Replacing original factory clutch Options

[JeffBowlsby]

Replacing an original factory clutch dated 7/73, as it had started shuddering at launch and making weird noises. A "while I was in there" job. ~50Kmi car. This transaxle had never been previously removed from the car.

See the original disk compared to the new replacement disk.

The orig clutch disk has some kind of rubber 'spring/cushion chunks ' inside, mostly deteriorated and most of the rubber chunks are missing now. A piece of a remaining chunk can be seen in the round hole viewport at the clutch disk center.

Original flywheel had been factory balanced and the bolts were not clearanced. No visible wear on flywheel bolt heads.

Clutch disk is made of two thinner friction disks separated by a center metal plate carrier plate with flat springs presumably to somewhat cushion the shift change process. I noticed that the friction disk on the pressure plate side had more wear (was thinner) than the friction disk on the flywheel side.

[wonkipop]

had one of those in mine.
pulled it out in 2020 when we recommissioned.
the rubber core just gave up when we got the car going again after its 16 year sleep.
if they don't wear out they eventually turn to muck. material lifespan.
if it was not dead when i parked it up it sure did die during the long coma. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

doesn't surprise me there are still some lurking in low mileage cars.
mine was at 44,000 when it was replaced.

very curious items.
i think those clutches were even in turbos.
the rubber core was supposed to assist in preventing clutch shudder.
smoother take off.
but to tell you the truth i have noticed no difference really in replacing it with the spring clutch.

i boxed mine away as one of those original parts i removed.
for the sake of silly history. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

if nothing else you get to replace the RMS.
always a good thing to do on a car of this age.
nothing lasts for ever even if you barely use the car.

interestingly when we pulled the trans to do the clutch we found a factory label on top of it that was still there. whatever writing was on it had faded to nothing. maybe you found a label on yours when you dropped the trans?