Clutch Issues (I think)

[JohnFL]

Hello,

I've been lurking for years on the forum but never actually needed to post anything. Now I have a problem and I can't find any post with a similar issue.

My Jeep is a Manual Liberty Sport (3.7l) and I have had the clutch replaced at one of this chain shops saying that it was really easy for them to do it. Since then I've had a problem that I can't easily identify what is going on.

Using the jeep in the morning have no problems after a while being used (sometimes 10 miles sometimes 50 miles) when I stop and try to put 1st and start moving the car it starts shaking like If I didn't know how to drive a manual transmission. I also tried to start it in 2nd gear and it does something similar but less violent (the shakes sometimes are really bad). If I let go the clutch it stops shaking.

When I took it back to the shop they charged me a new flywheel and still did the same thing, took it back a couple of times they drive it it works fine and they say it is fine to them. Not taking back again anymore but trying to find out if there's something I can do. This shop ONLY changed the clutch and the flywheel so I have NO idea if there's something else that needs to be changed also.

ANY help will be highly appreciated.

 

[CactusJacked]

At the very least, they should have replaced the disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing and pilot bearing. The flywheel is reusable if it isn't gouged, warped or heat checked. I just replaced the clutch assembly on mine last summer. The disc wasn't the problem, although it was getting very close to being down. My pilot bearing was shot and went to pieces, and was making a god awful noise. Flywheel was fine, and only needed to be de-glazed (hand sanded).
If your pilot bearing is worn out, the clutch disc will be "hanging" at the end of the input shaft, instead of being supported at the crank, which can cause it to bounce when disengaged and chatter while engaging. If the shop didn't replace the pilot and throwout bearings, as well as the pressure plate, then they're hacks.

 

[JohnFL]

At the very least, they should have replaced the disc, pressure plate, throwout bearing and pilot bearing. The flywheel is reusable if it isn't gouged, warped or heat checked. I just replaced the clutch assembly on mine last summer. The disc wasn't the problem, although it was getting very close to being down. My pilot bearing was shot and went to pieces, and was making a god awful noise. Flywheel was fine, and only needed to be de-glazed (hand sanded).
If your pilot bearing is worn out, the clutch disc will be "hanging" at the end of the input shaft, instead of being supported at the crank, which can cause it to bounce when disengaged and chatter while engaging. If the shop didn't replace the pilot and throwout bearings, as well as the pressure plate, then they're hacks.

Thanks for your ifeedback. I have no way to know what have they changed now. Any thoughts other than taking it somewhere else to be checked?

 

[adamkrz]

What year is your Jeep, Flywheels are not available for 02's - 04's, Chain auto repair shops are a gamble every time..

 

[CactusJacked]

Thanks for your ifeedback. I have no way to know what have they changed now. Any thoughts other than taking it somewhere else to be checked?

You could remove the slave cylinder, but all you may see is the pressure plate to tell if that looks shiny new.
Only way of knowing what all was done is by dropping the trans again. It's hindsight now, but it's always best to ask to get your old parts back, not only to feel more confident that they changed your parts, but to know the condition they were in.
DIY or standing over someone else's shoulder is the only way to be certain about anything.

 

[JohnFL]

What year is your Jeep, Flywheels are not available for 02's - 04's, Chain auto repair shops are a gamble every time..

Mine is 2003 so not sure why the gave me my "old" (I hope!) flywheel....very similar to this one:

http://images.apwcontent.com/is/image/Autos/lukdmf069_is?wid=250&hei=250&DefaultImage=noimage

I know that it is a gamble but I have no way to do this by my self, I have no way to raise the jeep and probably not all the necessary tools to do the job by myself.

Thank you very much for the information

 

[JohnFL]

You could remove the slave cylinder, but all you may see is the pressure plate to tell if that looks shiny new.
Only way of knowing what all was done is by dropping the trans again. It's hindsight now, but it's always best to ask to get your old parts back, not only to feel more confident that they changed your parts, but to know the condition they were in.
DIY or standing over someone else's shoulder is the only way to be certain about anything.

I did ask for the parts and they told they didn't have them (after a weekend). I would LOVE to be doing this type of job DIY but I have no way to do it, no lift, and probably not all the tools needed.

I'm really sad about all this, you pay good money ($1200) for a job you expect them to do right and they don't care....according to them "is your car Sr." when trying to explain why it is doing what is doing....not sure what that meant....

thanks for your help.

 

[Billwill]

Mine is 2003 so not sure why the gave me my "old" (I hope!) flywheel....very similar to this one:

http://images.apwcontent.com/is/image/Autos/lukdmf069_is?wid=250&hei=250&DefaultImage=noimage

I know that it is a gamble but I have no way to do this by my self, I have no way to raise the jeep and probably not all the necessary tools to do the job by myself.

Thank you very much for the information

The KJ flywheel does not have a flat surface but has a curve in it...matches the curve in the friction plate.

A lot of clutch shops routinely machine the surface of the flywheel....this must not be done on the KJ....only some light sanding to get fine grooves out.

So I wonder if the shop either did machine your flywheel down or replaced it with a flat flywheel...either one would have quickly destroyed any new clutch friction plate.

Put a flat-edge across your returned flywheel to see if it has the curve in it...of course you will not know what is fitted to your KJ at the moment without dropping the gearbox....the clutch shop will deny everything of course!
You should go to a different shop to have the flywheel inspected so you will have grounds for damages if the original shop screwed up!

You can download the 2003 KJ Service Manual here....tells you about this curved flywheel and how to change the clutch assembly. I think there should be enough work space under the Jeep to not need a lift....maybe drive the front up on some bricks to raise it a bit and use a trolley jack to support the weight of the gearbox.:shrug:

http://www.colorado4wheel.com/manuals/Jeep/KJ

 

[CactusJacked]

Talk about the curvature in the flywheel may have one imagining a dome shape, but you can't tell with an easy glance. I verified the taper with a straight edge when I did my clutch. The clutch surface of the flywheel is higher in the middle and tapers down at the outer edge. The difference is ever so slight though, approximately the thickness of a sheet of paper (copy paper is .004").