Guys,
I have read the zillions of pages on which shop to chose for your tranny and tcase work, and to be honest they don't really net out to anything. Sounds like all 3 shops are great, but each has their own occasional example of something going wrong with a customer (or a bad customer).

In my research I am still wondering if some feedback would help me, so I started this thread, but I know many of you are rolling your eyes. This again Forgive me, but here are some details.

I have a 6 speed, and like the feel and gearing of it. I don't drag race, and track day about once a month. 2nd and 4th syncros are getting close to done, and I have read lots about the clutch drag scenario. It was fine for 20k miles, but seems to be getting worse. So is it clutch drag or is it bad syncros?

The Tcase blew up on the drive home. Its a longer story, but it needs a total rebuild/upgrade.

What does this have to do with Shep, Jack, or TRE? Well, they all state that clutches are often the cause of the tranny's going bad which makes sense, but unless you resolve the root cause the rebuild is only a fading bandaid. You need to address root cause, and when I ask which clutch to use, they would basically all prefer....None.

I have an ACTMB7-HDSS which seemed like the appropriate selection a couple of years ago when I did the clutch (on my back in the garage).

Would you guys change out the clutch, and for what, why?

Would you chose Shep, Jack, or TRE, and why.
The feedback I have from them so far is:
Shep - Can do what I need relatively quickly including 6speed, but John won't actually work on the trans or tcase. Sounds like a bigger operation with lots of guys.
Jack - Very detailed responses, but not a fan of the 6 speed. I know its popular to convert to the 5speed and that was his recommendation. Not sure I want to get into that.
TRE - Shop not currently open, and target early December after their move.

Thanks
M

 

Wait for TRE 200%. You won't be dissappointed. Shot peening is a key factor for me. Read the break down of what he does for the six speeds. Jon@TRE actually doesn't like ACT clutches at all, they don't take well to high rpm shifts, and combined with the people who don't properly adjust them, wreaks havoc on the drivetrain. If your goals are in the 3XX-4XX Mustang Dyno whp, then you can't go wrong with the Exedy Twin HD.

 

I had a Shep rebuilt tranny in my car. I've had a fifth gear grind ever since it was installed. There is a thread on here about Shep trannys having a fifth gear grind and its longer than a page. I tried multiple times to adjust my clutch and never got it worked out.

This time around, I decided to go with Jack's transmission for my rebuild. They don't mind the ACT clutches. I will be running a TTP spec ACT sprung 6 puck clutch this time around. I had an Exedy twin HD, but I don't like paying $800+ to rebuild it every 10,000-15,000 miles.

Good luck with your rebuild.

 

Comp just came out with a new single disc I would look into that. Here is a link to thehttps://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ve...ml#post9746913 thread

 

I've seen nothing but problems with the competition clutches.

 

I will break it down for you

If you want a good street driveing tranny got to Tre (although I wouldn't recomend it)

Go to jax if you want pretty much the same thing ( which I still dont recommend)

If you want your tranny to take the absolute most abuse you can throw at it and last till you do something to blow it up go Shep.

I am pretty good friends with those guys John included and I know what they do and to make those trannys last. Honestly Go with the Shep trans and t case. I mean if the guy can put his talon in the 7.70s and his evo in the 8s or whatever it ran and run flawless with his own trannys why even compair to anything else? As for clutches Exedy hd twin. I have one and by far the best clutch I have owned. I hope this helps a little

 

I went with Shep as well and had the 5th gear grind. Once my engine blew, I dropped my car off at UCS Performance for a 2.3L rebuild. Greg notified me that the clutch fork wasn't sitting flush, but more of an angle. I sent him another clutch fork in which he installed and after a month of driving, it shifts like butter. Not sure what kind of clutch fork they used, but I noticed it wasn't straight like it was suppose to be.
I had an ACT in my old Eclipse, but after switching to the Evo's heard a lot about lockout issues, so went with Exedy Twin HD and couldn't be happier. Plus it's rebuild-able, where an ACT is tossed in the trash and you need to buy an entire kit. More expensive, but if my plate goes bad, I just buy a new one and slap it on the kit. Worth the extra money to me. Good luck.

