Eagle Talon (95) clutch question

[dodgeshadowchik]

Hey!

I don't know if anyone here has experience with the DSM's, but I figured I'd ask. Car is a 1995 Eagle Talon turbo AWD

These cars run a hydraulic clutch system. Well, the other day the pedal started acting weird. It would take my entire body weight to push the pedal in far enough to get the clutch to disengage. I kinda figured it might be the slave cylinder or the hose, since the car did sit for 2 years prior to me getting it. So I thought maybe I didn't get all the dirt out of the system.

OK, so I put a new slave cylinder on it and replaced the rubber line. I bleed the system. I think it still has air in it. I also adjusted the pedal not sure if its right. I drove it and it seem ok but after it sat for about 1/2 hour it was screwed up again (clutch would not disengage). My question is when you bleed it press pedal down after closing the bleeder should the clutch pedal return by its self or do you need to help it back up?

I've found that the different people have different ways of bleeding the system. The seem to conflict with eachother, too. So, has anyone here ever delt with a dsm clutch? And if so, how did you bleed the system?

Thanks!!

[BadAssPerformance]

Damn, and only a few months ago I helped a friend diagnose this same (common) issue... if it was 2.2L related I would have remembered what it was

[dodgeshadowchik]

hahaha!

it sucks. its driving me crazy!

[BadAssPerformance]

Maybe try to bleed it differently? Is there a fork adjustment on those?

[dodgeshadowchik]

I did read on one website that if you have the flywheel machined, then the fork should be shimmed. Of course, this was AFTER the car was put back together. But, wouldn't this have shown up earlier if that was the case? I have about 10,000 miles on it since the clutch was put in. The Chilton's manual is proving to be more and more worthless. :/

I'm going to try this other way of bleeding it later. I hope it works. I REALLY DONT WANT to pull the trans!!!!!! I would cry.

I wonder if the guy in California with the nice looking CSX wants to trade?

[WickedShelby88]

I would suggest trying to back feed fluid into the bleeder while the clutch is depressed slightly with the cap off the master. This usually helps get the air all the way out. It would do it all the time if it was actually clutch related unless your throwout bearing is literally getting stuck when it gets hot.

[dodgeshadowchik]

Ok, took the suggestions I got and re-bled the system. It seems to be ok. Tomorrow moring will be the test when I get up to go to work.

I hope it stays ok. I want to work on the project car... not the DSM!

[WickedShelby88]

Theres are few ways to make that DSM fit in the dumpster. I just saw a 2nd gen eclipse on the side of the road on my way to work yesterday. I hope you have better luck with yours.

[dodgeshadowchik]

Found the problem today:


That's what fell out when the inspection sheild was removed. So much for an ACT 2100 clutch.

Oh well. I contacted ACT and it looks like they are going to help me with it. The clutch is like 6 months old. ACT has a 90 day warranty, but they brag about how wonderful thier clutches are, so they seem to want to help me. Which is a good thing, as I paid alot for this thing. So we'll see. I sent them pictures of the pieces, and I'll send them photos of the entire clutch once its out of the car. Can't wait to see that! :/

[BadAssPerformance]

Ouch! nice carnage!

ACT is pretty good to work woth and they stand behind their products

[dodgeshadowchik]

Yea, you can see hair-line cracks in the metal... so its definatly a manufacturing defect. I'm just hoping they will help me out.

What I'm worried about is if they see blue. I'm pretty sure there's going to be some discoloration as the car was limped form Detroit to Taylor (about 15 miles) in 3rd gear...... in other words... it got pretty hot. But I could not shift the car into any gear at all. I had to shut it off, put it in gear and then turn it on to get the car to move. It was real fun to drive......

[BadAssPerformance]

Just make sure you tell them that you had to limp it so they know when you talk to them and they may/should understand.

[dodgeshadowchik]

I will definatly do that.

[dodgeshadowchik]

For those who like carnage pics, here's the ACT clutch and the damage it did to the bellhousing. However, there's no holes in the housing, (lucky for me!!!) so it could've been much worse! this clutch has 10,000 miles on it.

[BadAssPerformance]

Ouch, nice carnage! Glad the trans is ok

[dodgeshadowchik]

Me too! DSM transmission are not cheap. Appraently this happened to another midsm.com board member a few months back. Except he had a nice hole in the bellhousing.....




ouch! So I'm thinking... perhaps there was a bad run of pressure plates? His clutc was out of warranty also and ACT gave him a new pressure plate and 2 discs... but they didn't do anything for the hole.

[BadAssPerformance]

Wow, looks totally the same, just one more finger broken on yours!

You're probably right on the bad run? or mybe just underdesigned for the loads?

[dodgeshadowchik]

yea, i think one more broke off of mine. This particular clutch (2100) is rated for 322 ft-lbs of torque.... (ACT rates their products by torque rating) and i know the talon is no where near that! That's the primary reason I bought it. I wanted a clutch that I *thought* would hold up well to a daily driven stock car. LOL

[BadAssPerformance]

Yeah, that failure was not due to torque, more fatigue from flexing.

[dodgeshadowchik]

Yeah, but still I would think it would be able to hold up! lol