i burned the clutch in my 3.4 TDC formula and ordered the stage 2/3 hybrid. after getting the car back together, still on the stand, i let the clutch out and heard a loud squeel/grind. it was horrible, i can't really explain. so i grabbed some lunch and proceded to pull the trans again, much faster the second time around. i noticed the throw out bearing was melted on the center hub. i read a recent post about installing the disk wrong but i was pretty sure i didn't do that. i pulled the pressure plate anyway and i compared the new disk to the original and what seems to have happened is the center hub is installed backward in the disk. the original has a nub facing the flywheel and is smooth with disk on the pressure plate side. the spec however sticks out on the pressure plate side and that seems to be what was hitting the throw out bearing. this just happened so i'll call them tomorrow and see what happens. hopefully they warranty it but i know it can be hard getting used parts warranteed. hopefully it will give someone fair warning to compare their new clutch or if anyone thinks i screwed up please let me know before i call them and make an ass of myself.

If I am understanding you correctly the raised side of the clutch usually marked flywheel goes to the fly wheel sounds like you turned it backwards.

i had the raised side towards the flywheel but the center splined part sticks out even farther where on the stock clutch it is flush. i wish i had a way to post pics to show it. i'm really kind or nervous to see what they say.

dude, i got the same clutch, are you sure you put in the throw out bearing right?

yeah the throw out bearing is right. i called them this morning. i need to take some pictures and send them to them. i'll do that when i get to work and then i can post them here maybe. i've showed it to a few people and it is plainly obvious that it isn't right. when i ran the engine i got a code 43 spark knock. hopefully it was just picking up the squeel from the throw out bearing and nothing else got recked. the whole thing has me a little stressed.

Sounds like the disk was installed backwards.

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1986 SE 350 V8

yeah if its not throw out bearing the disk is probalbly installed backwards..

looking back i see i worded it wrong. the raised side was towards the pressure plate. the disk sat flush up to the flywheel. so i really don't think it was backwards. the bearing was locked into the tabs on the release fork just like the one i took off. i will get some pictures soon and show what it looks like.

Was it the correct T/O bearing? Any Fiero clutch will fit any Fiero tranny, but the T/O bearing MUST match the tranny.

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1986 SE 350 V8

it looked like the same throw out bearing to me but it's hard to tell now. it's a little melted and cracked. i have pictures now but i can't seem to send them to spec. i'll call in the morning and figure it out. i'm pretty sure i either got the wrong disk or they installed the center hub backwards. if i lay the stock one in the table flywheel down the splined hub keeps the disk off the table but the spec clutch lays flat on the table. then flipping it the other way the stock one will rest on the springs while the spec is held up another half inch by the splined hub. now the important question. it had enough pressure to melt the throw out bearing, what did it do to my crank bearings?

I had the exact same problem when I installed my Spec clutch. I wound up buying another T.O. bearing and swapping that in. It looked identical to what I received with my Spec clutch, but I had no problems afterward. Maybe it was a bad T.O. bearing "out of the box".

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Fiero Fiesta - August 1, 2004 - Calgary, Alberta <--- click this LINK

3.4L S/C 87 GT www.fierosound.com
2002/2003/2003 World of Wheels Winner &
Multiple IASCA Stereo Award Winner

i got the pictures sent to spec and they are sending me a new clutch. pretty nice guys too. it's still a pain in the butt though. on the bright side i've been searching for new engines in case this one got wrecked and 3800sc are pretty cheap.

so josh, you should look at my thread about the waterpump.

I've had Clutchnet assemble the disc wrong, like you described. They didn't think it made a difference so I wouldn't doubt if Spec could have made the same mistake.

did you catch it before you installed it? if not was your engine ok?