car shutters when taking off in 1st

[hotrod101786]

Just got my first subaru this last friday and the only issues with the car is when im taking off from a stop the car shutters, kinda like when you let off the clutch too soon or somethin. ive tried to take off as smoothly as i can and ive even had a couple of friends drive it and it does the same thing. im guessin its a clutch/flywheel issue? it doesnt do this when shifting into 2nd and so on but the engagement in those gears dont feel right either. im on a real tight budget so i looked on ebay and found a clutch/flywheel kit by f1 racing, theres a stage 1 with an organic disk for $346 or i can get the stage 2 with carbon kevlar disk for $28 more. the 2nd issue is when im goin in reverse the trans makes a rattling noise, doesnt do this in any of the forward gears tho.

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[UkNuck]

it's 'normal' for the 02 - especially in cool/damp conditions

search 'clutch shudder' or 'clutch judder'

[teiva-boy]

Ah the infamous glass tranny of the bugeyes. I dont miss those days.

Even with stock cars people were grenading their 1st or 2nd gears when doing full launches, or shifting too fast.

That said, the clutch shudder was fixed with a recall I think, but you may be past due to qualify? The alternative is to get a clutch/flywheel replacement. Personally I would recommend a stock clutch and flywheel in the majority of cases including yours.

You can pick up those items from online retailers cheaper than the dealer, and find shops that will install for about $300 in labor. subarugenuineparts.com is one notable and reputable online parts seller, and vendor here on this board.

[hotrod101786]

yeah ive researched it quite a bit and it keeps comin up as a flywheel/clutch issue. one forum i found was talkin bout it bein motor mounts but considering the car has 114k miles and i gotta nearly take the clutch all the way off before it engages, id say its the engagement, i just wanna verify it before i buy the kit.

[ed10]

what about just buying the flywheel?? wouldn't that fix it....I mean if the clutch isn't slipping then you could just get a new flywheel right?? I'm curious cuz my foot got stuck on the clutch once and I burnt some clutch and ever since from time to time I get the shudder

[hotrod101786]

so would it be a bad idea to get the stage 2? im honestly not plannin on doin hard launches or powershifting, cant afford the chance of screwin somethin up, atleast untill i pay the car off. i jus figured a stage 2 would last longer, thats all im lookin at, not necassarily performance. figured if i can get the carbon kevlar disk for $26 more mite as well do it.

[trix1]

I have an Exedy Stage 1 clutch and lightweight flywheel. It shutters sometimes when I take off in 1st. It's a trade-off for the driving feel of a lightweight flywheel. Do you know if you have an aftermarket flywheel? A stock flywheel has more rotational inertia so they don't shutter. That's why drag cars don't use lightweight flywheels. Also, replace the clutch and flywheel together.

[hotrod101786]

yeah i was gonna say you should always replace the clutch and flywheel together, mite as well. i bought the car from the 3rd owner and he never replaced the clutch and he's had it since 94k miles, and he bought it from an older lady thats all i know. the clutch does grip well but it doesnt engage untill the pedals almost all the way off. ive only owned cars with clutch cables, so i dont know if that matters with the wrx?

[907Bum]

Originally Posted by hotrod101786

yeah i was gonna say you should always replace the clutch and flywheel together, mite as well. i bought the car from the 3rd owner and he never replaced the clutch and he's had it since 94k miles, and he bought it from an older lady thats all i know. the clutch does grip well but it doesnt engage untill the pedals almost all the way off. ive only owned cars with clutch cables, so i dont know if that matters with the wrx?

IMO you clutch is almost gone, the longer the throw the closer it is to going (most of the time) 94k on a stock clutch is great!

[Mekks]

my clutch is also the same, does not engage untill the pedal is almost all the way out. really annoying. i also have the shutter but thats due to my girl glazein the cluch over when she drove it. its starting to go away as i put more miles on it.

[hotrod101786]

ok, so i guess its pretty much established that i need a new clutch kit lol. so should i spend the extra $26 and get the stage 2 kit? the stage 1 comes with the same lightened flywheel.

[elevenpoint7five]

Even a "stage 2" car doesn't need a stage 2 clutch, and you're wasting money if you get one. Check out South Bend Clutches, they sell re-badged Exedy clutches for pretty cheap. Mine has lasted a while.

[hotrod101786]

ok, thanks

[bk11383]

hey i just recently got my suby as well. and thats the first thing that i noticed bout mine. i have a 02 and i swore it was the clutch. but then i found out that i just sucked at driving that clutch. so just give it time, you'll have to feather it a little more to not stutter.

also check your throttle cable. mine was loose enough to make it sticky. its the cable on the driver side if you look at it. the one on the left is for cruise. make sure the cable has some play, but not to much. should move say 1/4 of an inchish...

bright

[GenoaWRX9]

i had that same problem a few weeks ago but only for a few hours then it magically went away. hope you can have such luck

[hotrod101786]

yeah ive tried all different ways to take off, still shutters. i guess ill giv it time. i put a turboXS turbo back exhaust on it yesterday (came with the car) and i forgot to put the turbo heat shield back on, do i really need it?

