Warning: This is long, I would really like your opinion so if you have the time please read it.
Well here's the deal, I bought an lsd, stage 3 clutch, and lightweight flywheel from rrm when I was in cali over the summer. I planned on installing them when I got home but ran out of time and had to start school. So, I finally got sick of looking at the parts sitting in my garage and decided I would have a local tranny shop put them in. What a nightmare!

I took it to the tranny shop where they charged me $1,600 dollars to have everything put in. When I got my car back there was this horrible noise coming from the shifter area inside the car (I will describe later if you are still reading). I then told the shop that this noise was occuring and they took it and made sure nothing was vibrating out side (mounts, bolts, cables, etc.), and of course nothing was. At this point I've been down a car for a week and a half.

Now he tells me that when they put in the flywheel there were two shims on each side of the stock flywheel and the new flywheel was bigger than the old one, and the new flywheel didn't look like it fit with both shims. So he phoned the flywheel manufacturer and they said they didn't know, so w/o calling me he decided to put the flywheel in with both shims and forget about it.

So now we're having problems with the noise and he tells me about the flywheel so I call Rob. Well they don't use the back shim. Now the guy at the tranny shop tells me he's going to have to take out the tranny again but he'll split the cost 50/50(or $325). At this point I'm in exam week and in desperate need of my car so I agree.

I now have my car back after the second tranny pull and the noise is no better. The flywheel was touching the bell housing very slightly but isn't anymore. He says it's just my "Aftermarket solid motor mounts making the sound". I took it to a seperate tranny shop and they said it sounds terrible and if I drive it I will most likely do serious damage to the tranny or diff.

His other argument is that since he checked all his work, the parts I supplied are no good.

So I don't know what I should do:

1. I can bite the bullet and take it to a different tranny shop which will cost me a ton.
2. Let him have my car forever again only to tell me he has to pull the tranny and its going to cost me... again.
3. I could take it to a different shop and have them fix and prove that he screwed up, and from there proceed to take him to small claims court (he won't give the money back).
4. Any suggestions anyone might have?

I swear, noone will ever touch my car again w/o me being present!

If you have read this far i sincerely thank you. I will describe the sound in the following post.

Thanks,
Matt

 

The sound is a grinding sound, It shows up mainly when I bring the car up over 3000 rpm, and it is really pronounced when I let of the gas over 3000 rpm. It is present in all gears from neutral to 5th. It is also present when the clutch is disengaged. But as I said before, it is the worst when I let off the gas over 3000 rpms.

If you have any idea what this could be please let me know.

 

It does it in Neutral just sitting there?

 

First of all there should be no shims on the RRM lightweight flywheel. Make sure that your starter isn't hanging up. On way to check is remove the inspection cover on the front lower part of your tranny under the car. It is right next to the Oil pan. See if there is abnormal wear or chipping accuring. If so remove starter and see were the contact is being made on the Ring Gear of the flywheel. Now if you depress the clutch and the noise goes away, you need to adjust your clutch pedal because it could be not enough clearance for the release bearing. I can't really diag for you considering I am only using the info i am receiving. I hope I helped ya narrow it down alittle.

 

I have dealt with not-so-honest garages before, IMO threaten to take it to court.

I think you kinda shoved yourself into a corner though with the timing of when you decided to have it done at the end of the semester and everything.

 

Man wow, ill let my tranny guy read this and see what he says. he builds drag racing 5spd and auto trannys so he will know ill get back to you in the a.m.

 

Who's your tranny guy? I build Racing transmissions also. I might know him....who knows though...

 

Ya it does it while I'm in neutral if there is any revving of the engine. And just so everyone is clear, there was absolutely no hint of this noise prior to this install. As for the shims, there is supposed to be the front one on the lightweight as I have cleared this with rob and brian at RRM.

And as for putting myself in a corner, man do I know it... lol.

Oh, that's how life goes.

 

sounds horrible!
i hope you get everything cleared up..but yes i never let anyone do work on my face unless i'm there, regardless of trust/prior meetings.

 

Options at this point are not good, anyway you go.

First, depending on the feel you have on the guy, I would be hesitant to take it back to him, especially after he did work he was unsure of b/f calling you. You could be providing him with his christmas budget this year. Never good to give a mechanicm, or anybody for that matter, to fix something they did wrong.

That leaves you with taking it to a different shop. If you do, tell them what has occurred up to this point. document everything. If it was the first mechanics fault take him to small claims court. Get your money back. If he did screw you, another reputable mechanic will figure it out real quick and should be willingly to testify in court, since mechanics who screw people give all mechanics a bad reputation, which is not always warrented. ( good idea to ask him if he would be willingly to goto court if he finds negilgent work)

If you do take him to courtm jump onto the Alberta Justice web site. They give you all the information you need to take legally action, including handbooks and sample claims. Just make sure you have solid real evidence, i.e. reciepts, work orders, pictures, witness testimony. Good idea to start writing everything you can remember about conversation you had with him.

 

Ya, I will actually lawyer up through the university since it's free anyway

 

Student Legal Services FTW. Try and get a guy who knows something about cars. It will make the tech lingo easier for him to digest

 

With my stage 3 ACT clutch I will get a strong vibration But if I press the clutch all the down it stop I let up just a tiny bit & it will start engaging. So what I will do is put in in Neutral on the stick no vibration, I will have to adjust the clutch a bit high.

I also have the solid motor mounts. but no flywheel.

Sorry about what happen.

 

I hope I can find someone who knows a thing or two about cars.

Ya, it almost sounds like you have a bit of a wheel hop going on.

 

With my Works clutch I get a strong vibration (not audiable) since I did my clutch, and on top of that when i get into gear too slowly I hear a grinding sound as if the clutch isn't catching and just slipping. Otherwise the car runs/drives normal, and the clutch holds up pretty well. I brought the car back a couple of times since I had that ticking sound which I thought was the throw out but it definitely isn't... Only happens at idle though.

That grinding sound you're hearing definitely isn't normal and I suggest you contact a lawyer and the shop who did the install. He shouldn't "assume" installation methods, if the flywheel locked up and f'ed over your tranny because he "decided to install the 2nd shim since no one knew anything about it"...