Key Questions to Ask When Ordering Truck Clutch

I'm about to put a new clutch in my truck. ISX15/Eaton 10-speed. EZ Pedal. I've got the clutch, and the installation kit that includes new input shaft, bearings, bushings, etc.

Couple questions -
1. Other than a tranny jack, are there any specialty tools I might end up needing that the regular Joe might not have?
2. If I know how to keep the clutch brake safe, and I'm the only one that drives the truck, is there really any benefit in sourcing a two-piece brake? If you know how to drive, and what destroys the brake, will they last as long as the clutch?
3. I've put a clutch or two in pickups in my day. Is there anything so different about this that's gonna put me in a bind?
4. Normally you bolt the pressure plate to the flywheel with an alignment tool. But I've read in an Eaton, you can stack it all on the tranny, and then you only need to line up to the pilot bearing. Have you ever done it that way, and is it easier?
5. How are you guys barring over an ISX? Breaker bar on the crank pulley, or is there a better way?
6. If this were a pickup, I'd replace the rear main seal. Same deal on a semi, or leave it unless it's leaking? If the crank is grooved, are "Speedy Sleeves" a thing on these big engines?

Thanks.

1) It all depends on the truck I suppose. There really shouldn't be what I consider special tools to do the job. A heavy duty truck transmission jack is absolutely required. You should be able to rent one. I've been able to until I bought my own.
2) Even though I know how to use a clutch brake, I have managed to wear a couple out in the past. It sure is easier removing and replacing a two piece. I do a ton of stop and go city driving, and I have other drivers, so I always use a two piece.
3) There can be way more stuff to remove depending on the truck. On one of mine it requires air tanks removal. You'll have air lines to your shifter, be those aren't too hard to keep track of.
4) I've always bolted mine to the flywheel. I use a floor jack to lift it up into place.
5) ISX is barred over through the face of the water pump. Driver's side, down low, 3/4 square drive. Google it.
6) I don't touch non-leaking rear mains. That's just me.

You should resurface the flywheel when doing a clutch. I'll admit that the last two I've done on my trucks I haven't and I've been fine. Clutches weren't worn out, just broke other pieces. The flywheel is heavy, so be prepared. The weight isn't the issue so much as the narrow clearance and opportunity for disaster on your fingers.

Put the clutch on the flywheel. It’s easier to line up and you know it is installed on flywheel correctly. The engine block is mounted solid and will not move. It will add way too much weight to the trans and make it ackward and uncomfortable to get back into place.

Go with two piece brake so you won’t have to pull trans again or torch out to replace again just in case it goes bad.

If the seals arn’t leaking I wouldn’t disturb them.

If you can’t get access to a trans jack You can use a good 2 ton floor jack to do the trans but you need to make a cradle plate in place of the lift saddle that you can ratchet strap the trans too.

I disagree with installing a 2 piece brake with a new clutch. Install the Eaton 1-piece and grease it when you put it in. Good driver and the brake should outlast the clutch. Its not terrible to cut it out and install a 2 piece if you need to later.

If your old input shaft is not in terrible shape it will suffice for your dummy shaft when bolting up the clutch.

After you get your flywheel resurfaced, take the time to tap all of the clutch mounting holes in the flywheel. If you install the clutch bolts into old holes you will have issues and bolts wont torque correctly due to rust buildup. Also it will clean the metal shavings out of the threads from machining.

You will need good lock ring pliers for the input shaft bearing retaining ring. Its a bugger without them.

Snap Ring Pliers | SRP4 | Snap-on Store

Please keep us informed on how it goes. I admire you or anyone for taking this job on.
I did one in a cabover (an eon ago) with all the room in the world. It still was an azzwhip.
FWIW, a buddy and his Dad did a clutch and for the life of them couldn't get it to adjust properly. Turns out they were given the wrong clutch so check your parts.
Best of luck!

I couldn't agree more. 1 piece, 2 piece is a emergency repair.

If flywheel is on the ground, it gets a rear main. All the work is done. Torque clutch to flywheel, then install trans. You have install kit. Good move. Great time to R+R starter just incase. Shifter bushing good idea. Rear engine mounts too. Allways check driveline and cooler. Cheaper now than later.

Choosing the right clutch kit for your application is critical to getting an upgrade that will provide the solution you are looking for. XClutch offer an extensive range of different clutch kits including everything from single plate organic upgrades for lightly modified street vehicles all the way through to specialized quad plate motorsport upgrades. All of these kits have varying levels of driveability to balance with their performance and intended use.

We recommend reviewing the below questions to help you determine what the main goals of your vehicle build are. Then you can review the Clutch Kit Stages information to help determine the best solution for your vehicle. Of course if you have any questions about the best kit for your vehicle, please dont hesitate to contact our sales team for support.

Goto BWHY to know more.

The first and most important question to ask is what are you going to be using the vehicle for? Is it going to be a daily driver, a special weekend drive or dedicated race car. If you are going to be using it as a track and road car, how often would you expect to still use it on the road?

This information is critical because the driveability of the car will be heavily affected by the clutch kit you select. If you are using it on the track, a ceramic friction material will provide excellent heat capacity, but they arent as driveable for street use and this can cause shorter service life. Alternately, organic friction material is ideal for driveability in street vehicles, but has a limited heat capacity which can cause the linings to overheat in motorsport applications.

Another factor to consider is the type of clutch. In motorsport applications where throttle response is paramount to performance, you may want to go for a lightweight alloy multi-plate setup. For street vehicles, a lighter setup will cause the vehicle to be harder to get off the line which can be a problem in stop start traffic. Smaller clutches also tend to experience a shorter service life which can make them unsuitable for street use.

When it comes to clutch, torque is the key performance measurement to work from. XClutch kits are all given a torque rating with a factor of safety built in to give a basic guide of the upgrades overall torque holding capability. You can see this torque figure in the technical specifications area of each clutch kit page.

For more Truck Clutch(in,ar,ru)information, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

If you are having difficulty in selecting a clutch kit that suits your intended vehicle use due to an exceptionally high torque figure, we recommend contacting us to discuss your vehicle and some of the modifications you have made to ensure you get the best outcome for your intended use.

When selecting a clutch, sometimes it is important to consider what your future goals for the vehicle are? Is this a vehicle that you want to try a few different mods on and then leave it as is, or do you want to continue to build the engine to try and maximise the performance over time.

Depending on how you answer that question, you may want to consider looking at a higher upgrade or an upgrade that can be modified in the future for increaased torque capacity. XClutch offer a range of multi-plate kits that can be upgraded from organic to ceramic friction materials later down the track if you decide to turn the vehicle into a dedicated race car. To see if this is possible for your vehicle, please contact us.

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