240 Clutch shudder

hessam69 · 06-20-2022, 08:11 PM

On my 1990 240 with M47, upon take off there is a big shuddering vibrating feeling during engagement of the clutch as the wheels start moving. This happens to a lesser degree the more it happens (ie in traffic when the clutch warms up it smooths itself out)

What component in the clutch is worn? There is no slipping of the clutch and the point at which it begins to engage is very low in the pedal.

Thank you in advance

dl242gt · 06-20-2022, 08:56 PM

The surface of the flywheel may not be smooth and flat anymore if there are a lot of miles on the clutch. Also the same goes for the pressure plate surface. So, with some wear from heat and use you can get some shudder in the driveline as you take off.

The springs in the disc are supposed to smooth out the takeoff. But they could be weak with age and I've seen clutch failures where they fell ouf of the disc.

Janspeed · 06-25-2022, 05:46 AM

I'm not very familiar with the 240 but maybe the engine mounts are bad/broken/worn? If there is also a guibo (aka flex joint) between gearbox and drive shaft maybe also check that. (hard to see, use a pry bar to actually see if the rubber of the guibo is cracked.
Maybe the centre support bearing of the drive shaft is clapped out?

What i'm basically saying is: don't directly assume that the clutch is the problem. Check the entire drive line.

2manyturbos · 06-25-2022, 02:05 PM

According to an engineer at McCleod the most common cause of clutch shudder with OEM type clutch discs is a marcel spring that has gone flat from heat resulting it something more like a race clutch disc. The marcel spring allows smooth engagement of the clutch because the disc actually compresses/drags on the flywheel/pressure plate before the clutch totally locks up.

https://motoiq.com/clutch-technology...-construction/

Kjets On a Plane · 06-25-2022, 06:29 PM

^This, diaphragm spring all warped/too old & heat cycled/fatigued & shot, cracked flywheel surface &/or shot engine mounts/drivetrain parts loose...

Good luck. The clutch is chattering in my Honda Insect sometimes/intermittently, but it does have tons of miles/years on it (I'm kinda hard on clutches), city traffic, marginal motor mounts & I resurfaced the giant (for the engine size/vehicle weight & crawler 1st gear) flywheel (to cope with the brutal electric motor torque off idle in swept area)..I regret resurfacing the flywheel when fixing the trans & reusing the clutch, but whatever...I got another decade out of it? & it needs a 2nd gear syncro or close ratio Honda Fit trans swap, anyway...

283SD · 06-25-2022, 07:18 PM

Could also be oil soaked.

Kjets On a Plane · 06-25-2022, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 283SD

Could also be oil soaked.

Truth...oil or water or some sort of contamination is possible / common enough as a cause of chatter on a dry clutch...

hessam69 · 06-25-2022, 08:34 PM

Thanks for the replies, the car is due for new engine and gearbox mounts anyway

06-20-2022, 08:11 PM	#1
hessam69 Board Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia	Clutch shudder On my 1990 240 with M47, upon take off there is a big shuddering vibrating feeling during engagement of the clutch as the wheels start moving. This happens to a lesser degree the more it happens (ie in traffic when the clutch warms up it smooths itself out) What component in the clutch is worn? There is no slipping of the clutch and the point at which it begins to engage is very low in the pedal. Thank you in advance

06-20-2022, 08:56 PM	#2
dl242gt Old and boxy but good. Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: S NJ, a suburb of Phila.	The surface of the flywheel may not be smooth and flat anymore if there are a lot of miles on the clutch. Also the same goes for the pressure plate surface. So, with some wear from heat and use you can get some shudder in the driveline as you take off. The springs in the disc are supposed to smooth out the takeoff. But they could be weak with age and I've seen clutch failures where they fell ouf of the disc. __________________ Dave, 1982 242 turbo. 338k miles. MVP coilovers and 3" exhaust. Flowed 405 with a V15. Cossie turbine housing with upgraded compressor housing. 90+, IPD remote oil filter. Some other goodness, too. Been lots of fun over 25 years. Restored in 2k. Now ready for a 2nd restoration. 1993 245 Classic, 440k miles, enem V15. IPD bars and chassis braces. Simons sport exhaust from Scandix. sbabbs ezk chip. Been a good road warrior. Genuine Volvo rebuilt leaky M47.

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06-25-2022, 05:46 AM	#3
Janspeed Board Member Join Date: Sep 2005	I'm not very familiar with the 240 but maybe the engine mounts are bad/broken/worn? If there is also a guibo (aka flex joint) between gearbox and drive shaft maybe also check that. (hard to see, use a pry bar to actually see if the rubber of the guibo is cracked. Maybe the centre support bearing of the drive shaft is clapped out? What i'm basically saying is: don't directly assume that the clutch is the problem. Check the entire drive line.

06-25-2022, 02:05 PM	#4
2manyturbos Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Monroe, OR USA	According to an engineer at McCleod the most common cause of clutch shudder with OEM type clutch discs is a marcel spring that has gone flat from heat resulting it something more like a race clutch disc. The marcel spring allows smooth engagement of the clutch because the disc actually compresses/drags on the flywheel/pressure plate before the clutch totally locks up. https://motoiq.com/clutch-technology...-construction/

06-25-2022, 07:18 PM	#6
283SD Board Member Join Date: Mar 2008	Could also be oil soaked.

06-25-2022, 08:34 PM	#8
hessam69 Board Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia	Thanks for the replies, the car is due for new engine and gearbox mounts anyway