Clutch bite high?

[Yatesy2012]

Hi All

My car is almost back on the road after a bit of TLC. However prior to starting the work it was evident that the clutch bite point was very high, almost at he end of the pedal travel.

Does this mean the clutch is on its way out. Or are they adjustable? No sign what so ever of the clutch slipping. Pulls like a train in any gear.

I've been reading a few post about the nightmare that can be clutch replacement.

Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Cheers Karl.

[Danny Hoffman]

Hi,

It's not adjustable.

I did fit a replacement master cylinder once that was faulty and kept building up pressure gradually with use which meant the bite point kept rising. I had to keep releasing the pressure by loosening the clutch pipe union till I realised that the new cylinder was duff.

However I doubt this is your problem I'm afraid. You can change the clutch by wheeling the engine forward on a trolley jack, it doesn't have to be a full engine out job.

I think all you can do is wait till it starts slipping.

Danny

[keatsie]

The clutch slave is subject to high heat, I found bleeding the clutch with fresh fluid changed the clutch travel back o normal.

[Lemonentry]

Hi, undo the clutch cylinder refill cap, to let the air in and check the clutch bite point again, if different, check the air hole in the cap is not blocked If no different, start to save up for a new plate, you've got about 3000 to. 5000 miles left before it stars slipping.

[Yatesy350i]

Thanks Guys

I'll have a look in the morning once the Stella has worn off.

Cheers Karl.

[Yatesy350i]

Oh

Changed my user name as Yatesy2012 doesn't make much sence now. And just Yatey isn't available.

[adam quantrill]

It could be the pressure plate springs are a bit knackered with age. Just keep driving it unti it starts slipping, this will be most noticeable in 5th.

[Yatesy350i]

Thanks Adam

When a new clutch is required is there anything special about the 350i or is it standard RV8?

I've read that some of the more powerfull models need updated clutches.

Karl

[Danny Hoffman]

My 350i has a standard SD1 Vitesse clutch

[adam quantrill]

I used a cheaper one in mine (a little bit more powerful than standatd 350i though) and it busted the metal couplings in the centre. So then I got an AP racing clutch - more expensive at £120+ for the plate, but so far so good, no further problems.

For the extra few quid, because it's such a hassle to change, you may as well play it safe.

[utternutter]

My clutch bite point was high to and thought i needed a new clutch and as i'm replacing my gearbox thought best to completely renew it but on inspection yesterday i found the clutch was in great condition with little wear, so i've installed the new one and now in the process of replacing the slave cylinder (ebay £20 complete unit) and seals in the master just to be on the safe side, that way i can't go wrong...........i hope lol

[adam quantrill]

Did you change the pressure plate too? When I had this problem the friction plate was fine, but the pressure plate was knackered.

[utternutter]

i changed the complete clutch with a upprated borg and beck system but everything on the old clutch is good, cars only done 34k from new

[Danny Hoffman]

As far as I know my 350i is on the original pressure plate at 146,000 miles.

When I first got the car at 70,000 miles it needed major engine work so I changed the friction plate and release bearing even though the old ones looked fine as I had it all apart.

[utternutter]

hell matey that is good going especially with the tendency to floor the right pedal on these cars lol, must have been well looked after

[whitewedge]

Mine bites high too, but doesn't slip and there's still slack at the top. Wonder if it's just a characteristic - like the long reach for the peday:-)

[Lemonentry]

If its any help. Reciepts show my clutch was changes at 76k, so it seems 70 to 80k maybe the limit of the friction plate. I was always advised to change everything at the same time when any clutch run out, althought you may get away with it sometimes its no always the case, and the clutch does a hell of a job, so worth always changing out the whole lot.

[adam quantrill]

utternutter said:

i changed the complete clutch with a upprated borg and beck system but everything on the old clutch is good, cars only done 34k from new

How closely did you look? In my case if you laid the friction plate inside the pressure plate, it barely stood up above the mounting lugs. But with the new one, it was standing up much higher.

[utternutter]

look very closely and measured against my new plate just for curiosity and was about 1/2 mil difference but my original gearbox had work carried out on it in the past and now think clutch was replaced as well but only have documents on the gearbox