What exactly is clutch chadder?

[Big P]

Like the heading says, what is clutch chadder?

 

[JMarkos]

To me it feels like the presure plate is springing back and fourth on the clutch disc, which is what it is doing. It makes it a real treat to try to back up a heavy trailer.

 

[Joe Mc]

Like JMarkos said, and when you're letting the clutch out you can feel the pedal kida vibrating also the rear suspension kind of bounces too, if you don't have a load. Basically it's like the clutch is engaging in steps/bobbiling out instead of smoothly releasing. Make sure you have the flywheel resurfaced before installing the new clutch.

 

[South Bend Clutch]

MPagnucco,



It can be a combination of things but the most common is when you are letting off the clutch peddle, the pressure plate begins to squeeze or clamp the clutch disc. At this point it is like a needle skipping on a record. The pressure plate is like grabbing and then letting go. It can even give you chatter while pulling a heavy load or over powering the clutch. The disc tries to break away creating the transmission at its drive to hesitate causing the same feeling. That is with a stock clutch with nothing else wrong. When something is wrong forcing the clutch to act up, the causes could be oil on the clutch disc linings or uneven pressure plate fingers not allowing the pressure plate to contact the disc evenly. Also worn pivot ball and clutch fork. If you heat up a clutch you will create hot spots on the flywheel and pressure plate. The hot spots if you were to run your hand across them would be raised spots on a flat surface thus giving chatter on engagement.



When you get into performance clutches, other things can occur to create the same thing. Like a button or metal clutch, a couple of things can happen. One is there can be to much grabbing power causing the dampened (springs) portion of the clutch disc to bottom out. This gives a bucking sensation creating the same feeling. The other thing is the pressure plate does not have enough clamping power to handle the metal thus skipping over it instead of grabbing it. Double disc clutches have 4 surfaces to try and engage at the same time with a rigged style of discs. If everything is not working perfectly together once the clutch grabs the input or transmission starts turning immediately thus causing the wheals to hop.



After all this mumbo jumbo that I have TRIED to say, it could be the truck itself. Motor mounts, transmission mounts or weak leaf springs. If you add a HD clutch to a truck with weak leaf springs you will definitely get a so called clutch chatter.





I don't know if I really answered your question but that was the best I could do on a Sunday night after a golf outting.



Peter

 

[John Berger]

It's actually similar to hanging chadder with the only difference being the frequency at which your clutch chadder occurs. Hanging chadder - once every 4 years and cases are widespread throughout Florida. Clutch chadder - usually in low gears or when backing up a load or when lugging the engine.



Hope this helps.