Moving off in 1st gear on my manual 2012 ZL1 - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

mwillems · 01-21-2017, 07:17 PM

Hi all,

I bought a 2012 ZL1 with, wait for it, barely over 2,000 miles on it (yes, two thousand). It's a new car basically. The engine is free of any dirt of dust, like it just came off the assembly line. The car is flawless:

Anyway, this car is awesome. The V6 was great; the V8 amazing, and this supercharged V8 is truly spectacular. Everything about it. Power, torque, roadholding: the equipment...

The (manual) gearbox and clutch took me a day or two to get used to - but just a day, not a month lol.

Except for one thing: moving off in first gear: it vibrates hard when I move off from first. The only things I can do to stop this is either not touch the throttle at all and let the clutch come up VERY slowly (I am talking 5 seconds to get it moving), or to give it a LOT of throttle and let the clutch come up VERY fast. A normal moving off is hard.

Now to give this some context, I have been driving manual cars since I got my license at age 17, and I am now, ehm... past my mid fifties. So I am not new to standard gearboxes. And I am perfectly OK with this one - except that first gear.

But I am not perfect, no-one is. Perhaps my technique is wrong for this transmission/clutch. You al/l know this car well, so.. any ideas, everyone?

Mike
Brantford, Ontario

jrhagen · 01-21-2017, 08:00 PM

I swapped out for a ZR1 clutch then to a Centerforce DYAD. Smooth as silk and I have near as makes no difference 700 rwhp.

mwillems · 01-21-2017, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrhagen

I swapped out for a ZR1 clutch then to a Centerforce DYAD. Smooth as silk and I have near as makes no difference 700 rwhp.

Are you saying there's a design issue? Or that with the standard clutch it is normal to shudder and vibrate when moving off in 1st??
PS since it is a ZR1, it has a ZR1 clutch :-)

jrhagen · 01-21-2017, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwillems

Are you saying there's a design issue? Or that with the standard clutch it is normal to shudder and vibrate when moving off in 1st??
PS since it is a ZR1, it has a ZR1 clutch :-)

I don't know if it is a design issue as my Camaro started life as a SS. At 651 miles the LS3 came out and a LSX crate motor and LSA supercharger went in.

And I do believe the ZL1 and ZR1 clutches are different.

mwillems · 01-23-2017, 08:25 PM

So, no-one any ideas? All your (manual transmission) cars move off smoothly in 1st?

EvilZL1 · 01-25-2017, 12:44 PM

ZR1 clutch has been reviewed and claimed to be worse

frenchsquared · 01-25-2017, 12:49 PM

I have not driven a ZL1, but high horse power clutches shutter. Think of driving a 1 ton truck. My C5 has a 1000hp clutch and it drives just like a 1 ton. It shutters, if I am not fast. I just let the clutch out very quickly and then get on the throttle. Car also has very few miles. Might get better as it is used more.

frankwjr · 01-25-2017, 05:00 PM

DO three or four comp mode launches...first gear, floor it, should stabilize at 4k...drop the clutch and hang on...if your feelin frisky do a 2 and 3 no-lift...blow all the cob webs out...and if it is a problem waitin to happen...well better now than 1k from home....good luck....btw 55....welcome to the club!

Infern0 · 01-26-2017, 08:52 AM

Sounds like your car might be depressed from all the sitting. Get it out and stretch its legs, and you should have fun yourself doing it. You don't have to drive like a maniac to not drive it like a Caddy either.

Nice car!

CGbambam · 01-26-2017, 09:37 AM

Sounds like normal clutch shutter, give it a smidge more gas rolling out from a stop

mwillems · 01-26-2017, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGbambam

Sounds like normal clutch shutter, give it a smidge more gas rolling out from a stop

OK cool. Yeah, I can definitely live with it, as long as it's normal. I like to think I'm good with manual trannies and clutch shutter is not what I normally experience when driving one... just want to know it's not me (or the clutch!)

Thanks!

CamaroFred · 01-26-2017, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwillems

So, no-one any ideas? All your (manual transmission) cars move off smoothly in 1st?

I can roll my foot off the clutch in my SS in first or second (usually 2nd) without giving it any throttle until it is fully engaged.
It never shudders.
Sometimes in 1st if I quickly close the throttle without stabbing the clutch I get the dreaded driveline rattle.

mwillems · 01-26-2017, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CamaroFred

I can roll my foot off the clutch in my SS in first or second (usually 2nd) without giving it any throttle until it is fully engaged.

Yes, I can do that, but then it takes forever to leave. In practice, you don't have forever so you need a little added power. And that's when it shudders.

Billy10mm · 01-26-2017, 08:35 PM

Sounds to me like previous owner hot-spotted the stock clutch. Can create unwanted chatter.

