I've had my '02 WRX for about a year and a half and 21,000 miles and I've had the clutch shudder problem for as long as I can remember. I took it into the dealership about 6 months after I bought it but they didn't find any problems since I was too naive to leave it overnight so they could drive it in the morning. I took it back to the dealership about 2 months ago to drop it off in the morning and they said "oh, Subaru is releasing a fix for your car in 45-60 days from now. Call us then." Thinking I had just got blown off I left, but wrote a note in my calendar 45 days out. I made the call when the time was up and sure enough, they had a fix! I brought the car in so they could give it a looksie, they ordered the parts and I brought it this morning for them to put everything in. Tonight I drove home with a nice new clutch and flywheel! It was sooooo smoooth!!! I can't wait to drive it in the morning and see how much easier it is to get into 1st! I am soooo glad that they finally fessed up and are fixing this issue. Anyone else have similar stories?

Anyone know exactly what the fix entails? The work order said flywheel and clutch replacement but it also had some other stuff that I didn't recognize. This is supposedly a real-deal fix from Subaru, not just a new old clutch/flywheel.

Comments?:D

With a fix so new, does this also affect the 2003s (and hence a good reason to wait for a 2004)? Any models affected besides the WRX? It'd be nice if there was any public information on stuff like this.

Hmmm... i wonder if this will be a Service Recall? probably only if you badger your friendly neighborhood dealer :rolleyes: for it!

Originally posted by westy66
Hmmm... i wonder if this will be a Service Recall? probably only if you badger your friendly neighborhood dealer :rolleyes: for it!

That's what I want to know. Can anyone comment on this "fix"? I really wish Subaru would issue a statement that shows what they found wrong, and how it's being fixed (ie: what exactly they installed in my car!)

Post the part numbers!

I just relocated to Arizona and took my car to the dealer today for the same problem. He said he would need documentation of a similar problem from another WRX dealer and he would take care of it. Please scan the documentation the dealer gave you when the clutch / flywheel was replaced. This will help this poor WRX owner to get my problem fixed! Thanks again.

Todd

Crap, I don't think I picked up the carbon copy... I will go back tomorrow or sometime soon and see if I can get one. I'll post the part numbers and send a copy so you can get yours fixed up.

Wowsers, I have taken my wagon in a couple times, once overnight and the tech still could not duplicate. Mine also feels like it slips once in awhile.

As far back as June 02, I was told by a SOA person, via phone, that Fugi was working on a fix and maybe this is it.

Please post any documentation that you have.

I will call SOA tomorrow and ask them about the fix.

extreme clutch shudder finally screwed up my clutch enough so that it slips when taking off going uphill and in some turns. the result? new clutch under warranty. my parts come in hopefully this coming week.

Originally posted by jsmonet
extreme clutch shudder finally screwed up my clutch enough so that it slips when taking off going uphill and in some turns. the result? new clutch under warranty. my parts come in hopefully this coming week.

Can you post the part numbers that are listed on the receipt after they get installed? I want to compare them to mine. I'm still looking for my receipt.

Update

I spoke to SOA today and explained my clutch problem. They gave me a case number and said that I would be hearing back from them by Monday. Hopefully they follow through.

i got the 'redesigned' clutch pieces swapped by the dealer before they were officially available to the public - a month or so ago, have driven 3000 miles on it, and so far so good. I too have the receipt laying around and would be glad to post a list of parts involved (cant think of all of them off the top of my head).

I take it the clutch changes are common to all Imprezas and not just the WRX? I guess that says something in favor of waiting for a 2004. Any idea why a lot of people aren't affected by the shudder if it's a design issue?

i'm taking my car to the dealer next week to have some issues looked at, one of which is clutch shudder. i'll let you guys know how it goes....

clutch shudder is driver error, imo. bought the car new and
started shuddering about 8000miles. i learned to shift
smoother and take alittle more time to engage the clutch
during a shift and the shudder was gone. i dont slip the clutch,
but i dont bang it into gear either.

i did some trial and error tests on my own to induce shudder
and how to relieve it. i was able to make the car shudder again
after a fast downshift from like 5th to 3rd gear a few times or
a near perfect (but not quite) rev match down shift from 3 -2,
4-3, etc. the killer was 5-3 even if it was rev matched correctly
if you engage the clutch too fast it will cause shudder.
the car was cold when i got the shudder and went away
after about 5min.

