AP Clutch saga

[DuncanM]

Clutch threads must have a big share of total threads on here so one more won't make a difference ;).

I'm hoping people in the know answer this but my question is simply this.

There are loads of different clutch manufacturer's so how is it that only one clutch type fits the Cerbera?

I know from past experience that when buying a new clutch you can literally take your pick of which company to buy it off of!

I am, as you can probably guess going through a clutch fecked experience and resent having to put on a clutch with 'known' problems.

Also how much are the clutch kits and is it the norm to buy one on surcharge?

Almost 4 months in a fecking Corsa and seemingly no end to this nightmare :(.

Duncan

[SXS]

The AP clutch is very good, the same design works miracles in other cars, the TVR is a different kettle of fish.

Joolz mentioned that its mainly down to poor fitting that they can fail.

My engineers also mentioned the vibrations that get soaked up by the clutch (which is somehow acting as a damper!) over time can also lead to premature clutch failure.

I think the only way to really improve on the existing clutch is to go down the CrazyCat route... I spoke to the company he used to build his clutch, and although very nice on the phone, I could tell they wont be pulled back into doing a development clutch again anytime soon...

I wander how well Crazycats clutch is doing???

[simonsparrow]

From what I've gleaned on here, AP exclusively supply TVR with their clutches. Apparently the same unit is used for S6 and AJPV8 engined cars, hence the current problems when all TVR are ordering are going to new car production.

It also seems that clutch problems are either, master or slave cylinder, or fingers breaking on the diaphram. The hydraulics are fixable via a number of sources (including uprated seals from Trackcar). The broken diaphram spring is the sticking point, as AP won't sell this seperately and TVR will only sell you a complete new clutch.

I'm sure an alternative diaphram spring could be found, indeed one guy in Australia used a Corvette one (aftermarket), but so far no one has done this in the UK.

Crazycats had a complete new unit made, but as Ash says, the guys that did it don't want to do another one.

I'd be happy with the AP one, but I'd resent having to buy a $600 clutch kit when all that is wrong is a broken spring.

All in all, a bit of a pain in the ar$e.

Whats wrong with yours Duncan?

[gazzab]

Has anyone asked TVR to comment on the poor supply ie if AP say we make what we are to make then it is TVRs supply and demand issue.

[gazzab]

I have now written to TVR ie asking them to comment further to the mail from AP.

[DuncanM]

simonsparrow said:

... Whats wrong with yours Duncan?

Looooong story but it won't clear for 1st and reverse after the gearbox was taken off/put on to have my cracked sump replaced .

Mine was the old clutch and had a fairly healthy 30k on it.

It was fine until it went in to have the sump done.

I had always said to myself if I ever get clutch problems then I'll search high and low for an alternative to 'upgrading' to the new clutch which imo is still flawed as almost all the clutch failures I ever see on here are from fingers and not slipping!

In fact the only slipping fault I've heard of was Dannylt (I think!) who seemed more than happy with a clutch failing after 15k!

Simon you're my hero btw having 111k on your car!

That's basically where I'm heading (64k so far).

Which clutch do you have?

[simonsparrow]

DuncanM said:

simonsparrow said: ... Whats wrong with yours Duncan? Looooong story but it won't clear for 1st and reverse after the gearbox was taken off/put on to have my cracked sump replaced . Mine was the old clutch and had a fairly healthy 30k on it. It was fine until it went in to have the sump done. I had always said to myself if I ever get clutch problems then I'll search high and low for an alternative to 'upgrading' to the new clutch which imo is still flawed as almost all the clutch failures I ever see on here are from fingers and not slipping! In fact the only slipping fault I've heard of was Dannylt (I think!) who seemed more than happy with a clutch failing after 15k! Simon you're my hero btw having 111k on your car! That's basically where I'm heading (64k so far). Which clutch do you have?

My clutch was replaced by the last owner, somewhere around 80k miles. I'm guessing its a later unit, but I won't know for sure until I need to replace it.

>> Edited by simonsparrow on Tuesday 4th October 16:15

Is yours just a case of needing adjusting (slave cylinder? not sure how...) if its just dragging on those gears? Or is it not in bits yet to see.....

>> Edited by simonsparrow on Tuesday 4th October 16:20

[DuncanM]

It's been in bits and they already have the new clutch.

What's peed me off is that for some reason when they bought the new clutch it was on a surcharge basis so they haven't got the old one for me to look at.

It isn't leaking any fluid so I don't know what it was. Fine before though .

BTW if your clutch is stiff/heavy to depress it is an old one and if it's light it's a new one .

