clutch tob

[jeff1]

well, once again downs ford came through--- a while back they installed a ram hdx clutch,pressure plate & flywheel, but no tob, one month later,tob failure, a new stock tob was installed for the price of the tob, labor was on them, one month later the tob failed again. this time they installed a ram adjustable tob---- after several transmission installs and constant phone conversations with ram over a two day period the install was completed---- they did all this work for the cost of the new tob----TO DATE i have not had any problems---- getting close to the one month curse----time will tell.
 i must say downs ford totally backs their work--- this appeared to be very labor intense and they ate the time involved to get my car on the road.
MY RECOMMENDATION , let's see what happens in a month--- it appears that my clutch seems to go bad around 30 days after install AND i have not had the car on the track

[jeff1]

well here we go again, august 10th and the tob is starting to squeal like a defective tension pulley, when cold, stops when car gets close to operating temps. i will give this a couple of more days, then it is back to downs ford for repairs.
 i now have concerns on Ram's capability to design a system that works
 this car has been babied ever since the HDX ram clutch/pressure plate/flywheel & adjustable tob has been installed. i wonder how long this system would have survived on the track?

[jeff1]

update, tob making more noise and i now have fluid dripping from my bell housing. going back to the shop next tuesday(earliest they can see me). hope the clutch stays together for the next six days

[riccardi]

Jeff got your message and we are doing what we can to get you in but we are swamped here with appointments that have been made for a few weeks now. So you know we always do whatever we can to help out. Like I always have said we do not make the parts I will have to call Ram and check with them.

[jeff1]

i have been in constant contact with doug at ram and am waiting for their input with this problem. three concerns, one being did ram send you the updated tob( the early ones had 0-ring problems), the second concern is, was the tob shimmed in excess of .200", if so the o-ring was damaged due to tob excess travel. third concern ram states if there is discoloration in the brake fluid the system MUST be totally flushed--- you noted discoloration BUT did not follow ram's recommendation.
 today there was minimal squeal and no fluid noted on the floor. parked for the night will see tomorrow

[jeff1]

noted brake fluid color dark black today. never seen this in all the years i have been driving. had the system completely flushed. tob still squealing when cold. i did note today that if you depress the clutch about two inches the squealing stops and you release the pedal it starts again. you do this three or four times it stops making noise. also no fluid on the floor today. i wonder how a leak stops leaking? did the o-ring reseat itself? three more days before it goes in the shop

[jeff1]

sunday clutch still working, no fluid leaks in three days(how is this possible), i have figured out how to stop the squealing by depressing the clutch pedal 2-3" four or five times . got to be something wrong, interesting problem, waiting for rick to contact Ram and i am still waiting for Ram to respond

[riccardi]

i have been in constant contact with doug at ram and am waiting for their input with this problem. three concerns, one being did ram send you the updated tob( the early ones had 0-ring problems), the second concern is, was the tob shimmed in excess of .200", if so the o-ring was damaged due to tob excess travel. third concern ram states if there is discoloration in the brake fluid the system MUST be totally flushed--- you noted discoloration BUT did not follow ram's recommendation.
 today there was minimal squeal and no fluid noted on the floor. parked for the night will see tomorrow

Jeff we did flush the fluid both times that's why I had it stated on your reciept that Ram recommends that if the fluids gets discolored again that the master cylinder may need to be replaced due brake fluid getting overheated. The TOB and the master are tied together in the same system which I know you knew. 

[riccardi]

How come you did not come to the car show?

[jeff1]

the fluid was dicolored on saturday and i had the system flushed and i am seeing the fluid darken again today, monday. still scheduled to be in the shop tomorrow--- i guess i will have to go the master cylinder

[riccardi]

Who flushed it besides us? Also did you notice the leak stop and start after someone else worked on it besides us ? 

[jeff1]

How come you did not come to the car show?

the parkway was a parking lot as was route 35--- i know i "fly" low when i drive, but not enough lift to get over traffic, lol

[jeff1]

Who flushed it besides us? Also did you notice the leak stop and start after someone else worked on it besides us ? 

only shop i could get on short notice was "firestone" in wall

[jeff1]

Who flushed it besides us? Also did you notice the leak stop and start after someone else worked on it besides us ?  

the leak had stopped before the flush and nothing since that one day leak

[jeff1]

the fluid was dicolored on saturday and i had the system flushed and i am seeing the fluid darken again today, monday. still scheduled to be in the shop tomorrow--- i guess i will have to go the master cylinder

tuesday---- results, no leak noted, no squeal noted( needs a cold start), jim could not find a reason to change the master cylinder---- they think the problem is a combination of shifting and braking that is overheating the brake fluid and causing the discoloration. now looking for a way to cool the brake fluid
 poor design on Ford's part