Well last week I installed my new exhaust, springs & shocks, & UDP. A couple days after I finished installing the stuff I began hearing a thud kind of sound from the front of the car when I begin to engage my clutch. It sounds the loudest from a dead stop, but it is still noticable during gear changes.
I thought that it might be a loose bolt from the suspension, so I went out and checked all the bolts, and they're torqued just right.
Could it be that my clutch is going bad?! I only have 51000 miles on my car, but I do drive it hard sometimes. If it is the clutch, what kind should I get? Right now, I'm NT as you can see from my mods...but I will be going turbo within the next year. Would an ACT 2100 be good?


Thanks, Richard (97 ESi)
http://www.ourformerselves.com/richard/main.htm

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CURRENT MODS:
AEM Cold Air Intake || Magnacor 8.5 Ignition Wires || NKG BKR6EVX-11 Spark Plugs || Sylvania Cool Blue Headlights || Cobra Eyes Windshield Washer Blue LED Lights || Nokya Motorsports Sport Pedal Set || Front & Rear Strut Bars || Eibach Springs Pro-Kit || KYB AGX Adjustable Shocks/Struts || AF/X Underdrive Pulley || Pacesetter - Monza Exhaust System || OBX Racing Sports - B5 Bomb Tunable Muffler

IN MY ROOM:
Energy Suspension - Motor Mount Inserts

IN THE MAIL:
Bored Throttle Body || Stock CD/Cassette/Radio player

a guy on this board (CluckeRMC) who is a friend of mine, when he engaged his clutch on a hard launch and what not, there was a big thud noise. it turned out his rear motor mount was busted and the intake manifold was hitting the firewall when TQ was applied. I suggest checking that first.

ACT does not make clutches for the 2GNT.

Well I found out what the problem was today. I took off my upper front strut bar, and the sound vanished. Which makes it nice to know that it wasn't any problem that would cost me more money, but it sucks cuz now I can't use my strut bar.


Thanks, Richard (97 ESi)
http://www.ourformerselves.com/richard/main.htm

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CURRENT MODS:
AEM Cold Air Intake || Magnacor 8.5 Ignition Wires || NKG BKR6EVX-11 Spark Plugs || Sylvania Cool Blue Headlights || Cobra Eyes Windshield Washer Blue LED Lights || Nokya Motorsports Sport Pedal Set || Front & Rear Strut Bars || Eibach Springs Pro-Kit || KYB AGX Adjustable Shocks/Struts || AF/X Underdrive Pulley || Pacesetter - Monza Exhaust System || OBX Racing Sports - B5 Bomb Tunable Muffler

IN MY ROOM:
Energy Suspension - Motor Mount Inserts

IN THE MAIL:
Bored Throttle Body || Stock CD/Cassette/Radio player

Interesting.

I would look at it more in the light of the fact that your FUSB revealed a problem, not that it caused a problem. Because, in fact, they can't (most of them, anyway).. it's just like your frame at the point it's bolted in.

What could have it been vibrating on?
What could have it caused to vibrate?
What is close to it?
Why is the vibration there to begin with?

ZEN, man. ZEN!

I'd still look at your motor mounts, maybe it's not completely broken yet.. but if some of the bolts busted then the first thing the motor would tilt into would probably be the upper strut bar. CluckeRMC didn't have one on his car so that's probably why it tilted back and hit the firewall instead.

oh yeah, easy way to check it. have a buddy get in the car while you watch the engine with the hood up, and have him set the e-brake hard and then rev the engine and engage the clutch a little bit, if the motor tilts backwards more then an inch or so.. i'd be checking your motor mount. On CluckeRMC's you could actually see hit move back like 4 inches and hit the firewall.

My car was making a loud thud noise shortly after i bought it and it turned out to be a motor mount. I simply jacked up the engine ten replaced the front one.