Duncan

[simonsparrow]

DuncanM said:

It's been in bits and they already have the new clutch. What's peed me off is that for some reason when they bought the new clutch it was on a surcharge basis so they haven't got the old one for me to look at. It isn't leaking any fluid so I don't know what it was. Fine before though . BTW if your clutch is stiff/heavy to depress it is an old one and if it's light it's a new one . Duncan

Hmmm, mine's pretty heavy, so maybe its an old one. i know it was replaced in 2002, so assumed it might be a later part.

[SXS]

They can also be heavy due to other reasons, so this doesnt necessarily mean you have an older model!

All this talk of clutches, you watch, I'll be on here every week complaining about clutches when I get her back! Hopefully we'll be able to use something which is openly used by stick drag-racers which doesnt need to be a custom setup... I'm hoping really hoping... super-dupa-mega-waka-fuka hoping!!!!

[Extra 300 Driver]

I have had my clutch out a few times. First time to replace the slave seals and the second to replace the clutch.

I had a funny feeling the clutch was on its way out, the bite point would move up and down, very odd. So I spotted one on ebay, 3000 miles (if that) and got it for £31.

After fitting the new seals and the new clutch I had trouble selecting 1st and reverse. Worst on the first occasion, after doing the seals. This is due to fitting the slave back how I removed it, with the inlet ports at 3 an 9 oclock. So when it came to bleeding it you always had half of the slave with air in it, no matter how much bleeding you did you would never get the air out by bleeding.

It was only whe I took it apart again and moved the slave through 90 degrees I managed to get any sort of a pedal and she began to clear 1st and reverse. Over time, may be 3 days and not driving it either just sitting on the drive, any remaining air was exhausted from the system and the pedal was light and a good bite at the top.

I really feel that the problem with your car is only the same as I had with mine. If you can do a little driving in it to get the whole cutch assy warm and see if the air moves.

Are you, or is the car, near Daventry?

[simonsparrow]

yeah, mine could be heavy due to my spindly legs I did sit in someones later 4.5 and noticed it was lighter.

What clutch will you use Ash?

[SXS]

simonsparrow said:

yeah, mine could be heavy due to my spindly legs I did sit in someones later 4.5 and noticed it was lighter. What clutch will you use Ash?

One that mates with the ZF6 box and can fit in that hole... the techies were looking at a RAM, McLeod and some other american brand... we'll see where it goes, maybe at a later date I'll look into a custom automative solution.... its the only way to get those 1/4 mile times down, otherwise my shifting will have to be way better than Schumee's!

[DuncanM]

Extra 300 Driver said:

Are you, or is the car, near Daventry?

Car is in MK, I'm in Higham Ferrers which is about 20miles East of Daventry.

I'm thinking you're absolutely right here mate and am gutted I didn't ask about it sooner.

This has been a busy year for me (selling house) otherwise I'd have been a lot more on it concerning this!

As far as I'm concerned though I'll pay my £500 excess and not much more.

If it gets signed off as part of the claim then I'm laughing to be honest!

Would have liked to have seen my clutch for wear.

Duncan

[Extra 300 Driver]

DuncanM said:

If it gets signed off as part of the claim then I'm laughing to be honest! Duncan

That's true, if you can stick it out then I would.

Do you want me to see if I can find you a clutch? I know a few people that may have one, do you think your insurance company would allow you to move the car (to someone who had a clutch and would fit it(TVR Indy))?

[DuncanM]

Thanks Nick, I'll see what they want to do for now but certainly may consider that as an option if things don't go the way I want .

They got a clutch for £500 but had to give the old one as a surcharge which I think is bizarre ?

Duncan

[Extra 300 Driver]

Well make sure its new and not a recon, which would be tough.

Get all the invoices.

[APMAUTO]

DuncanM said:

Thanks Nick, I'll see what they want to do for now but certainly may consider that as an option if things don't go the way I want . They got a clutch for £500 but had to give the old one as a surcharge which I think is bizarre ? Duncan

does the £500 inc vat the tvr price is 536.97 inc vat no surcharge or exchange saying that there is a shortage and i know some breakers are asking nearly that for used ones

[RUSSELLM]

I think you'll find AP have got clutches in stock, TVR make a fortune on them, yet havn't got any.

AP are contracted to sell them exclusively to the factory.

I'm no accountant, but I think I can hazard a guess to the supply problem.

AP need to make a decision, keep supplying the factory only. or wait for someone who's fed up with waiting for three months, to go & get their own one designeed / copied.

[Tam Lin]

simonsparrow said:

Hmmm, mine's pretty heavy, so maybe its an old one. i know it was replaced in 2002, so assumed it might be a later part.

Ours was also replaced in 2002, and had fitted the old-style 4.2 clutch. Fingers went on that earlier this year, and so the clutch was replaced with the 4.5 version. I didn't think the old one was particularly heavy, but the new one is *really* light.