Just wanted to add one possible solution for getting rid of persistent shuddering on take off in first or reverse. I was plagued with it on my 91 vert to the point where, when hot, it felt like the engine was going to jump out of the hood. It was loud and embarrassing.

Looking at my clutch fluid, I realized it had probably not ever been changed. It was gray in the reservoir. I know what contaminated brake fluid can do to your braking feel, and the clutch is just another hydraulic system, so I decided to flush it.

I own a Motive pressure bleeder (that has been an extremely valuable tool, despite it's negative effects on the brake fluid) and used that to flush almost two liters of brake fluid through the clutch system. Yeah, it took that many to get it running clean fluid. I also cleaned out the reservoir since the dirt was built up in it.

After doing this, my shuddering has all but disappeared. I've only gotten a super-light shudder under hot conditions a few times, and I had to try and induce it.

I don't know explicitly why this would work. I figure that the clutch engagement was causing a natural skipping effect that was being pushed back into the clutch system since the fluid was weak and spongy. with new fluid the skipping effect is dampened by the firm fluid and results in smooth engagement.

I realize that this may not work for everyone, but I figure somebody else might benefit from this knowledge too. Just trying to give back

 

That doesnt make sense to me, but i was thinking a diff or motor mount at first.

 

I've experienced shuddering before in first (not so much reverse), and what I came to the conclusion was that I just didn't have the RPM's high enough for the amount of torque needed. Once I pushed the RPM's up a little higher I stopped shuddering altogether. I personally think it's just people who are trying to move their car from a stand still with not enough torque.

 

Whether it makes sense or not, it did make a difference. Car shuddered -> changed fluid -> drove right after -> car didn't shudder and still continues not to. As far as RPMs go, I regularly take off from about 1200-1400 rpms when city driving and the car pulls fine.

I don't mind if people think I'm crazy or it doesn't seem plausible. Point is it helped me and hopefully it might help someone else from thinking their clutch is shot and they would have to replace it (what I was thinking before this).

 

I did the same about a year ago with exactly the same result. I though the clutch was going but after changing the fluid everything is OK.