Rattly clutch spring?

[dbv8]

So i have removed the gearbox.... AGAIN!

I have had a rattly, scraping, not nice sound when taking up the clutch and also even with the clutch fully dipped. I fitted a new release bearing first.... noise still there, assumed gearbox so had a long awaited box rebuild with some upgrades.
The car drove the best its ever drove but the noise was still there as i put the car back in the garage.

I have removed the box and clutch and the plate and cover look fine. There are some marks on the pressure plate but the surface feels perfectly smooth.
The clutch plate looks fine with minimal wear but i can move 2 of the springs by hand and 1 is very loose.
Question is could this be the source of the noises i am hearing?
I have a replacement Helix plate thanks to Neal but know it did spin on him when he was first setting up his twin turbos on the rollers. Its probably ok to take NA power but i will be worried it might let go under nitrous load on the strip.

Heres some pics.

The cover plate....



The JE 500lb plate....



The loose spring...

[Ribol]

If the springs on the plate are all the same (usually colour coded) none should be loose.

On some cars/plates (not necessarily TVRs) it is not unusual to have different strength springs in pairs on the same plate to make take up more progressive. On plates that have that set up it is not unsual to have two opposite springs "loose".

One spring loose is bad news, it is on the way to giving up and generally a sign of a hard life

[dbv8]

Ribol said:

One spring loose is bad news, it is on the way to giving up and generally a sign of a hard life

What are you trying to say

I can see wear on the inner plate around the very loose spring, the other not so loose is opposite as you say but the colour markings are all the same.
Shame as the plate material looks like its hardly worn and the plate worked very well. Maybe the centre can be repaired.

Anyway after a talk to Neal I fitted the Helix plate hesent me. It was made to take 500lb and he admits experimenting with high boost levels on his TT when it slipped. So maybe it will work fine for my modest 450lb/ft on the strip.

[Ribol]

dbv8 said:

Shame as the plate material looks like its hardly worn and the plate worked very well. Maybe the centre can be repaired.

It is hardly worn on the flywheel side, as you say, but if you look on the cover side there is a ridge already. Were the cover and plate fitted new together, because if so the cover side has worn more. To repair the springs you need to take most of the plate apart and at that point is would be pointless to leave the worn linings. So I suspect this one is past salvaging.

Maybe a more reserved driving style would help

[dbv8]

Ribol said:

Maybe a more reserved driving style would help

Like thats going to happen.

I am saving for a twin plate upgrade. I was going to go for a Mcleod RST but will keep an eye on Jammys JE option also.

[Ribol]

Out of interest do you use the laughing gas after you have let the clutch in and and on your way?

[dbv8]

Ribol said:

Out of interest do you use the laughing gas after you have let the clutch in and and on your way?

The nitrous is only activated at full throttle.
I guess the only abuse the clutch ever gets is at about 3000 rpm on the start line. I try to make gearchanges as fast as possible and the clutch just gets a quick stab when racing.

[Ribol]

Ok, so the clutch has half a chance as you won't be dumping it at max revs

[dbv8]

This is an old clip but will give you some idea....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBRsX_WCh3s&fea...

[Ribol]

If you keep doing that you will end up with more than a rattly spring