Hello NAM Folks,

Wondering if I can get some insight from you...

I just had my clutch replaced with the Valeo kit (everything recommended to be replaced by WMW)...

Now after the mechanic installed it there's is like a grunting/vibrating noise that occurs when in gear 1-6 starting from 0 - 1.5k RPM and it's pretty darn loud...

Just wondering if any of you have experienced this with a clutch replacement or even if not, what you think it can be...

Help! Im taking back to the mechanic who installed (who is a friend of a friend who worked at an auto shop) seems to know what he's doing but I figure this was his first Mini...

Thanks ahead of time,


SEN

 

The Valeo kit uses a solid flywheel where the stock clutch uses a dual mass flywheel (DMF).

Mini engineers designed the drivetrain around the DMF, without it you'll get all sorts of noises and vibrations. To make matters worse, not having a DMF can cause very high stresses in the crankshaft.

Should have stuck with the stock kit. Yes, it's expensive. But it works.

 

I installed a Valeo kit in a 2002 S and there were no wierd noises or vibrations, in fact I was surprised how smooth and effortless it was compared to the stock unit it replaced.

Have your mechanic check out his work, something is amiss......maybe you have a bad motor mount?

 

0- 1.5k is pretty low RPM. You may just be bogging down the engine. I know I was doing that when I first installed my valeo clutch. It took me a while to get used to the new clutch feel, much lighter than the stock. Try reving to about 2500 rpm at take off, to see if it smoothes things out at all. I have no strange sounds/ vibrations 5000 miles into it.

 

Please don't rev to 2500 and take off. You'll sound like an idiot when driving and you'll be wearing your clutch out very prematurely. The reason you're experiencing weird noises is probably because it needs to break-in. After approximately 500 miles of stop and go traffic the clutch should be broken in. Remember, breaking in the clutch is done similar to wearing brake pads into rotors. The friction surface on the clutch disc must wear small grooves into the flywheel surface in addition to wearing off any coating put on from the factory in order to preserve to friction material. Taking off from 2500 rpm might actually accelerate the process of breaking in, so you could do that and slowly reduce take off engine speed.

 

This is true, however, the DMf accomplishes what the engineers wanted with springs inside of it to allow it to give when the clutch applied allowing one section of the flywheel to twist faster than the other in order to absorb shock. This is accomplished with the valeo kit by adding springs to the clutch disc hub rather than in the flywheel. This way might be slightly more crude, but it works almost just as well and should not produce a noticeable amount of vibrations.

And no, not having a DMF won't necessarily cause extra stress on the crankshaft, an unbalanced flywheel will, but the way the crankshaft is installed in this car it won't really cause any harm during abrupt shifts.

 

thanks but this is defintely not a normal sound... And not bogging... The sound happens in every gear... Also when depressing the clutch shifting into gear (no accel) it makes a grinding slight noise when going back to neutral...

 

100% not true

The DMF dampens torsional harmonic vibrations in the crankshaft that would otherwise cause momentary stress spikes.

For more info, see what the engineers that designed the DMF in these cars have to say (pages 74-75):
http://www.schaeffler.com/remotemedi...loquium_en.pdf

 

could be throwout bearing related

 

Your mechanic maybe did,t turn clutch disk right way.One side on it sad flywheel side, its easy to make mistake it look similar each side. Just guessing I herd it happens to others before.Good luck.

 

"Should have stuck with the stock kit. Yes, it's expensive. But it works."

The fact so many stock clutches have had to be replaced at low mileage suggests that it certainly does not work.

 

I installed on my 2005 S and have about 17,000 miles(2 Dragons and lot of track time) on it now have no problems and very happy with it.

I just wonder when they drain the oil out the tranny what they put back in? and the valeo clutch disc will not go in if it put in backward.

 

Hi,
Just had the single mass clutch done on my 04 MCS, same issue you (Sensez) reported. Makes a grinding sound when pulling from low RPM (all gears) and while in neutral there is a good amount of vibration if the engine speed is held around 1200 to 1500 RPM.

did you find out the problem on this?

Thanks!!
tonywa28

FWIW - I'm not interested in the SMF/DMF discussion, both have merits and weaknesses. The problem I am experiencing (like the original poster) is definitely not an SMF vs. DMF issue. its much more basic like an installation issue or parts compatibility issue. Nobody would be okay with VALEO SMF solution under these conditions and I'm not picky when it comes to NVH.

Feel free to carry on the flywheel debate..... there are millions of both types in service.

 

Can a video be made and posted on youtube or shared? I'd like to know about this before I have my Valeo SMF clutch kit installed. Also, in regards to the throwout bearing, was the MINI OEM bearing used or a Valeo one?

I'd asked before because the throwout bearing I got with my kit was different than the OEM throwout bearing. I was told by Valeo and Bavauto that the OEM MINI one was used, I've seen other kits on ebay with the OEM MINI bearing but the one in my kit was completely different.

Be sure to keep the Valeo warranty card BTW....

 

Not that you wont get any replies, but this thread is from 2013.

Ive only read good things about the valeo kit so I purchased one myself. Installing it in a few weeks

 

I don't think a video would give any usable information on this type of issue. It's a "feel" issue, but fairly obvious. I don't expect this will turn out to be some generic problem with the Valeo SMF kit. Too many of them out them already with good results. I expect it is an install issue.

Once I get this back from the mechanic I will post what parts were used. I assume they used the parts included with the kit (including TO bearing).

tonywa28
MCS '04 (2 of them)
69 Lotus Elan S4 S/E
59 Austin Healey Bugeye Sprite

 

To me sounds like a throw out bearing or bolts not tq down.

 

I also think its loose H/W. probably flywheel bolts..... a little wobble could cause the symptoms as I see it (vibration in neutral at low RPM, bit of grinding in each gear when pulling from low RPM). wouldn't take much to show the imbalance or rub a case....


We'll see...

 

Did you fix it? And how??