Hey guys,

As most of you know I just installed my fidanza flywheel and Exedy Stage 1 clutch. I was wondering how it is supposed to feel. The reason I ask is, during moderate acceleration and changing gears, it it bogs for about 250 rpms. What I mean is, when I shift from 1st to 2nd, there is a slight surge in power if I accelerate a little faster. It does the same from 2nd to 3rd and to 4th. This only happens during harder acceleration. Is this normal for breaking a clutch, or am I just not used to it yet. My engagement is very, very close to the ground. Please respond.

 

Is it past the break in period???

 

you may not be used to the clutch yet. your body must adjust to it. it may take time. i am going through a similar situation as you right now. fidanza with valeo clutch. i'm also trying to get used to the feel of the light flywheel and it's impact on shifting and just the whole feel of the car. a different planet so far.

 

No it is not past the break in period, I just did some research and it said it will slip a little till the clutch and flywheel settles. So no more worries for now. I'm pretty used to the low floor engagements now but just can't quite shift smoothly everytime.

 

how long is the break-in period typically?

 

about 500 miles

i ripped on my new stock clutch from the time i picked it up, it was slipping horribly from gear to gear, so i layed off it for a while and changed my whole style of driving and now it grabs like it should. Give it some time and experiment with differnet clutch/gas combinations, once you find the sweet spot, u'll know

 

Question for you Fidanza guys: Would you be able to slowly release the clutch on level ground and have a smooth start without giving it any gas at all? Or is the flywheel just too light? I'm just curious about drivability issues before I decide to get one. I'm sure there will be plenty more threads about them when more get installed, though.

 

I didn't race with my new clutch in until I broke it in for 1000 miles, just to make sure...

 

i am beginning to love the Fidanza now that i have driven with it a little more. i hated it at the start because i thought the break-in period, replete with copius amounts of slippage of the new clutch, was "it." so i thought i had wasted my money. but now results are happening and i understand that there is a natural slippage/break-in period.

get the flywheel. definitely.

 

yes, I can still do that.

Only driveabiltiy issue that I notice is when I take my car to high rpms, say over 6K, then I must shift really fast or my rpm's drop to quickly. Although it does not really matter because if I am driving my car like that then I would be shifting fast anyhow.

So there is really no dirveability issues.

 

yes. i noticed that, too. i think a short-throw shifter would go hand-and-hand with a lightweight flywheel setup.

 

My act and stock flywheel bog more after 10k. I babied for 5k. Still shuddering into 1st from a stop. I think my engine mounts may need to be replaced.

Anyways, my combo sucks. Feels like stock between shifts. Engine bogs. No more grabbiness, which I loved. I think I can still chirp 3rd, but don't wanna try.

Jae

 

i don't understand how it could bog more after the break-in period.(?) after it breaks in, the setup should get sweeter and grabbier.

 

i have no idea. i'm very upset w/ACT. Anybody who wants to give it a try, lemme know. I did the install myself w/an experienced .org member. Positive we installed it correctly.

Jae

 

Well, I am experiencing the bog as well coming to a stop with the car in neutral. It studders below 500 rpms at times. If I am stopping for a stop sign and turning my steering wheel and have the car in neutral, it feels like my power steering pump is about to give out. I only feel this when the car falls below 500rpm as I slow to a stop. There is a very slight bog as my car idles. it goes from fluctuates from about 500-650 at times. Usually only about 50rpm difference. I only have about 150 mile one my clutch and flywheel but hopefully this will cease or I might have my car idle at a higher rpm...

 

Just curious, what motor oil are you using?
Jae

 

is this studdering the "clutch chatter" problem? would this bogging be non-clutch related as well? in other words, are there moving parts along the way, before the clutch, that could be causing the bog?

 

hmm I have this issue too, my car fluctuates about 50 rpm up and down at idle for no reason... weird.

 

my car does it, too, the rpm fluctuation. it is minor. the car has always done it. it does not always do it. but it can. it doesn't seem to be harmful.

 

I don't see how RPM fluctuation would have to do with the clutch and/or flywheel. Could it be a dirty throttle body or IACV?? A tune-up might be in order.

 

i never thought it had anything to do with the clutch/flywheel either. it was just brought up. tune-ups don't help it.

 

I've cleaned the TB, changed the sparks, fuel filter, air filter, filter/oil change, checked timing. Nothing helps. I only started noticing it after I changed the clutch.

Jae

 

Same here, I did all that except the IAVC valve. Does anyone have a pic of this? I would love to clean it

 

it seems the IAVC is a key player in engine performance. a simple little bastar'd but always elusive. a pic of it would help me, too.

 

There are two hoses that connect to your intake. Follow the one that heads more or less to the TB. That's the valve.

 

got it.thanks. a valve with a screw in it. under the TB kind of.

 

400 mile and counting...Not too much slippage.. My clutch grabs great from 1st-3rd. 4th and 5th still has to settle.

 

i am probably at about 300+ mi. it still slips, but is getting better little by little. i notice the grabbing improving mostly in the lower gears, too.

 

I don't know much about this topic, but could the 50 RPM flux be because of the lightened flywheel. Am I wrong that the weight of the flywheel helps keep the engine idleing by circular momentum? Therefor a lighter flywheel would not have the same mometum and could screw with the idle speed?

 

If that were the case wouldn't in just idle higher. I don't how that would cause the RPM's to jump up and down. Whoever has this problem should try cleaning the IACV first, I would think.

 

750 miles on my new OE clutch and findanza flywheel. 2nd still does not grab that good but the others are fine.

 

the idling problem existed long before i swapped the flywheel. the fly has nothing to do with it. i will consider the IACV. that is a likely culprit. as tune ups and O2 sensors and MAF's and the like never cleared the problem up. it is not really a big deal, the fluctuation. it is somewhat annoying if you want your car to be in tip-top order.

 

can the original/stock flywheel be resurfaced?
Jae

 

affirmative.

 

Actually, I have never had the fluctations while idling until after my flywheel and clutch was installed. I dunno what the problem is. I will try the iavc as soon as the weather clears up