clutch/tranny problem! RT4WD

metalfrisbeemetalfrisbee Wagonist
in Engine & Drivetrain
Well i swapped in my new motor used the clutch that was on the motor which i believe was a 90-91 clutch (If 88 the tranny would not have fit on with the clutch) . It slide on no prob with my 90-91 rt4wd tranny. I fire the car up and its super hard to engage into gear ( But still engages) Will grind going into reverse but if i pull hard enough it does go into reverse.

Now what im thinkin is the throwout bearing for the rt4wd tranny is different then the clutch im using???? Also when turned off the tranny shifts perfect...

Anyone else ever had this problem??

Just to clarify my car is a 91 rt4wd wagon stock clutch same throwout bearing as before. Motor is a stock d15b.

Comments

  • driftin90driftin90 Senior Wagonist
    You want to use the rt throw out bearing. Whenever I hear about a trans not wanting to go into gear, I always think pedal assembly. As that was my issue. I can't imagine it being the clutch considering you used what was on there, meaning the flywheel should be the correct size. The 89 clutch is smaller with the same spline count as the 90-91. Have you looked at your pedal assembly? Clutch cable properly adjusted? Did the clutch have life left? Hopefully more folks will chime in with their experience.
  • driftin90driftin90 Senior Wagonist
    Oh and also that spring that 503 mentioned before in his thread. You check that before putting the trans on?
  • metalfrisbeemetalfrisbee Wagonist
    Well the motor i bought came out a friends ef sedan. If it was a 89 clutch on there would the 90-91 tranny still fit on? And i did reuse the tr throwout bearing..

    Also yes the clutch cable is properly adjusted and i dont know why the pedal Assembly would be the issue i never touched it just swapped motors ive done it 1000 times so its not like i forgot anything!

    Its weird i can drive it but im not going to due to the fact i know something is really wrong... Maybe different flywheels?
  • driftin90driftin90 Senior Wagonist
    The pedal assembly cracks, thus not letting the cable fully engage. As long as you used the same flywheel, the 90-91 trans should work with it. It is just smaller in diameter. If you search pedal assembly, you will see a lot of posts on the subject. I put pics in my post of where it cracked out. I also remember mine squeaked a lot.
  • metalfrisbeemetalfrisbee Wagonist
    ya i did not use my rt flywheel i probably should of
  • driftin90driftin90 Senior Wagonist
    heres a link to my pedal assembly

    viewtopic.php?f=7&t=10656
  • jchen360jchen360 Wagonist
    I have the same exact problem in my 88 rt4wd. There are other members that have had the same problem but I haven't been able to find an answer from their threads. Good luck with your trans though, I'm just going to try and replace everything haha.
  • AintGotNoSolAintGotNoSol Wagonist
    metalfrisbee wrote:
    ya i did not use my rt flywheel i probably should of
    What he meant was, use the flywheel that was originally matched to the clutch you are using. Did you use the clutch out of your RT or the one that came with the motor?

    89 clutch disc will fit on a 90-90 trans, but the 89 clutch disc is not compatible with the 90-91 flywheel and pressure plate.

    The simple rule is, match the clutch disc, pressure plate and flywheel all from the same year. If you have 88 trans, you have to use all 88 parts (due to different transmission shaft spline count). If you have an 89 trans or the 90-91 trans, use either 89 disc/plate/flywheel OR 90-91 disc/plate/flywheel (this is because the 89 and the 90-91 have different sized friction surfaces).

    If you mixed years, that could be doing it. Try the simplest solution first though, and check out that pedal assembly, then check to make sure your clutch cable isn't damaged / frayed / stretching.
  • wagoneer77wagoneer77 Band Wagon
    It sounds like you have a release(throwout) bearing issue. Had a guy I know pay me to put a swap in and I asked him if he wanted to pull it apart and put a new clutch, he said that the guy he got it from had put a new one. So I put it in and guess what wouldnt hardly go in any gear. So I pulled the transmission back out with his assistance and and guess what it had a release bearing issue as well as a pressure plate that someone had cleaned up and spray bombed. I got a new release bearing and put it back together and it was resolved.
  • metalfrisbeemetalfrisbee Wagonist
    ya im just gunna use my rt flywheel and order a new clutch ment for the rt4wd tranny
  • driftin90driftin90 Senior Wagonist
    dont forget the TO bearing and spring.
  • metalfrisbeemetalfrisbee Wagonist
    yes i know haha gunna go with my favorite clutch exedy stage 1
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