Trying to decypher damage to clutch

[GTWayne]

I have just removed the triple plate clutch from my G50 / Small Block Chevy combo and found cracks in the organic friction material. The motor suffered an oil leak and clutch slip was experienced but not for long. It has only done 400 odd miles, what do you think?

[wildoliver]

any pictures?

I've seen cracks which look like crackes in desert floors before, I think its due to overheating, or do you mean actual stress cracks? In which case that sounds like backplate flex.

[GTWayne]

I really can't see how the clutch can have overheated so the stress fractures look favourite but I am wondering if the oil contamination ( although there is nothing oil related that is glaringly obvious ie. burn marks, saturation ) has in some way been the culprit?

[stevieturbo]

oil or any similar fluid, will damage an organic lining.

Pics would be nice though.

[GavinPearson]

Need pics.

But importantly, you need to fix the source of the contamination.

There are basically 4 possibilities.

1. Crank seal.
2. Gearbox seal.
3. Release system hydraulic leak.
4. Input shaft grease.

The first three are easy to diagnose and fix, but number 4 causes a lot of problems. People say grease the shaft splines, but the issue is how much is enough & how much is too much? The answer we used for OEM - and the warranty numbers over thousands of vehicles bear this out, is to have grease all over the splines, and then wipe it off so it can't be seen but is still sticky to the touch.

[steve_d]

Wayne
Bring your clutch bits along to Goodwood.
Set them out on a table and get a million answers from passers by.

Seriously, bring them along so we can have a look.

Steve

[GTWayne]

I will try and get some pictures up. A pal is coming round to do some bits and take the clutch back to Super Clutch in Southam so I will ask him to take some snaps and post them.
I have fixed the leak already ( it was the valley gasket, or lack of silicone, it is a three piece affair and only uses silicone!)

[steve_d]

GTWayne said:

........I have fixed the leak already ( it was the valley gasket, or lack of silicone, it is a three piece affair and only uses silicone!)

Surely that was not causing the clutch contamination was it?

Steve

[GTWayne]

^^^There can be no other answer Steve