Clutch Noise Part II...

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 ccowx wrote:

Have you made sure the TOB is right? Reason I ask is that I have a 1970 car and I used the RAM 88499HDX clutch kit, which is the heavy duty version of what you are using I believe. Great clutch, works well, BUT I had a clutch failure because it is issued with the wrong TOB. 
In 1970 AMC went to a slightly smaller throw out bearing, which is mentioned in PAS. It seems that this information is not known at RAM because all of their kits come with the larger TOB for a pre 1969 car. I guess this makes sense in a way since the larger bearing was the reccomended performance version. I have told RAM about this several times and even had a warranty serviced for a new clutch, but I don't get the feeling that they ever did anything about the incorrect TOB in their "67-74 clutch kit". If they have left it as is for the heavy duty kit I suspect they did not for the standard kit either. Perhaps Centerforce is using the same information?  

Unfortunately, my bearing made a rattling, grinding type noise and the only way to get rid of it was to push down on the pedal and take up the slack in the linkages. When I took it apart, the TOB had failed, along with the clutch, and they had worn away the bearing retainer on the trans until it simply broke through. 

If you need the correct bearing number for a 70 and up clutch I can find it.

Chris

PS: I happen to have my maintenance log on the coffee table, so here goes on the part numbers. The larger 69 and earlier type is #N1489. The smaller 70 and up version is #N1491. #1489 is the one that came in the 88499HDX kit and I would imagine they put the same one in the 772 kit also.   

Thanks for the info.  I originally had RAM B&B kit # 88772HDX (VERY stiff) and the TOB had the correct ID (although a little oversize, I thought), but it was very tight on the fingers of the clutch fork.  At this point in time, I still had the original snout on the trans bearing cover and was using a new clutch fork I bought from American Parts Depot since the fingers were worn on my original fork.  When I did my first road test, that is when the vibration problem started.  My first thought was that RAM had sent a bad TOB in the kit so I changed it out to a Centerforce (#N1491) and repaired my original clutch fork and went back to it.  Still same noise. I measured everything which checked out.  I changed the plastic clutch linkage bushings out for bronze and had a new linkage adjuster made that pushed the clutch fork in a nice straight direction. I sent the clutch and TOB back to RAM to check and they said they were fine.

SO, I bought a diaphragm clutch kit from Centerforce (DF271739) and another TOB (third one if you are keeping score...).  Same noise, maybe even a bit louder.

IDK, something is causing the TOB to vibrate/chatter as soon as it touches the clutch fingers.  Since everything measures out correctly and I have replaced every part (except the flywheel and dampener) I think I have a weird out-of-balance issue that is not enough to shake/vibrate the engine, but enough to cause the TOB to chatter.  I am out of ideas other than that.

Jack