01-21-2017, 07:17 PM	#1
mwillems Drives: 2012 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Brantford, Ontario Posts: 101	Moving off in 1st gear on my manual 2012 ZL1 Hi all, I bought a 2012 ZL1 with, wait for it, barely over 2,000 miles on it (yes, two thousand). It's a new car basically. The engine is free of any dirt of dust, like it just came off the assembly line. The car is flawless: Anyway, this car is awesome. The V6 was great; the V8 amazing, and this supercharged V8 is truly spectacular. Everything about it. Power, torque, roadholding: the equipment... The (manual) gearbox and clutch took me a day or two to get used to - but just a day, not a month lol. Except for one thing: moving off in first gear: it vibrates hard when I move off from first. The only things I can do to stop this is either not touch the throttle at all and let the clutch come up VERY slowly (I am talking 5 seconds to get it moving), or to give it a LOT of throttle and let the clutch come up VERY fast. A normal moving off is hard. Now to give this some context, I have been driving manual cars since I got my license at age 17, and I am now, ehm... past my mid fifties. So I am not new to standard gearboxes. And I am perfectly OK with this one - except that first gear. But I am not perfect, no-one is. Perhaps my technique is wrong for this transmission/clutch. You al/l know this car well, so.. any ideas, everyone? Mike Brantford, Ontario __________________ Photographer/Engineer/Radio Amateur http://www.michaelwillems.ca

01-23-2017, 08:25 PM	#5
mwillems Drives: 2012 Camaro ZL1 Join Date: May 2016 Location: Brantford, Ontario Posts: 101	So, no-one any ideas? All your (manual transmission) cars move off smoothly in 1st? __________________ Photographer/Engineer/Radio Amateur http://www.michaelwillems.ca

01-25-2017, 12:44 PM	#6
EvilZL1 Snake Eater Drives: 2012 AGM ZL1 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: TN Posts: 2,737	ZR1 clutch has been reviewed and claimed to be worse __________________ Build Thread: http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showth...95#post8351295 Make sure you don’t forget to subscribe to my channel! More content on the way. Like, share with your friends https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Z...sP2wjsLLFeP1zQ Follow me on instagram: http://www.instagram.com/snkeatr/

01-25-2017, 05:00 PM	#8
frankwjr Drives: 2010 SS 2SS M6 Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Smithsburg, Md. Posts: 2,445	DO three or four comp mode launches...first gear, floor it, should stabilize at 4k...drop the clutch and hang on...if your feelin frisky do a 2 and 3 no-lift...blow all the cob webs out...and if it is a problem waitin to happen...well better now than 1k from home....good luck....btw 55....welcome to the club! __________________ 2010 SS 2SS M6 - Tune by RDP dynoSteve!(Woot) - Daily Driver - *150K!* - All work by me...

01-26-2017, 08:52 AM	#9
Infern0 Bring It Drives: In Between Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 2,929 View My Garage	Sounds like your car might be depressed from all the sitting. Get it out and stretch its legs, and you should have fun yourself doing it. You don't have to drive like a maniac to not drive it like a Caddy either. Nice car! __________________ 2017 Camaro ZL1 M6 - Everything but the sunroof - Sold 2010 Camaro SS - 650RWHP Daily Driver - Traded

01-21-2017, 08:00 PM	#2
jrhagen Banned Drives: Camaro Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: USA Posts: 2,701	I swapped out for a ZR1 clutch then to a Centerforce DYAD. Smooth as silk and I have near as makes no difference 700 rwhp.

01-25-2017, 12:49 PM	#7
frenchsquared Drives: 15 Z28, 01 Corvette, 96 Corvette Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Colorado Posts: 863	I have not driven a ZL1, but high horse power clutches shutter. Think of driving a 1 ton truck. My C5 has a 1000hp clutch and it drives just like a 1 ton. It shutters, if I am not fast. I just let the clutch out very quickly and then get on the throttle. Car also has very few miles. Might get better as it is used more.

01-26-2017, 09:37 AM	#10
CGbambam Drives: 2011 Camaro 2SS Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Houston Posts: 410	Sounds like normal clutch shutter, give it a smidge more gas rolling out from a stop

01-26-2017, 08:35 PM	#14
Billy10mm Drives: 2014 Camaro 2SS 1LE NPP Join Date: Nov 2013 Location: Hartsdale, NY Posts: 1,434	Sounds to me like previous owner hot-spotted the stock clutch. Can create unwanted chatter. __________________ My thoughts on some things: Driving Nannies: If I'm that far out of shape on the street, something has gone terribly wrong and by all means Mr. Computer man, come and get me. G2s: Rock throwing is like like a tramp stamp; although problematic, it's a sign of good things to come.