New 6 speed trans/clutch break-in period
 

Hey everyone - I just installed a brand new 6 speed transmission and South Bend Stage 2 Endurance clutch. I've been driving super easy on the new trans, filled it with Redline MT-85 fluid. It feels fantastic so far - but out of curiosity, what sort of break in period would you recommend? I haven't found anything definitive online or on the forum as of yet. I think I'm going to e-mail South Bend as well, but what I've generally heard is 600 miles for the clutch, and my buddy said about 1,000 miles for the transmission (at which point I think I will replace the fluid, unless that is unnecessary as well?). Any thoughts? Thanks!

I that believe clutch is still an organic compound, so most factory recommendations are going to be the 500-600 mile guideline. Running the regular SB Stage 2.

I f'd up on that procedure with a few mishaps on hills (woohoo modern-day drivers). I don't have any issues, though....believe it's like 4,000 miles and counting.

I'm curious where the long-term engagement point is for other owners. Mine's close to being stock-high again, but easier to work with since the flywheel is a single mass setup that doesn't feel as numb.

The only break in that is required is for your new South Bend clutch. The break in period is so the clutch disc can bed in and wear correctly and it only takes 300-400 miles. Keep rpm's below 5k rpm for 300-400 miles.Just normal street driving for 300-400 miles nothing erratic and do not floor your car until after the break in period. After break in drive your car however you like and go to the track and have fun!

I feel like I would want to change out the fluid after about 1000 miles for the same reasons I would for an engine break-in (i.e. small metal shavings deposited in the fluid during break-in period).

But maybe transmissions don't have similar wear :confused: ... I'm sure someone will chime in.

I was planning on doing this and sending a sample to Blackstone Labs which evaluates engine/diff/trans fluid samples and gives an analysis of the wear and tear. My buddy has done it for his racecar. Curious to see what they say.

Otherwise I would love to hear only 300-400 miles break in because I'm having withdrawals! Haha plus I want to make it to the next track event.

See, I'm not sure why you would bother with an analysis of the break-in oil on the new trans. It's going to have tons of metal in it, and that's ok and expected for the first thousand miles or so. I wouldn't bother, just change the oil at 1000 miles and worry about the oil analysis on the next one. That's where you would need to be alarmed with metal in the sample.

Okay, fair enough. I'll take that into consideration and just do it for my engine oil and the next trans fluid change.

After about one thousand miles you should have very small peices of metal in your transmission fluid I agree since your transmission is full of metal. Definitely flush and refill your transmission fluid early the first time. You could should do your transmission fluid analysis at a later time.