Clutch high biting point ?? V8 Vantage
Discussion
On the basis that the clutch IS on it's way out and you have gained a bit of cash. I would have a new upgraded twin plate clutch fitted and have the full benefit during your ownership of the car!
Otherwise, you will have that nagging worry that the clutch is going to fail, every time you drive it!
Otherwise, you will have that nagging worry that the clutch is going to fail, every time you drive it!
I bought my Ocotber 2006 DB9 in March 2009. I was naive and didn't think too much about the high clutch biting point.Fifteen months and less than 4000 miles later, having been helped on its way by a no-longer-employed driver from my dealer, the clutch started to slip and I had to replace it, which hurt my wallet.
I bought my V12V new. Thirty months and 13200 miles later, its clutch is absolutely fine.
I bought my V12V new. Thirty months and 13200 miles later, its clutch is absolutely fine.
yeti said:
You might get a few thousand miles out of it, who knows. But it's on the way out, yes; and when it goes, it goes big style!
Was told three years ago by a well respected indie, that my clutch has a high biting point and would not make the next service, three years an 20 odd thousand miles later, biting point is still the same, and, more importantly, two services carried out since then by AM dealer, clutch imminent death has never been mentioned again!
Given the clutch is hydraulically operated with fluid replenishment via the reservoir curious to know how exactly does wear translate directly into pedal bite point changing -when your brakes wear, which his same system, the pedal 'bite' point does not proportionally alter,the fluid is replenished to take up the wear and one sees this as a drop in the master cylinder level.
My experience has been that the V8V has by nature a high clutch pedal bite point and with the BR twin plate its also high
My experience has been that the V8V has by nature a high clutch pedal bite point and with the BR twin plate its also high
petesv8v said:
My experience has been that the V8V has by nature a high clutch pedal bite point and with the BR twin plate its also high
The 'normal' high bite point is one reason these cars are relatively difficult to launch smoothly from a stop, since you foot must be completely off the floor before the clutch grabs, making modulation somewhat tricky. On cars where you can pivot your foot upwards while still keeping your heel on the floor, there is better clutch control.Hmmm a smidge of hope then :-) I also looked at a 45k car with an original clutch biting point was not so high but a fair bit stiffer , I will put a bit of cash by and see what happens .... The garage next to my workshop services and repairs all the a Silverstone track day Vantages and does there clutches every 5-10k miles So very experienced and know what they are doing and will do me a good deal about £600 labour plus clutch about £1100 , I also noticed Appleby only 6 miles from me do just a clutch plate change for £1200 , but my garage reckon they would recommend the cover and Thrust bearing but rarely change the Fly wheel on the track cars .
Carl
Carl
There is no proven connection between a high biting point and imminent clutch failure. My car has always had a high clutch and it's still going strong at over 32K miles. My dealer's mechanic was chosen last year as the number 1 factory mechanic by Aston Martin. He has looked at my clutch several times and says it is perfectly normal.
Also, when clutches fail from wear (not failures such as spring popping off) they usually don't do so dramatically. The worn surface gets less and less grippy causing some slippage at higher revs. Gradually, the slippage becomes more prevalent until their is no more grip and pressing the throttle fails to translate into forward motion. In a manual car, it is rare for a worn clutch to leave you stranded unless you fail to listen to the signs your car is offering you.
Also, when clutches fail from wear (not failures such as spring popping off) they usually don't do so dramatically. The worn surface gets less and less grippy causing some slippage at higher revs. Gradually, the slippage becomes more prevalent until their is no more grip and pressing the throttle fails to translate into forward motion. In a manual car, it is rare for a worn clutch to leave you stranded unless you fail to listen to the signs your car is offering you.
Edited by KarlFranz on Thursday 24th April 23:18
Glad it was not just me who cannot get the link between pedal bite point and indication of clutch wear.
Seems this just adds to the hysteria around V8V clutches and no doubt has been used by many a dealer to barter down pex value (together with the fact one has had the audacity to drive the car)and prospective buyers as in the original post.
Seems this just adds to the hysteria around V8V clutches and no doubt has been used by many a dealer to barter down pex value (together with the fact one has had the audacity to drive the car)and prospective buyers as in the original post.
Interesting. I also did a track day experience in a V8V a few years ago and was told to leave it in second gear. Didn't understand why at the time!!!!
My car has just turned 42 k miles on original clutch.
Last service was done by a good independent who mentioned that my clutch pedal was a bit stiffer than normal so I should expect around 5k miles out of it with normal driving. No slippage but he said it was heat cycling that was causing it to stiffen and it would eventually go.
Suppose time will tell if he's on the money or not!!
My car has just turned 42 k miles on original clutch.
Last service was done by a good independent who mentioned that my clutch pedal was a bit stiffer than normal so I should expect around 5k miles out of it with normal driving. No slippage but he said it was heat cycling that was causing it to stiffen and it would eventually go.
Suppose time will tell if he's on the money or not!!
DB9VolanteDriver said:
petesv8v said:
My experience has been that the V8V has by nature a high clutch pedal bite point and with the BR twin plate its also high
The 'normal' high bite point is one reason these cars are relatively difficult to launch smoothly from a stop, since you foot must be completely off the floor before the clutch grabs, making modulation somewhat tricky. On cars where you can pivot your foot upwards while still keeping your heel on the floor, there is better clutch control.dw
All good news to my ears , I tried the 50mph clutch test seems fine !
Noticed David Appleby do just a clutch plate fitting for £1000 plus Vat
But the guys next door reckon it's false economy not to do the thrust bearing ! Although interestingly they don't normally change the flywheel !
But then hopefully I won't need one for a bit .......... :-)
Noticed David Appleby do just a clutch plate fitting for £1000 plus Vat
But the guys next door reckon it's false economy not to do the thrust bearing ! Although interestingly they don't normally change the flywheel !
But then hopefully I won't need one for a bit .......... :-)
Impasse said:
I've got a stiff and high one. Pedal, that is. It was like that when I bought it two years ago at 14k miles. Now the mileometer is at 35k with no change to report in pedal feel or height, or clutch performance.
I would agree totally. (regarding the pedal) 
My DB9 has felt the exact same way for the 3 years/8000 miles I've owned it. I think it's just the way they are.. Not signs of wear. I own a 2007 v8 vantage manual and I also had a very high bite point on my clutch that didn't seem right as others have said.
Today I had replaced the clutch, flywheel and pressure plate and thrust bearings, now the car feels totally new.
The bite point is no perfectly placed, right at the bottom of the stroke.
The car feels fantastic and the main reason was the pressure plate had little to no rebound left in it.
So happy with the new clutch kit.
Today I had replaced the clutch, flywheel and pressure plate and thrust bearings, now the car feels totally new.
The bite point is no perfectly placed, right at the bottom of the stroke.
The car feels fantastic and the main reason was the pressure plate had little to no rebound left in it.
So happy with the new clutch kit.
Edited by Stuelord on Thursday 24th July 14:07
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