I recently put in a tranny on my 1996 outback. Everything is fine except when I start out, or when I gear down. When depressing the clutch in 1st gear it grabs too much. So I need to dump or feather the clutch, which I hate to do. I've been told it might be my "spring thingy":lol: (forgot what he said). I only replaced the disc, not the hardware, a friend said it wasn't necessary, and the kit costs....So ye experts, fools, and would mechanics, harken please to mine call.. You guys have been so helpfull so far!!!!, Oh, and my wife is taking the car to get a "free" check up at a tranmiision place:-\, EEK!!! Thanks Dann

Was it the pressure plate? If the pressure plate is scored or has hot spots, it could be causing the vibration/shudder you're describing.

 

It's usually good practice to replace the pressure plate with the clutch disc. It's also good measure to replace the pilot & throw out bearing as well.

I would have replaced the whole thing. It's not that much for a good quality kit and you get the whole shabang.

 

What brand of disc did you buy?

Yeah - Subaru clutches tend to shudder more than some other brands so it's always wise to have the flywheel turned and replace the pressure plate (and TO and Pilot bearings of course) with a new one. It's too far to go back in if something is wrong.

 

GD

My Sube has a similar problem with a lot of chatter/shudder on a downshift.  Recently, I got my exhaust patched (there was a pretty big gaping hole in the segment between the 1st and 2nd cat converters). 

 

The car runs quieter now, a little warmer and there is much more pickup on acceleration.  But also now that shudder problem has practically disappeared! 

 

I guess the additional back pressure also solved a mechanical problem...the leaky exhaust probably causes a serious aspiration problem even when decelerating.

 

--Damien