 

Can you explain why you wouldnt goto those two? i have zero problems with my trans and i know tons of other big shops have zero problems with their TRE trans(STM). They all do the same service and all do it great,only downside to TRE is that hes kinda hard to get ahold of.

 

I HAVE heard nothing but great stuff about jack's (place in colorado)

 

Sure and I mean this with no bash or nothing intended but they reuse alot of origional parts rather then all new. TRE is local to me and I know John reuses alot of what is already there and replaces most key factors. I mean thats not a bad thing but if you wanted something bullet proof pretty much TRE will tell you the same thing and I will quote him " if you want a great rebuilt tranny for the street buy from me, if you want something for racing got to Shep." I mean don't get me wrong they all good shops. I am not tring to say there not. I am just saying if I am gonna spend that much money to get something done I will do it knowing I wont have any problems. Not to say that Sheps trannys Won't have probs cause I know sometimes it happens, but the quality, the type of parts, the people I know and how they are built I would trust in them and thats just my personal opinion.

 

Op, I've been reading through some threads on this topic and was wondering the same thing about the.clutch issue. People here report that shepherd and tre recommend not using the act hdss or the exedy twin yet they reportedly don't have a clutch they do recommend....

Is there a full proof reliable option? Clutch master twin?

 

akauf - It seems like the clutch thing is the key, because if you don't resolve the issue that originated your syncro damage then you are effectively wasting your rebuild money. I thought the clutch fork comment was interesting from snafufx.

The other element I have been told is that the pressure plate could wear slightly and if the edges are higher than the center then that would set the stage for the higher RPM lock out. So on track at higher RPM the clutch isn't completely released, and once RPMs drop I can get 4th (6 speed).

The other issue could be the 4th sycro could have been worn before I bought the car (salvage) and just wore more and more, and once I missed a shift here or there I finally did it in, and the clutch is actually adjusted fine.

I only have lock out issues in 2nd and 4th. 2nd happened ever since this race driver Billy drove my car as a lesson and dropped the clutch in second on track, and basically it felt like something broke. However since then its just been difficult to get into 2nd. The key here is it happened all of a sudden, from then on the same. So I don't blame that on the clutch, just being a moron and letting a 'professional' drive my car.

4th started happening after a really hot day at Spring Mountain MS. I just couldn't get 4th on the straight a couple of times and ground that in the process. With a helmet on and windows down it was hard to know what happened the first couple of times. So I suspected that I caused that damage. This however has been getting slowly worse, as in it started very rarely and now is pretty consistently getting to lower RPMs locking out 4th.

So I don't really know if my clutch or adjustment of it, is a problem, that shift fork is bend or otherwise not optimal, or the clutch disengagement is inherently poor and hard on syncros.

Since I will likely end up spending 4k by the time its all done (trans & Tcase), I just need to make sure I don't repeat the issue.

I appreciate all the comments and suggestions.

 

I have a hd twin on my car never had an issue in 2 years.

 

The Ricer went 8's MULTIPLE TIMES on the same TRE Stg 2.5. Even more cars from STM have had excellent results with TRE transmissions. He even advertises the Stg 2.5 exchange trans as an ideal choice for 160mph trap speeds. How is that not racing... I call b/s on your "qoute"

 

I've had my Shep tranny for almost two years and done tons of launches and run it though the gears like crazy. It has NEVER given me ANY problems. I had to replace 5th when mine was rebuilt. My stock trans started grinding at 16k miles....crazy. But I've put about 30k miles on my Shep trans and its still rockin.
No matter how good shop is there are gonna be instances where a part may fail. This is an imperfect world people. Seriously. But I do know they will stand behind their services and do what needs to be done to correct the problem. My t-case is about to be sent to Shep for a rebuild and I can't wait!
TRE is a good trans too though. I don't know anyone personally who has used them but my preference has always been Shep and always will be.