[GenoaWRX9]

no the heat shield just keeps the i/c cooler. i dont think the clutch is the problem because mine only has 25k

[oguitar]

I recommend putting your turbo heat shield back on. It is going to help keep your TMIC from heat-soaking while sitting at a light. For your shuttering issue check your pitch stop to make sure all bolts are tightened. I had a problem similar to yours and fixed it by tightening up my pitch stop bolts.

[hotrod101786]

awe ok, i saw that when i was puttin on my exhaust. like a motor mount with a long arm right behind/underneath the tmic? well if i dont need the clutch replaced afterall then ill have $300 to spend. i was thinking megan lowering springs and a fmic. any suggestions on what i should rather get?

[Mekks]

fmic is kinda a waste unless your rotated setup, it will cause lag.

[hotrod101786]

oh, yeah that makes sense. so i guess for now ill jus put some megan lowering springs on. when i put my exhaust on i felt the turbo wheel and it had a lil bit of play. would it be bad to upgrade the turbo at 114k? and another question i hav is about all the tuning. ive only messed with american muscle before this and im used to jus modding and gettin back on the street. do you necassarily have to tune after every little thing you do? i even saw somewhere on here that somebody recomended that you tune after puttin a cai on...thats crazy!

[happs subi]

Originally Posted by hotrod101786

oh, yeah that makes sense. so i guess for now ill jus put some megan lowering springs on. when i put my exhaust on i felt the turbo wheel and it had a lil bit of play. would it be bad to upgrade the turbo at 114k? and another question i hav is about all the tuning. ive only messed with american muscle before this and im used to jus modding and gettin back on the street. do you necassarily have to tune after every little thing you do? i even saw somewhere on here that somebody recomended that you tune after puttin a cai on...thats crazy!

on 02's you can do a few things before you have to get a tune, 04+ are more sensitive.. CAI's wont get you far though, you should upgrade your intercooler y pipe instead.

[ed10]

Originally Posted by hotrod101786

yeah ive tried all different ways to take off, still shutters. i guess ill giv it time. i put a turboXS turbo back exhaust on it yesterday (came with the car) and i forgot to put the turbo heat shield back on, do i really need it?

you don't need it...so I'll gladly take it off your hands

[flyinghighlm]

Originally Posted by hotrod101786

ok, so i guess its pretty much established that i need a new clutch kit lol. so should i spend the extra $26 and get the stage 2 kit? the stage 1 comes with the same lightened flywheel.

Stage 2 = useless waste of money.
Less than 14.9lbs flywheel = potenital CEL's, search it you will see alot on it.

I ran into the same issues, you can call all the shops you want and you will get simliar answers from them.
1. Shifting issues - you have a 02 expect it, you can try other tranny fluids to make it feel better and extend its life.
2. Flywheel is shot, replace it and buy the kit. Change out your pilot and throwout bearings while you are in there.
3. Worst case, synchros are giving out causing shifting issues and engagments problems.
4. Check all 4 of your axels, if one of them is seperated from the diffs and will make the car act like its slipping. There is a thread in here somewhere and it even says it on the exedy OEM clutch kit paperwork if you buy that brand.
5. Verify that slave cylinder has the correct amount of throw in it, I.E is it extending all the way or only partial engaging creating the shutter.
6. Adjust master cylinder if needed.

Sources of info are THmotorsports (awesome guy, give em a call), Exedy and ACT.

To solve my issue, purchased the exedy oem clutch and act street lightweight flywheel, 14.9lbs. I have a little chatter but it only has 500 miles on it and its getting better with age. Drained crappy fluids out and replaced with my choice of fluid, TONS of threads you make your own choice, checked all axels and ensured they have not seperated.
02 wrx wagon, stg 2, tuned to 17.5lbs, 255/255 and it holds just fine all day.

Good Luck and enjoy

[flyinghighlm]

Originally Posted by hotrod101786

awe ok, i saw that when i was puttin on my exhaust. like a motor mount with a long arm right behind/underneath the tmic? well if i dont need the clutch replaced afterall then ill have $300 to spend. i was thinking megan lowering springs and a fmic. any suggestions on what i should rather get?

Wasted money all the way around.
Search Stg 2 wrx, intake, tbe, TUNE IT, you will love it. Megan springs, ehh not my flavor just to harsh of a ride but some people can deal with it but I like a smoother ride.
Just dont overlook the tune,with a car with nothing but simple bolt on's and tune is a blast to drive.
People can complain about not having alot of money but will go blow 1k plus on a fmic, just does not make sense. You can purchase the opensource tactrix cable yourself and buy a OTS map and start from there OR, take it to a shop and get a pro-tune. I had my car tuned by doug at topspeed, it was around $200.00 and I wish I would have done it sooner. The car came to life, so much more fun to drive, and better mpg all at the same time.