Clutch slip - Why? (With pics)

Clutch slip - Why? (With pics)

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Discussion

acealfa

Original Poster:

280 posts

202 months

Tuesday 20th August 2019
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So a bit of back story, I bought a MK1 TT shed as a bit of a project with a slipping clutch & quite bad oil leak.

I took the gearbox off and expected to be met with a completely smooth clutch disc but imo it doesn’t look too bad?

The said leak was coming from the oil return pipe on the turbo which is above the gearbox & on inspection does seem oil could have got into the clutch?

The dual mass has been replaced with a solid flywheel at some point so getting a new clutch isn’t cheap because I’d need to get a flywheel.

What do you think?






GreenV8S

30,152 posts

283 months

Tuesday 20th August 2019
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Do you have any way to check the clamping pressure on the cover plate? If it's a non-standard setup I suppose it's possible somebody just got the dimensions wrong so it isn't clamping properly.

Were you able to confirm the clutch release bearing was coming clear of the clutch fingers?

acealfa

Original Poster:

280 posts

202 months

Tuesday 20th August 2019
quotequote all
Changing gear was fine. It was only when the boost kicked in the clutch would slip. I've also confirmed it's not been remapped.

I think the whole lot would have come as part of a kit but can't be 100%

E-bmw

9,106 posts

151 months

Tuesday 20th August 2019
quotequote all
As above, you don't know what it is or where it is from or if it was fitted right, do the job right & you should be OK.

FWIW the flywheel and pressure plate look that well worn they may not even have been new when fitted.

stevieturbo

17,229 posts

246 months

Tuesday 20th August 2019
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Too much work to fk about.

Just replace it with known components, and even though the flywheel may be ok......worth considering changing it too, unless you can be sure it is 100% correct and not machined strangely at some point.

And that includes the CSC. Any one of the components could cause undue slippage...and if you've no way to verify all parts are correct, best to change them all.

acealfa

Original Poster:

280 posts

202 months

Wednesday 21st August 2019
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Thanks for the replies. I will try and pick up a sound dual mass flywheel.

slybunda

143 posts

63 months

Sunday 25th August 2019
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Iv seen many people do conversion from dual mass to solid flywheel. And the solid one lasts considerably longer than dual mass.

robbocop33

1,184 posts

106 months

Sunday 25th August 2019
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I had a similar thing on my megane 225, it would just slip on boost, drove perfect with no noises otherwise!
And like you friction plate didn't look worn at all? But unlike your case my clutch was self adjusting, someone relatively recently had stuck it in with the mechanism unset, ie the clutch was simulating being completely worn and not pressed against the flywheel properly.
New dual mass and clutch kit sorted it.
Incidentally cheaper dual mass ones do turn up on Ebay, i got a new flywheel unboxed with slight surface rust and old stock for £150 from Germany, usually about £350!:-)

polydyne

1 posts

36 months

Sunday 7th March 2021
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Perhaps a cautionary tale re DMF/Solid Flywheel swap....I inherited an Alhambra 1.9 turbo diesel the engine in which the previous owner had contrived to bend all the valves, hence replacement second hand engine was purchased/installed and all was well. While I had the engine out, old school procedure dictated that the clutch should get replaced, (the car it had a solid flywheel setup and was replaced like with like. All was well for about 700-800 miles and then one day while slowing on engine braking for a roundabout loud rattling was heard a then deathly silence. Luckily managed to pull over and could only get 'dead' click from starter. Had the car retrieved...obviously something terminal had happened but no-one could really come up with a plausible reason until a seasoned mechanic at the local VW franchise mentioned the danger of changing dual mass clutches to single mass. Long story short, it would seem that the replacement engine, which arrived without a clutch, and was duly fitted with a new single mass flywheel/clutch (as my vehicle had previously) was probably meant to have a DMF...The mechanic went on to say that he had heard that if the engine does not have the large doughnut belt drive pulley at the timing end (DMF engines do not require this) to damp crankshaft vibrations, then there is a risk that the crankshaft might fail after not so many miles. Guess what ...no timing end damper and sump looking like string bag of potatoes...car promptly despatched to the choir invisible. Just a thought....

hi court

168 posts

195 months

Monday 8th March 2021
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polydyne said:
Perhaps a cautionary tale re DMF/Solid Flywheel swap....I inherited an Alhambra 1.9 turbo diesel the engine in which the previous owner had contrived to bend all the valves, hence replacement second hand engine was purchased/installed and all was well. While I had the engine out, old school procedure dictated that the clutch should get replaced, (the car it had a solid flywheel setup and was replaced like with like. All was well for about 700-800 miles and then one day while slowing on engine braking for a roundabout loud rattling was heard a then deathly silence. Luckily managed to pull over and could only get 'dead' click from starter. Had the car retrieved...obviously something terminal had happened but no-one could really come up with a plausible reason until a seasoned mechanic at the local VW franchise mentioned the danger of changing dual mass clutches to single mass. Long story short, it would seem that the replacement engine, which arrived without a clutch, and was duly fitted with a new single mass flywheel/clutch (as my vehicle had previously) was probably meant to have a DMF...The mechanic went on to say that he had heard that if the engine does not have the large doughnut belt drive pulley at the timing end (DMF engines do not require this) to damp crankshaft vibrations, then there is a risk that the crankshaft might fail after not so many miles. Guess what ...no timing end damper and sump looking like string bag of potatoes...car promptly despatched to the choir invisible. Just a thought....
I too have concerns about smf conversions to dmf vehicles. And I am always concerned about the shock loading that is then transmitted direct to the gearbox/driveshafts. The cars in my experience that have a single mass conversion "cos its better" often result in an unreliable car there after with consistent issues..

Oh and my advice, get down euro car parts and get a new clutch kit with flywheel from luk, yes its expensive but tried and tested components and its not a job you want to do twice. Also when you come to resell it will add to the value. Additionally, if the previous owner has skimped on the dmf-smf conversion then its probably using cheap parts, also worth considering smf and dmf clutches are usually different so maybe a dmf clutch on a smf flywheel?

P.s. I hope you had driven a few miles post oil leak rectification to confirm. I had a mondeo with fuel leak and slipping clutch when on boost. Fixed the fuel leak (injector leak off pipes) drove it for a few days, clutch was fine again..

Edited by hi court on Monday 8th March 20:22