot.