The Camaro clutch is the worst I've owned yet....seriously

[coolcamaroZ28]

Just look under the dash at where the clutch pedal connects and you'll see the culprit. Removing that spring was the best mod I ever did. Smooth as butter now...

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showpo...0&postcount=17

[JoshBobGuptaMarley]

Originally Posted by kcobean

I have had a number of sports cars over the years and the clutch in my Camaro is by far the worst feeling clutch of any of them. I'm curious if others have the same impression. The back pressure is like the clutch is on a compound bow cam. Light pressure close to the floor that gets harder until about 3/4 of the way up where it kind of "pops" like it's rolling over the lobe and then it gets easier again. It makes it very difficult to shift smoothly when the clutch pedal pressure is changes through the stroke. When that "pop" occurs, if I'm not ready for it, it makes the car jerk.

Anyone else?

What mods have you done?

[Baba]

Mine is the smoothest clutch I've ever driven, hands-down.

[kcobean]

Originally Posted by JoshBobGuptaMarley

What mods have you done?

It's a bone stock ZL575..so, lowered, Maggie, axle-back exhaust..."from the factory"

[RichGreene]

I agree. I'm used to it now but it sure is different than any other setup I've ever had. Over 40 manuals in my life. My 66 and 67 Vettes (both big blocks) had friendlier clutches.

[John Deere Boy]

This is what happens when people complain. Some weenies complained about smooth clutches that required too much effort, so engineers design the "compound bow" clutch that screws everyone. (my opinion)

[FosterSS]

Originally Posted by coolcamaroZ28

Just look under the dash at where the clutch pedal connects and you'll see the culprit. Removing that spring was the best mod I ever did. Smooth as butter now...

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showpo...0&postcount=17

Have a lot of guys done this? It just makes the return a bit smoother or what?

[John Deere Boy]

Originally Posted by FosterSS

Have a lot of guys done this? It just makes the return a bit smoother or what?

No, but a lot of guys have had the clutch pedal stick to the floor during aggressive driving, so i'm kind of afraid to remove it. What i've read is that at high rpm, the design of the clutch can lead to a partial engagement, which may be why the spring on the pedal is there.

[FosterSS]

Originally Posted by John Deere Boy

No, but a lot of guys have had the clutch pedal stick to the floor during aggressive driving, so i'm kind of afraid to remove it.

Uhh yeah, i may leave mine in too ha... its really not that bad, most of my shifts are smooth, however I do have a problem with the shifter as if sometimes it feels rough going into second or third. Like there is something stopping it, and im afraid to slam it into gear and break something! thoughts?

[SSE 4 2SS]

Originally Posted by kcobean

How is clutch dust getting into the hydraulic system exactly?

As with any hydraulic operator, there are o-rings or skirt seals that provide a seal for the fluid. As the operator passes in and out of the body it picks up particulate material and carries it into the cylinder...

The heat is understood... And between the heat and micro-particulates, the fluid thickens and makes operation of the clutch different... This is also how brake fluid gets contaminated... Which is why a "sealed" system needs to be flushed periodically...

[1BADLS3]

Originally Posted by FosterSS

Uhh yeah, i may leave mine in too ha... its really not that bad, most of my shifts are smooth, however I do have a problem with the shifter as if sometimes it feels rough going into second or third. Like there is something stopping it, and im afraid to slam it into gear and break something! thoughts?

To the OP- The clutch in all LS3 cars has a stiff pedal. That was the first thing I noticed--You've got to have a meaty leg to let that thing out smoothly because if you're not paying attention, it's definitely got a "pop" to it towards the end. On the upside, it makes for very quick shifting. My other car is a Jeep wrangler with a relatively soft clutch that lets out at the very end. It's not performance-oriented AT ALL, so I almost prefer the insta-clutch in the Camaro. It makes for much quicker, absolute shifts.

Also, the notchy gate issue for 2nd and 3rd gears has been duly noted all over this board. It has to do with the design of the syncros. If you want to know more, just do a search on grinding--I hear it's worse in some cars than others, particularly in the early LS3's.

Edit: All the 4th gen guys will remember the T56 trans issues as well. The trans mount seemed to be especially weak, so there were plenty of manual 4th gens with bobbing shifters after the mount gave way. And, they almost always grind gears going into reverse

[kcobean]

Originally Posted by John Deere Boy

This is what happens when people complain. Some weenies complained about smooth clutches that required too much effort, so engineers design the "compound bow" clutch that screws everyone. (my opinion)

I suspect you're right. The funny thing is that I'm coming from a factory 600 HP Viper and that clutch was linear as could be and not much harder to depress if at all.

[K1SSRSS]

Originally Posted by John Deere Boy

If you wear boots, try these Redwing 402's. They're slick on the bottom and they're the only boot i own that i can drive the camaro with.

Ariat's work great, my Justin's just don't cut it though. Who would of thought, dang country boys driving Camaros in boots.

[melvinakshay]

Originally Posted by kcobean

I have had a number of sports cars over the years and the clutch in my Camaro is by far the worst feeling clutch of any of them. I'm curious if others have the same impression. The back pressure is like the clutch is on a compound bow cam. Light pressure close to the floor that gets harder until about 3/4 of the way up where it kind of "pops" like it's rolling over the lobe and then it gets easier again. It makes it very difficult to shift smoothly when the clutch pedal pressure is changes through the stroke. When that "pop" occurs, if I'm not ready for it, it makes the car jerk.

Anyone else?

+1. The last time I posted this, I received a lot of flank from the guys who had a remarkably smooth transmission.
I still believe that the camaro transmission is a pos.