Clutch costs
Author
Discussion

Strikerxt

Original Poster:

12 posts

30 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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I'm looking into a clutch change and wanted to ask if the work is anymore involved in the sportshift over a manual for a twin plate replacement.
What kind of cost would I be looking at for the work on both a manual and sportshift.

Jon39

14,469 posts

166 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Bamford Rose have a YouTube video about twin plate clutches for Sportshift cars.
Setting up after installation appears to be crucial and requiring experience to make perfect..
Possibly some BR 'sales push' involved, but on this forum, we understand that main dealers will not fit twin plate clutches to V8 Sportshift cars. Thought to be something to do with Gaydon and the likelihood of customer complaints.

I think the cost is 3 to 4k.
On a manual it produces noticeable improvements, but there might be a little more gear chatter (varies car to car) because of the lighter flywheel.


Edited by Jon39 on Tuesday 5th September 20:43

Strikerxt

Original Poster:

12 posts

30 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
quotequote all
Thank you for the input. I have watched a number of Banford Rose video and can see the benefits the twin plate can bring but can not find any information about costs doing the work from manual to sportshift.
Looking for any information on if there's a cost premium for the sportshift, if so why and also what make it more expensive to fit over a manual.

Anyone had the work done on a sportshift and was it more expensive over a manual.

LTP

2,876 posts

135 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Following on from jon39's list, one other factor you need to consider on a Sportshift car is the torque tube. Early cars (I think pre-12.25 MY) had a spacer that had to be removed to allow a twin plate to be fitted. After this point AML decided to incorporate a modification into the actual torque tube casting to eliminate the spacer and save a little money.

This means that, for later cars, you'll also need an exchange torque tube (your tube will go off to be machined back to the pre-modification condition and sold to the next customer, etc etc). This will add some cost on top of the actual clutch.

But, as jon39 says, the key is finding a company that knows what they're doing with a laptop. BR also offer different flywheel weights to improve engine pick-up but at the potential for the chatter jon39 refers to - not all cars chatter, even after the mods; it's a tolerance thing. BR will also disable the clutch wear counter that will switch off your Sportshift car once the ECU decides the clutch is worn and stop you driving it until a new clutch is fitted.

typo fixed

Edited by LTP on Tuesday 5th September 21:03

ClassicV8

56 posts

100 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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David Appleby Engineering had a stand at the recent AMHT meet at Gaydon. The picture below shows their offering for manual cars.

Strikerxt

Original Poster:

12 posts

30 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
quotequote all
Useful information but really just looking for an answer to cost and process of work comparing manual to sportshift.
Being the same gearbox and parts I would expect there to be negligible difference in cost popping and twin plate clutch and flywheel into a sportshift over a manual but I seem to be getting conflicting information about this with the cost of the setup costing much more for the sportshift over the manual and I'm trying to understand why this is.
2007 car so pre modified tube.
Why would the same parts & process cost more on the sportshift over the manual? Is there extra steps needed and if so what and at what costs.

xstaticx

60 posts

66 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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Give both Bamford Rose and DAE a call and talk through it with them. A very high percentage of V8s have now been converted, as the cost to upgrade is negligible. Budget for around £3.6k plus any other bits that may need doing such as the ASM hoses, as they tend to corrode, and if things are really bad, you may need to get the rear subframe refurbished. I have recently had my manual 4.7 done by DAE. Faultless service, and clear honest info throughout the process. There is no cheap alternative… Both of the above have a good reputation although BR does have its fair share of negative reviews. I have never seen any negativity towards DAE, but DYOR. Be warned though, that with the lightweight flywheel, in my case at least, the noise in neutral at tickover is similar to a DMF that has failed! It is very noticeable and fairly embarrassing at times, but does transform the car.

BiggaJ

1,223 posts

62 months

Tuesday 5th September 2023
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I can confirm it is a very worthwhile upgrade and pound for pound no difference in price over a stock AM clutch.

Not sure where you are in the UK (or not) but I would certainly calle DAE, you may struggle to get through to BR however, others that offer the upgrade are many. Mine was fitted by AHM and I know Phoenix in Basingstoke offer it.

All the above are very approachable and a quick ten minute call with each will give you a very good idea of costs.

