Clutch Judder '21 6MT - Brand New LCE Performance Clutch

Sounds like there’s something wrong. Can’t say what, but this doesn’t sound normal to me. I only have experience with the stick clutch on a Tacoma but have had many manual transmissions with various clutches and none shuddered.

 

Any performance clutches?

 

yes, but on V8s. Nothing on a Tacoma.

 

All the design principles are the same. I just cannot imagine that shudder/judder is normal after a new clutch.

 

The shudder, or chatter, definitely is not normal with a stock clutch. My experience with performance clutches whether a lined clutch disc or a puck clutch disc is that they do chatter on take off due to more aggressive engagement of the disc to the flywheel surface. This is to reduce slippage as the clutch engages. The Car Care Nut has a recent video dealing specifically with this issue. Although that truck in question had a puck style disc, the solution was to replace the clutch with stock parts. Unfortunately it’s impossible to have it both ways.

 

See diagnosis chart

 

One way to make a new clutch chatter is to run the clutch cover bolts down unevenly. I always go criss cross back and forth and to about 1 turn on each bolt at a time until they're all snug, then torque them. I've watched people run them down with an air ratchet or impact and they chatter....presumably because the pressure plate was warped. I've taken these, simply loosened everything up and reinstalled the bolts properly and everything worked fine afterwards.

A new clutch shouldn't chatter....it has nothing to do with "break in". It was either a botched install or a POS clutch.

Performance clutches can have either heavier pressure plates, more aggressive lining on the disc, or both. I've seen some of the sintered puck type clutches have very aggressive engagement, but every OEM type disc (like this one) should operate like the OEM clutch.

 

If that is in fact the case, then I'm fine with the shudder. I just didn't want to continue to drive it if there was an issue.. Thanks for you're feedback. Info is really all I'm after about whether or not this is judder/chatter with a performance clutch is to be expected to a certain degree. When I spoke to the guys at LCE today though, they said this isn't something they've encountered often, which is not a confidence booster. They placed a note on the order so that if there are continued issues with this, a warranty claim will be easier to file.

Also, thanks for the heads up on the car care nut vid. I'll look it up. Love that guy.

 

Thanks for that. Looks like a really good resource to have.

 

THANK YOU. This is exactly one of the things I wondered if might have happened on the install. I appreciate folks saying this is normal and all, but my gut tells me otherwise. Truck goes into another favorite shop of mine this weekend and I'll get a second opinion from a tech I know and trust. Only reason I didn't go with them first is because they mainly do Honda. The shop that did my install is Toyota only for the most part and came highly recommended.

When picking it up today from that shop, I noticed the master tech I spoke to had another guy there turning wrenches. I wonder if this guy is doing most of the wrenching and the master tech just checks his work every now and then. Don't know...

Either way, your feedback suggests a second opinion is definitely in order. Thanks.

 

No second opinion needed...It needs to be torn down and fixed. Either the tech screwed up or the parts are bad....there really isn't an option "C" here.

 

That's where I'm at too. Being told "just go drive it and break it in"...really man? I'm not some jackass who doesn't know about cars. I've been driving manual for over 30 years. A shop that says that to me and brushes off the concern never gets my business again.

 

Is this the first Tacoma you’ve had with a manual? You might want to drive another one and see if your standards for a good mt set up might be high. Mine certainly was. I just did the acc delete and it makes it better but not as good as any other manual I’ve owned. It’s definitely different and almost like it wasn’t really meant for this particular truck to have a MT. But you know what, I’m perfectly happy with it. It feels tough and rugged and I wouldn’t expect anything less from Toyota.

 

WHINE is usually from gear noise. Stupid question, have you checked the transmission oil to make sure it is full ?? When removing a transmission usually you will loose some oil. Alot of folks forget to ck this after installing the trans...

 

I'll get that checked, but fluids were fresh before install.

 

Have you ever driven any vehicle with a performance clutch before?
I've never personally driven a manual Tacoma but I have owned many cars in the past with performance clutches with the usual HD pressure plates and both sprung/unsprung discs/pucks and they always chattered/judder/shudder whatever you want to call it upon engagement especially during heavy stop and go traffic.

 

While they’re in that area, I’d make sure the accumulator “slave cylinder” has been properly bled as well.

 

Yes. One on a WRX and one on an STI

But again, LCE did recognize this as a common issue when using this clutch.

 

Heavy duty pressure plate and non-oe material can absolutely have a harsher engagement or 'shutter'.

Source: built many 'race' vehicles with everything from 4 puck unsprung and superlight flywheels to OE disc/OE PP. 20 years as a tech as well. Drove a 4 puck unsprung with HD PP for years in a daily driver, unintentional burnouts were common lol.

The HD pressure plates with oe material had a slight judder at engagement. Try not riding the clutch going in to 2nd gear, don't let the revs hang up if possible (oe tuning SUCKS for this). Reverse/1st initial engagement is usually just a tinge harsher that you think it will be.

When in doubt, take it back and have them verify your warranty and have a 'MaStEr TeCh' sign off on it correctly functioning as a form of C.Y.A.

 

i had a '17 4 cylinder that chattered on the first few takeoffs of the drive, stock clutch. Seems like a little chatter is normal. good luck!