help with a clutch!

[marastu]

I have a 2nd hand 450 chimaera, 28000 miles. I have driven about 7000 miles this year. Now clutch is slipping. Dealer quoted £425+VAT for clutch, plus 375+vat labour. Is this a good price or a rip off. Is it normal for the clutch to go on chimps?

[yum]

Sounds early for a clutch. perhaps the previous owner rode on it.

I would suggest getting several quotes depending on the area in which you live. There are plenty of independent dealers too, who may be cheaper. Since it isn't a regular service, it would not compromise the service history by taking it elsewhere; just make sure that they are well recommended.

Richard

[shpub]

Clutches don't last forever and 28k miles is not bad. If it makes you feel better, the 520 is on its 3rd clutch since March!

The labour charge is about right and the clutch price depends on what they include. It is worth replacing thrust bearings, both cover and drive plates and even the release arm. Bang goes 400 pnds quite easily. If you don't then you can almost guarentee that somewhere down the line that one of the components that wasn't renewed will fail and that is another 400 pnds labour to pay for.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[marastu]

thanks for the advice, makes me feel better. Except for a dodgey clutch the car is a dream! Everytime I go out, the grin on my face and the attention it gets makes it definitely worth it's weight in gold

[philr]

If its any help, the clutch on my 500 went at something like 28k miles last year. I was looking at similar prices to you at that time.

[raceboy]

Replaced my clutch a few weeks back, after 40k miles, AP Racing jobbie, with all the bits and bobs, £560 all in from Colin Blower Motorsport at Hickley in Leicestershire.