new clutch, is this normal?
Discussion
Triumph Man said:
I don't know to be honest, but thank yourself lucky you aren't me: Me and dad put a new clutch in the Triumph, only to find 2 days later the new clutch release bearing was a faulty item and was squealing like a pig...
Forget that for unlucky, my housemate changed the clutch in his 2.8 A4. It then suffered an unrelated but catastrophic engine failure six miles afterwards, and is now only good for breaking..Thanks for all your replies.
I have just rung the garage now, obviously it’s hard for him to tell without actually looking at it, but he suggested that it may be normal, as when it’s being changed they use a lot of grease and lubricant, and this will make it feel really light, as the clutch beds in some of this will wear away and this will make it stiffen up to the level it will stay at.
Does this sound plausible?
I am going to drop it off for him to look at tomorrow morning though.
I paid £940 for a new clutch and DMF, and I was thinking yeah that’s a lot, but a new clutch will make the car drive like a brand new car, so at least it felt like I was benefiting in some way, but now that the clutch feels exactly the same as it did before, I kind of feel “cheated” lol. They have done the job I asked, and my Flywheel rattles are gone. But it just seems the reason I used to justify the expense in my head doesn't exist any more!
I have just rung the garage now, obviously it’s hard for him to tell without actually looking at it, but he suggested that it may be normal, as when it’s being changed they use a lot of grease and lubricant, and this will make it feel really light, as the clutch beds in some of this will wear away and this will make it stiffen up to the level it will stay at.
Does this sound plausible?
I am going to drop it off for him to look at tomorrow morning though.
I paid £940 for a new clutch and DMF, and I was thinking yeah that’s a lot, but a new clutch will make the car drive like a brand new car, so at least it felt like I was benefiting in some way, but now that the clutch feels exactly the same as it did before, I kind of feel “cheated” lol. They have done the job I asked, and my Flywheel rattles are gone. But it just seems the reason I used to justify the expense in my head doesn't exist any more!
Triumph Man said:
I don't know to be honest, but thank yourself lucky you aren't me: Me and dad put a new clutch in the Triumph, only to find 2 days later the new clutch release bearing was a faulty item and was squealing like a pig...
Me and my old man replaced a clutch on the Morris Minor, except he fitted it (not me!) the wrong way round, which was only apparent once we'd reattached the engine and tried pressing the clutch down when running the engine. Cue scary knocking noises from the gearbox 
gregpot2000 said:
I had a new clutch fitted 2 weeks or 400miles ago. At first it felt really light and soft which I liked. But now seems to have stiffened up again. Is this normal after bedding in?
Normal.Also bear in mind - you drove into the garage with a f
ked clutch. You didnt know how heavy it was, because you were used to do it. It felt normal.You drove out thinking 'woah! thats a light clutch!' and it felt weird. You were also thinking 'Wow, I did0n't realise how bad the old one was till now!'.
Now you've been using it a few weeks, its back to feeling 'normal' again.
It happens, I've done the same on 3 cars. I wouldnt worry too much about it, get him to check it doesnt need bleeding, but I wouldn't be particularly worried. Its in your head.
Thanks for the advice.
It just stands out as the last time I had a new clutch was on my Astra a few years ago, it was stiff before I took it in, it was then changed and it felt really light and easy to use which I loved, especially in traffic, it then stayed like this for a year later until I sold it with no noticeable difference. So I just expected this would be the same and I would get to use a nice light clutch for at least a year or until I sold the car.
So to have it go back to “normal” stiffness, and feel no different to the old one just feels odd to me after only 2 weeks.
I just want my clutch to be light, and stay light lol cos it really makes it a pleasure to use in traffic
And final question I promise! How long does it take to bleed the clutch?
I am going to take it at 8am tomorrow, and I need to be at work for between 9:00 and 9:30, is this something that could be done in an hour?
Otherwise I will have to leave the car with them and be a bus w*nker for the day, bit inconvenient, but needs must I guess! Just wanting to be prepared really
It just stands out as the last time I had a new clutch was on my Astra a few years ago, it was stiff before I took it in, it was then changed and it felt really light and easy to use which I loved, especially in traffic, it then stayed like this for a year later until I sold it with no noticeable difference. So I just expected this would be the same and I would get to use a nice light clutch for at least a year or until I sold the car.
So to have it go back to “normal” stiffness, and feel no different to the old one just feels odd to me after only 2 weeks.
I just want my clutch to be light, and stay light lol cos it really makes it a pleasure to use in traffic
And final question I promise! How long does it take to bleed the clutch?
I am going to take it at 8am tomorrow, and I need to be at work for between 9:00 and 9:30, is this something that could be done in an hour?
Otherwise I will have to leave the car with them and be a bus w*nker for the day, bit inconvenient, but needs must I guess! Just wanting to be prepared really
Edited by gregpot2000 on Monday 10th December 15:13
Edited by gregpot2000 on Monday 10th December 15:36
UPDATE:
I tried the clutch last night in my mates 61 plate A4, which is pretty much exactly the same car as mine, apart from being 3 years newer. And to be honest the clutch felt pretty much the same stiffness as mine! So this put my mind at ease.
I then took the car to the garage today, and his first words were and you think that’s stiff? Lol, to be honest, maybe it isn't overly stiff, I mean if I were to let someone else drive it they wouldn't even probably comment on it, it’s just I was expecting it to stay feather light like when it was first fitted. He took it for a test drive, and said he honestly didn’t think there was a problem, but that I should keep an eye on it, and if it does get worst he would have no problem in taking it back and having a look.
His explanation was that the release bearing is greased when fitting, and this can give it a super light feel, as it beds in then this grease will be dispersed to normal levels so it will stiffen up slightly, but it will then stay like that for good then.
I think maybe I just had unrealistic expectation levels, I think he is genuine, as he said if it gets worse he will take It back no problem, and my mates 61 plate feels pretty much the same, this added to the fact that if I let someone off the street drive it, they probably wouldn't even pick up on it feeling stiff, makes me think I just need to get used to it really.
I tried the clutch last night in my mates 61 plate A4, which is pretty much exactly the same car as mine, apart from being 3 years newer. And to be honest the clutch felt pretty much the same stiffness as mine! So this put my mind at ease.
I then took the car to the garage today, and his first words were and you think that’s stiff? Lol, to be honest, maybe it isn't overly stiff, I mean if I were to let someone else drive it they wouldn't even probably comment on it, it’s just I was expecting it to stay feather light like when it was first fitted. He took it for a test drive, and said he honestly didn’t think there was a problem, but that I should keep an eye on it, and if it does get worst he would have no problem in taking it back and having a look.
His explanation was that the release bearing is greased when fitting, and this can give it a super light feel, as it beds in then this grease will be dispersed to normal levels so it will stiffen up slightly, but it will then stay like that for good then.
I think maybe I just had unrealistic expectation levels, I think he is genuine, as he said if it gets worse he will take It back no problem, and my mates 61 plate feels pretty much the same, this added to the fact that if I let someone off the street drive it, they probably wouldn't even pick up on it feeling stiff, makes me think I just need to get used to it really.
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