Strikerxt

Original Poster:

12 posts

30 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
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I have given up on Banford Rose. Don't answer emails or Facebook messages and tried phoning.
I'm in Kent so was looking for somewhere more local. I found a company called quantum works but they quoting £4585 plus vat is was very steep indeed but the main issue is it was over £1000 higher price to be fitted to a sportshift over the manual which I cant understand.
Why the hell would the sportshift cost more for the same parts if it the same gearbox or is this company just trying to milk me.

Dewi 2

1,835 posts

88 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
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Strikerxt said:
I have given up on Banford Rose. Don't answer emails or Facebook messages and tried phoning.
I'm in Kent so was looking for somewhere more local. I found a company called quantum works, but they quoting £4585 plus vat is was very steep indeed, but the main issue is it was over £1000 higher price to be fitted to a sportshift over the manual which I cant understand.
Why the would the Sportshift cost more for the same parts if it the same gearbox, or is this company just trying to milk me.

£5502 does seem a lot.
Mine (manual) was done by Bamford Rose quite a few years ago, so I may be out of touch with current prices.
Done properly, I think there is extra calibration work for Sportshift, to ensure the gearchanges are smooth, but of course it is for QW to explain the higher cost for Sportshift.

Communication with BR can indeed be very annoying. It seems to be a combination of plenty of work and refusal to employ a phone answer person, who probably would not be able to answer any technical questions anyway.
I have found a phone call at about 2pm, is sometimes worth trying.

I am sure that you will already know that the rear gearbox and torque tube arrangement, adds considerably to labour cost compared to an everyday inline or transverse engine car.


IainWhy

317 posts

175 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
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Strikerxt said:
I have given up on Banford Rose. Don't answer emails or Facebook messages and tried phoning.
I'm in Kent so was looking for somewhere more local. I found a company called quantum works but they quoting £4585 plus vat is was very steep indeed but the main issue is it was over £1000 higher price to be fitted to a sportshift over the manual which I cant understand.
Why the hell would the sportshift cost more for the same parts if it the same gearbox or is this company just trying to milk me.
Speak to AHM, they know a thing, unclear if sportshift would be an issue for them but the mechanicals wont be.

I did mine myself on a manual and its a faffy job, you need to remove the left manifold to get the torque tube bell housing off the back of the block. removing the manifold is a bit of a tosser as you need to remove the left arch liner and assess the bolts passt the chassis rail.

Its not "hard" but there is a good bit of messing

BiggaJ

1,223 posts

62 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
quotequote all
IainWhy said:
Strikerxt said:
I have given up on Banford Rose. Don't answer emails or Facebook messages and tried phoning.
I'm in Kent so was looking for somewhere more local. I found a company called quantum works but they quoting £4585 plus vat is was very steep indeed but the main issue is it was over £1000 higher price to be fitted to a sportshift over the manual which I cant understand.
Why the hell would the sportshift cost more for the same parts if it the same gearbox or is this company just trying to milk me.
Speak to AHM, they know a thing, unclear if sportshift would be an issue for them but the mechanicals wont be.

I did mine myself on a manual and its a faffy job, you need to remove the left manifold to get the torque tube bell housing off the back of the block. removing the manifold is a bit of a tosser as you need to remove the left arch liner and assess the bolts passt the chassis rail.

Its not "hard" but there is a good bit of messing
AHM did mine, price was very competitive. It's been a few years since it was done and no problems. Adrian and his team are very good and I'm sure he can do the Sportshift box.

https://www.astonmartincare.co.uk/

I would give them a call.

Strikerxt

Original Poster:

12 posts

30 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
quotequote all
Thanks I will give AMR a try along with some others that have been recommended but if anyone knows of a good Kent company as AMR is a good 4 hours from me.
Still very interested if anyone with a sportshift had the work done can give me a cost they paid as was it more expensive then the manual.
I'm happy to pay the going cost of the work and parts I just don't want to be paying more just because its a sportshift if the work is the same which from all I have read it is apart from maybe some software tweets to the computer. Is this extra work in software costing over £1000 extra?
Looking to arm myself with as much knowledge before taking the plunge.

HeWhoDaresRoy

512 posts

239 months

Wednesday 6th September 2023
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I’ve not used them, but there’s these guys in Kent https://www.pugsleyandlewis.com/