the shudder will go away if you change your driving style
for about 3 days. absolutely no shudder if you can maintain
driving in that manner. im driving in 20-30F weather too,
no shudder.

conclusion: shudder is caused by either weak parts that were
not engineered to handle performance driving habits or driver error...and no, i dont work for subaru. and yes, it doesnt matter if you have 30years+ experience with MT. you need to learn the wrx tranny all over again.

you just need to slow down the clutch engagement and not
bang it into gear.

kenchan, I hear what you're saying and I think a lot of people have it because they drive the car too hard, but I'm not one of those people and it still happened to me. Thankfully, SOA is aware of the issue and was kind enough to fix it for me.

I found my invoice. Here are the part numbers:

12342AA071 FLY WHEEL AY QTY 1
30210AA570 COVER CP CLU QTY 1
30100AA840 DISK CP CLUT QTY 1
800508310 BOLT/WASHER QTY 6


Buellboy, PM me with a fax number and I'll send over a copy of my invoice so you have some proof of this for your dealership.

Originally posted by kenchan you just need to slow down the clutch engagement and not
bang it into gear. [/B]

i never "bang" it into gear. in fact, i found the drivetrain slop to cause a clunk between shifts if i engaged too quickly, so i first adapted for THAT.

clutch shudder is simply a result of POOR ENGINEERING. sad, isn't it?

If the car is so different from other cars then they should have provided specific driving instructions. If the car shudders just like other crappy clutch engagement systems, then it's just another crappy clutch engagement system. If the clutch shudders primarily when cold, then subaru did a crappy job in quality control as many other vehicles do not have this (2002 prelude, 1981 ford escort, 19XX AMC Spirit, 19XX Supra). If I have to drive around the clutch shudder then is that driver style or just a problem that I can drive around?

For all those who think it is driver error, then that seems far fetched considering all the other more likely probabilities. Considering how the vehicle drove great (albeit grabby) when first purchased, or drives better when the clutch is changed then Subaru may have done a crappy job profiling the natural driving style of the public.

When I design a user interface I make it functional first, and then form fitting after, BUT, if the form is not good enough and there are examples of better form, then I did not do a very good job. If the function is a major function that is the central focus of the whole application then I have to put in the work to make it easy to use or I don't put it out at all.

Just called Renick Subaru's Service Department in CA. They said they were "well aware" of the Clutch Shudder problem. Not only that, they said the way they fix it is by replacing the 1st and 2nd syncro's. I thought it was a clutch problem and not a syncro problem... show's what I know.

Anyway, they seemed to know a hell of a lot more about it than the local dealership here in Maryland. When my car goes in next week, I hope I can point them in the right direction.

-- Rich

Just called Renick Subaru's Service Department in CA. They said they were "well aware" of the Clutch Shudder problem. Not only that, they said the way they fix it is by replacing the 1st and 2nd syncro's. I thought it was a clutch problem and not a syncro problem... show's what I know.

That is interesting considering the number of posts I have seen where people wore out their 1st and 2nd syncros. Isn't that the primary reason people have been loosing trannies?

if you want to drive your car without
getting it serviced, you need to adapt to
your car.

i no longer have any clutch shudder....and
i drive pretty quick sometimes. :D

i never made a thunk drive-train noise when
downshifting, but i still got shudder at first.

its easy to blame the car. even if it was
poor engineering, i still don't have clutch
shudder any more... why? i changed driving
style. never had this problem on hondas.

not all cars are made the same. perhaps your car never will exhibit clutch shudder in the manner that the other guys are talking about. perhaps your clutch shudder issue was solely due to your shifting technique. i just think it's futile to argue someone else's clutch problem if you haven't driven their car. i mean, it could be driver error, but what if it's not? are you prepared to accept that subaru made a boo boo? or is everything the fault of the consumer?

I personally think it's a bit of both, in most cases.

I do think the clutch has issues (both on the GC and the newer cars), however a lot of it IS driver error.

Being that the Subaru *does* obviously drive different than other cars, there's a learning curve for each clutch. Some people are determined to drive one clutch exactly as they'd driven a different one, and then when they feel something "wrong," are quick to blame it on the car.

