Hey everyone, I might be just paranoid but I don't want to do another clutch job on my car.

I have a 2001 5 speed with about 147,xxx miles and the clutch died on me. I replaced it this monday with a Exedy OEM clutch kit. New disk, pressure plate, throwout bearing and pilot (even though it's not needed in our cars). I resurfaced the flywheel because it was in a good condition and switched to AMSOIL GL-4 synthetic gear oil. I also put on new wagner ceramic brake pads, and a tune up (motor oil, air filter, spark plugs). I drove the car Monday and Tuesday, no burning smell and it was all city miles. Stop and go traffic. Today as I headed for work, I'm forced to take the highway. As I got off and stopped at a red light I smelled this HORRIBLE burning odor. My clutch engage point is perfect, maybe around the halfway point which to my opinion is good and is engaging and disengaging good because i know when it engages high is when there's that problem.

My shifting I would say is pretty good. Only when going from a stop into first I release the clutch slowly while slightly adding gas(not over 1500 rpms). If I release from first too fast I start shaking and I stalled a couple times already. After first gear and I'm moving I engage and disengage the clutch normally. Not too fast and not too slow. Shifting is great, no grinding noises while in neutral or in gear. No clutch slipping at all in any gear. It seems to be working correctly. Except for that damn smell that has me scared. :'(

Would you guys say this burning smell is normal for new clutches being broken in? Could it be the brakes? Is my shifting technique good or should i work on it?

I would also like some advice on breaking in the clutch correctly.
Just a FYI I'm driving like a grandma. Nothing over 3,000 rpms. No clutch dropping or taking off. Any other info on break in?


Thank you in advance everyone!

 

Probably your brakes from braking off the highway. Did you put in new rotors too?? Most rotors and pads have factory "greases" on them that need to burn off. Or grease from your hands from doing the install.

The easiest way to find out is take her on the highway again and brake at highway speed. You will smell it right away, and that would be your brakes. Usually if you are burning out the clutch it will smell all the time, and more when you are taking off (or slipping the clutch) not when your come to a stop.

Breaking the clutch in is a basically driving like a gramma for a while. You want to make sure that you aren't slipping the clutch to much or you risk glazing your newly surfaced flywheel (I hope you machined it properly not just scuffed it with sand paper)