To D Lake

Hey all! I just installed a new Ram HDX clutch and pressure plate, Ram billet steel flywheel, FRPP pilot bearing, OEM slave cylinder, and the revised seperator plate. What I found at 40,000 miles was: a throwout bearing atop the slave cylinder that was very loose/swiveled in the wrong directions, a dried-out pilot bearing, a flywheel and pressure plate that were in bad shape (gouges/hot spots), a clutch that was cracking and wearing oddly, and a seperator plate that was rubbing the flywheel. Other than that, everything was fine .
The reason I decided to replace the clutch assembly was primarily noise related, but also this was one of the touchiest clutches I'd ever driven in a non-race vehicle. The noises came from both bearings and the flywheel rubbing on the seperator plate. The touchiness can be attributed to the poor condition of the clutch assembly overall. I am not the first owner, so I can't say how the car was driven prior to 36,000 miles .
Once I had her all buttoned up, right out of the box the noise is gone and the clutch engagement is waaaaay better. Still have to break it in, but it is much easier to drive now .
If you have the seperator plate "buzz", be careful when you attempt to fix it by bending it out. I believe that is what caused the high-pitched squeel that lasted 5-10 minutes after cold start. If you look at the revised plate, you'll notice that Ford cut away the material that was contacting on the original, as well as adding a rib to prevent the buzz .
Pics are in my album. https://mustangforums.com/forum/memb...5-gt-vert.html

Robb

hammeron

that's a great pic and nice work on the clutch job.

HypromanGT

I'll be throwing this thread into my bag of info goodies for sure. I think/hope that the noise I am hearing is from that stupid separator plate, and these are some of the best pictures I think I've seen of the issue so far. Too bad my warranty's up

Thanks for the great info!