In my car, nothing's happened to my clutch yet (knock on wood--a lot!), but I'm accustomed to the shudder and I try to manage my throttle/clutch movement appropriately to minimize it. I think that as long as cars are just a big pile of nuts and bolts, you've got to accept that there's a learning curve.


However, some users here have DEFINITELY had faulty parts...
-S2-

Originally posted by kenchan
clutch shudder is driver error, imo.........conclusion: shudder is caused by either weak parts that were
not engineered to handle performance driving habits or driver error...and no, i dont work for subaru....you just need to slow down the clutch engagement and not
bang it into gear.

so what is it?

I would have to say it is a design problem...
funny subaru has the "parts to fix it"
I have a very minor shudder when cold, my wife doesn't.
yes we drive diffrent, but why hasn't 6+ prevoius MT's had this problem?
I'm not slow with a clutch, but don't dump it...
As long as it will go away when warm, I don't mind.

i drive exactly the same when the car is warm, and when it is cold. it doesn't shudder when it's warm, but it does when it is cold. i would think it's "poor engineering". i also changed my driving style when it's cold so it doesn't shudder (stay on the clutch a lil longer), but it's only a bandaid.

OK, I talked with the service department and asked them if Subaru has any info on this issue. Of course they don't since it'd be bad for them to publicly admit the problem.. BUT it does seem to be an inconsistent issue.

As it was explained to me, the issue was that a film develops on the flywheel (or maybe it was the clutch) after it sits for a while. When you go to drive it (like the next morning or whatever) the film causes the clutch to shudder. After you drive it for a few minutes the film wears away and it's all good.

What do you guys think.....I have 13,000 miles and i've been experiencing that "clutch shudder" that everyone else complains about since the day I got it. Should I bring my car in and mention this replacement job or should I hold my breath and wait for some kinda recall by SOA.

As it was explained to me, the issue was that a film develops on the flywheel (or maybe it was the clutch) after it sits for a while. When you go to drive it (like the next morning or whatever) the film causes the clutch to shudder. After you drive it for a few minutes the film wears away and it's all good.

Thanks for the further info.

A film that wears away when it gets warm. I ain't a mechanic, but I kinda doubt it. If my car only had the shudder when it was cold, I might buy this explanation, but my can occasional shudder after it is warm.

As far as getting it fixed now or later. Mine does not shudder every day or I would have gotten it replaced. It is still something that I can put up with, sorta. And there are reports that the shudder has come back in the replaced clutch, after a few thousand miles.

I have heard that SOA is working on a fix and I am going to wait for that or until it gets worse.

Had a clutch shudder this morning. Let car warm up for about 30 seconds [tranny in neutral, clutch engaged]. Took off down the street [about 1/2 mile]. Turned the corner and drove another ~1/4 mile. Started taking off and felt a shudder. I immediate let out the clutch, increased the rpm's another 1k than normal, and engaged the clutch - no shudder.

Other cars I've owned have had this same "random" issue so it's probably a user error on my part as I don't let out the clutch exactly the same all the time at the same rpm's under normal driving conditions.

I NEVER get a clutch shudder under abnormal driving conditions [track, rallyx, testing out the UTEC on an barren road, etc]. [knock on wood]. :)

_0wen_

Seems there's confusion about what the clutch shudder/chatter/whatever really is. If you're driving too slow for whatever gear you're in or if you're launching without giving it enough gas to get you moving, yea your car along with everything in it will 'shudder.' This is normal behavour. You're putting a lot of stress on your car. The actual issue with the clutch is that the clutch plate warps, or something, and i assume is thus slipping when it engages? And this seems to arise when the engine is cold for many people, and usually dissapear after the engine has warmed up a bit, correct?

My shudder has gone away ever since garaging my car.

Before it sat out at night, and we are on the beach, so i would guess it has something to do with that, ie temperature/dew levels etc.

Those with driver error theory, i'm pretty sure i still drive the same way.... bad theory. Plus it happened to my GF when she drove it too. Suggesting it is/was the car, not the driver.

My theory is that certain conditions expose the defect, and that the defect is always there on some cars. I consider my car as still having the defect, and if it ever comes up again i will have SOA fix it. When they fix it, they replace the car part right, not the driver?

nm

I feel like i'm doing a leg lift everytime i'm shifting as per "subaru technique" to avoid any chatter.