Clutch troubles
Discussion
I went for a blast on Thursday, up to Birmingham across to Bedfordshire and back down to Chepstow.
When I came off the motorway in Brum, the biting point had moved to the top of the pedal and the pedal felt weird. It then got worse to the point where I could let the pedal out and about 5 seconds later the clutch would engage. After this happened quite a few times, the pedal then stopped about half way down and went solid, but after releasing again the pedal was back to normal and working fine. The problem is this happened about 8 times on the way home (still made it home though, after creating a few tailbacks at the junctions).
The clutch was new about 2000 miles ago, so I'm thinking its more to do with the fluid + cylinders etc.
Whats the best thing to check first? Do i just need to try bleeding the thing?
Thanks
When I came off the motorway in Brum, the biting point had moved to the top of the pedal and the pedal felt weird. It then got worse to the point where I could let the pedal out and about 5 seconds later the clutch would engage. After this happened quite a few times, the pedal then stopped about half way down and went solid, but after releasing again the pedal was back to normal and working fine. The problem is this happened about 8 times on the way home (still made it home though, after creating a few tailbacks at the junctions).
The clutch was new about 2000 miles ago, so I'm thinking its more to do with the fluid + cylinders etc.
Whats the best thing to check first? Do i just need to try bleeding the thing?
Thanks
Yes check the fluid first. My clutch started playing up - bite point moving etc. and flushing the fluid with new cured it.
If the master is not full then you have a leak in the master or slave seals.
If the fluid is full of black bits then its starting to break down and needs flushing through. (Its apparently not the seals breaking up, just the fluid).
If its got silvery sludge in it then the master cylinder return spring is catching the cylinder bore. So check the seal and rod of the master cylinder for leaks. They can operate quite happily like this and I'm told even brand new cylinders can exhibit this behaviour. So if you have got it its not necessarily terminal. Mine is running quite happily in this state. (Oh damn, queue clutch failure at the BNG tomorrow)
If none of the above then it may be the dreaded finger disintegration.
hope this helps
If the master is not full then you have a leak in the master or slave seals.
If the fluid is full of black bits then its starting to break down and needs flushing through. (Its apparently not the seals breaking up, just the fluid).
If its got silvery sludge in it then the master cylinder return spring is catching the cylinder bore. So check the seal and rod of the master cylinder for leaks. They can operate quite happily like this and I'm told even brand new cylinders can exhibit this behaviour. So if you have got it its not necessarily terminal. Mine is running quite happily in this state. (Oh damn, queue clutch failure at the BNG tomorrow)
If none of the above then it may be the dreaded finger disintegration.
hope this helps
It sounds like the whole thing is stiff and hard to release. My car did this one after a clutch change, right outside the ACE!
I just sa there in gear with my foot off the pedal in gear and not going anywhere!
If the pedal stiff, or more difficult to operate. If I am right there is a modification that can be carried out on the clutch assy to top this, I think Joolz could answer for sure.
I just sa there in gear with my foot off the pedal in gear and not going anywhere!
If the pedal stiff, or more difficult to operate. If I am right there is a modification that can be carried out on the clutch assy to top this, I think Joolz could answer for sure.
Cheers all
Mark, the clutch was replaced under warranty by Peninsula, and I am told that the slave was done as well. Funny thing was, I complained about the biting point being erratic and too high at the time, but they told me they had bled it several times
It still never felt quite right though..I'd better not go too deep into their service because I'll be on here too long 
(bit of a long story)
Anyway, pleased to report that the level in the master was right up and the fluid was blackish/dirty. No bits floating about in it either. Ive now bled it through until clean and clear and no air bubbles, and its working fine
the biting point is now down where it should be and it feels spot on.
Thanks chaps, One cerb back on the road !!
Mark, the clutch was replaced under warranty by Peninsula, and I am told that the slave was done as well. Funny thing was, I complained about the biting point being erratic and too high at the time, but they told me they had bled it several times
It still never felt quite right though..I'd better not go too deep into their service because I'll be on here too long (bit of a long story) Anyway, pleased to report that the level in the master was right up and the fluid was blackish/dirty. No bits floating about in it either. Ive now bled it through until clean and clear and no air bubbles, and its working fine
the biting point is now down where it should be and it feels spot on. Thanks chaps, One cerb back on the road !!
Edited by foxy4200 on Sunday 3rd September 14:30
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