Clutch Problems
Discussion
Just got my Speed 6 back after engine rebuild following blown head gasket. Still running her in after rebuild (900miles) and a strange noise appears when operating the clutch. Next thing I know is clutch goes completely. Been told that fingers have snapped in clutch cover and mine is one of 4 Cerberas sitting in the same garage with similar problem. The garage is pretty sure there must be some design flaw in that the slave cylinder is pushing too far for the purpose it was made for. Has anyone else experienced similar problems and if so, does TVR know there may be a problem with the part?
Owned the car for just under 4 months now, of which 3 have been spent in the garage and looking like next month as well. Can't believe it and the size of the bills each time is enough to make a grown man cry. Slightly losing patience with it all and was not anticipating bills of £10k in first 4 months!!
Owned the car for just under 4 months now, of which 3 have been spent in the garage and looking like next month as well. Can't believe it and the size of the bills each time is enough to make a grown man cry. Slightly losing patience with it all and was not anticipating bills of £10k in first 4 months!!
Oh dear feel sorry for you mate. I too have been on the receiving end of clutch problems (albeit in my 4.5). Don't know if they use the same clutches, but they are generally seen as a weak spot in Cerberas, and will (not may) go from time to time - the membership of the C.F.C. is forever growing 
.
Here's hoping you don't have to wait too long for the replacement.
. Here's hoping you don't have to wait too long for the replacement.
www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=219506&f=13&h=0
Post it across to here FWIW.
You have my sympathies.You really have had a seriously bad run of luck.
Scott
Post it across to here FWIW.
You have my sympathies.You really have had a seriously bad run of luck.
Scott
Clutches are starting to come through now, as mine failed on the Tuscan last week and it's being sorted on Thursday.
In terms of life expectancy, c.20k miles is not that out of the ordinary compared to 355s etc, which I believe use a very similar clutch, but they seem to wear the plates out rather than destroying the pressure plate. The tech formally known as Joospeed has stated before that he thinks a lot of the problems are down to how the clutches are set up when fitted.
In terms of life expectancy, c.20k miles is not that out of the ordinary compared to 355s etc, which I believe use a very similar clutch, but they seem to wear the plates out rather than destroying the pressure plate. The tech formally known as Joospeed has stated before that he thinks a lot of the problems are down to how the clutches are set up when fitted.
basil brush said:
Clutches are starting to come through now, as mine failed on the Tuscan last week and it's being sorted on Thursday.
In terms of life expectancy, c.20k miles is not that out of the ordinary compared to 355s etc, which I believe use a very similar clutch, but they seem to wear the plates out rather than destroying the pressure plate. The tech formally known as Joospeed has stated before that he thinks a lot of the problems are down to how the clutches are set up when fitted.
Good that they're starting to come through - what is the going rate for a Cerbera clutch these days?
Almost all the failures I've seen reported on here are to do with broken fingers on the diaphragm spring. Either a design fault or a setup fault depending on how you see it. Only ever heard of one guy actually wearing out his plates.
Been quoted £470 for the new clutch and the garage (HL Gorner) has managed to sweet talk one from somewhere although I know they are incredibly difficult to get hold of. I will be pursuing TVR to explain why they are using something that isn't up to the job and will let you know if I get a reply.
Wooster said:
Been quoted £470 for the new clutch and the garage (HL Gorner) has managed to sweet talk one from somewhere although I know they are incredibly difficult to get hold of. I will be pursuing TVR to explain why they are using something that isn't up to the job and will let you know if I get a reply.
Glad the clutches are coming through again.
I think you'll struggle on "the not up to the job" though.
How many miles do we expect a clutch to do, 1 mile, 20,000, 50,000 ?
Unless TVR have stated in writing that their clutch is guaranteed for x amount of miles, I think we're on a non starter (excuse the starter motor punn)
Did I read the Gallardos kill thier's pretty quick at £19k a time or is that b0110cks.
RUSSELLM said:
Did I read the Gallardos kill thier's pretty quick at £19k a time or is that b0110cks.
I don't think they are that much but they are on their 3rd redesign of the clutch pack now I believe due to very early failures.
20-30k miles is reasonable clutch life for a car with the kind of performance a Cerbera has. As I said before, Fezzas, Maseratis and Lambos etc don't do any better. It's just a pain it's a 7+ hour job to replace.
The main reason the lambos etc need a new clutch at 20K, is wear brought about by the paddle shift automated manual box, which has to slip the clutch for every shift and crawling round town , climbing up a kerb, all those silly little low speed manoeuvres which a conventional 3 pedal set-up can hadle with ease are overcomes by masses of clutch slip when theres no clutch pedal.
They don't tend to break springs, the cerbera / now all modern TVR's clutch is either being actuated incorrectly or has a design fault (I suspect a bit of both), it shouldn't just break
A lorry clutch which has to deal with a lot more torque lasts well over 250K (admittedly its a bit bigger) clutches can be made that last, its just a question of engineering
Matt
They don't tend to break springs, the cerbera / now all modern TVR's clutch is either being actuated incorrectly or has a design fault (I suspect a bit of both), it shouldn't just break
A lorry clutch which has to deal with a lot more torque lasts well over 250K (admittedly its a bit bigger)
clutches can be made that last, its just a question of engineering Matt
gazzab said:
The clutch on my last cerb was changed due to wear and not breakage.
The engine was out and being rebuilt - the clutch was inspected and had only a couple of thousand miles left on it and so was changed!
I meant when the clutch failed to work due to wear and tear, and the car couldn't be driven, not when the engine is being rebuilt. Just cant remember a thread.
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