need a new clutch?

[jonathant]

I've been informed that my sticky gears and (apparently) heavy clutch is an indication that my clutch is on its way out.

If I go ahead and get it replaced, what bits should I make sure get changed whilst the car is in bits? I've found this list of bits:

Clutch cover plate
Friction Plate
Release bearing
Release sleeve
Release arm
Clutch fluid

Cheers!

[simonb9]

When you say 'sticky gears' what do you mean by this ?? The reason I ask is that when mine warms up and after a few miles the gears do seem to stick a little as in it doesn't move freely bewteen third and fourth, needs an extra tug to shift it. Is this what you have experienced ??

[jonathant]

It's now got a little worse. The original symptoms were occasionally sticky changing OUT OF third or fourth - someone else described it like trying to overcome a magnet holding the lever in gear. Now it's occasionally sticky coming out of third, fourth, fifth and reverse and occasionally difficult to engage (almost) any gear.

[simonb9]

jonathant said:

It's now got a little worse. The original symptoms were occasionally sticky changing OUT OF third or fourth - someone else described it like trying to overcome a magnet holding the lever in gear. Now it's occasionally sticky coming out of third, fourth, fifth and reverse and occasionally difficult to engage (almost) any gear.

Oh sh*t.............I maybe in the same boat then. Somebody might be along in a minute to tell us we both need a new clutch. What happens when a clutch gives way ?? Is it just not drivable/gets stuck in a gear/can't select any gear/does damage when it goes ?? Whats the worst thing that can happen ??

[victormeldrew]

Sounds like its not the clutch per se that is giving out, more the release mechanism, however ... if it's the bearing then there's a good chance it's as reluctant to engage as disengage, so some clutch slip and damage to friction plate would be expected. If it's just hydraulic then the clutch might not be fully disengaged, but it should still be engaging properly - the actual clutch might be fine. I'd have thought you'd notice the spongy pedal action if it was a hydraulic problem - and you'd be able to pump the pedal to make it work OK.

[blueyonder]

simonb9 said:

jonathant said:

It's now got a little worse. The original symptoms were occasionally sticky changing OUT OF third or fourth - someone else described it like trying to overcome a magnet holding the lever in gear. Now it's occasionally sticky coming out of third, fourth, fifth and reverse and occasionally difficult to engage (almost) any gear.

Oh sh*t.............I maybe in the same boat then. Somebody might be along in a minute to tell us we both need a new clutch. What happens when a clutch gives way ?? Is it just not drivable/gets stuck in a gear/can't select any gear/does damage when it goes ?? Whats the worst thing that can happen ??

I'd like to know the answer to this too! My clutch pedal is quite heavy and I have also recently noticed that after driving for a while i.e. when warmed up, the gear changes appear slightly sticky. I am thinking that maybe it's the gearbox oil needs changing/topping up. Also, I'm not sure if you guys have experienced this but yesterday I noticed that there was noise coming from the clutch pedal. A bit hard to describe on a forum but it felt/sounded like a spring straining sort of clicking noise when I release the clutch pedal when changing gear. Might be my paranoia kicking in, keep thinking something is going to go wrong ....don't know why, I have the AA Breakdown Repair Cover, which does cover a new clutch!!! It would be nice to know what the signs of a failing clutch might be before/if it happens?

[karlr]

Yes.. can also confirm similiar experience, when the car warms up getting from Third to Fourth becomes more tricky with the gear feeling 'sticky'. I have also noticed of late that getting from Third to Second is also difficult, with the gear feeling like it is crunching in. The clutch is also making a spring restraining noise?? The thing is I had a new clutch 16,000 miles ago and it doesnt get too much abuse?? One I have been told though, is that just resting your foot on the pedal whilst driving can burn it out pretty quick.. think I might be guilty of this..

[barreti]

karlr said:

One I have been told though, is that just resting your foot on the pedal whilst driving can burn it out pretty quick.. think I might be guilty of this..

Yep, that could do the trick alright. The light pressure can engage the thrust bearing which is only designed to be used in quick bursts. Theres not much to 'burn out' but I think it will either get hot and drop the grease out or just plain wear out from being engaged. Either way you have buggered bearings.
Tuck your foot underneath the clutch pedal, its much more comfortable.

[jonathant]

so, I'm now not so convinced it's the clutch as such. If I turn off the engine then disengage the clutch I get the same "stickiness-coming-OUT-of-gear" feeling.

Thoughts?

[serious pete]

From your Profile i see your car is a '99 with the T5 box.

I have had several RWD sierras with the same box, And it is amazing how much difference a change of Gearbox Fluid can be on these. After a few miles on new fluid the change can feel like a totally different box.

Worth trying, as it's cheap and easy to do, Got to use top quality fluid though.

[2Munkys]

Have you tried bleeding the clutch release system johnathant? Worth a go; you may have induced air at some point or over a period of time. The air will compress leading to only partial disengagement of the clutch.

[jonathant]

2Munkys said:

Have you tried bleeding the clutch release system johnathant? Worth a go; you may have induced air at some point or over a period of time. The air will compress leading to only partial disengagement of the clutch.

The clutch fluid was changed less than twelve months ago - in any case I still get the stickyness with the engine off.....?

I'll take up the suggestion of a fluid change though - think that was last done 18months ago - certainly cheaper than a new clutch!

[350matt]

Put a semi synthetic 75W-90 in it like the Castrol Synthrax this will make a big difference, as the ATF most often used is rubbish and only specified to provide commonality of fluids on a car, so saving money for the original manufacturers


Matt

[jonathant]

350matt said:

Put a semi synthetic 75W-90 in it like the Castrol Synthrax this will make a big difference

do you know what quantity I will need?

[JonathanT]

So, TreVoR is back with new gearbox oil and "goop sprayed up around where the gearbox linkages would be".

I think this has noticeably improved gearchanges but time will tell.

[That Daddy]

350matt said:

Put a semi synthetic 75W-90 in it like the Castrol Synthrax this will make a big difference, as the ATF most often used is rubbish and only specified to provide commonality of fluids on a car, so saving money for the original manufacturers


Matt

Really,i think your missing the point are you aware what ATF as to withstand in an auto transmission,you certainly dont get cold drag with ATF it withstands temperatures way beyond what any manual transmission can throw at it,please expand why you think a multigrade gear oil is better suited to the job of lubricating a low tech manual gearbox with needle/ball bearings,i had said problem sticky gears turned out to be the linkages on top of the box were worn and dry since correcting & lubing i have had no problems.

[PRTVR]

That Daddy said:

350matt said:

Put a semi synthetic 75W-90 in it like the Castrol Synthrax this will make a big difference, as the ATF most often used is rubbish and only specified to provide commonality of fluids on a car, so saving money for the original manufacturers


Matt

Really,i think your missing the point are you aware what ATF as to withstand in an auto transmission,you certainly dont get cold drag with ATF it withstands temperatures way beyond what any manual transmission can throw at it,please expand why you think a multigrade gear oil is better suited to the job of lubricating a low tech manual gearbox with needle/ball bearings,i had said problem sticky gears turned out to be the linkages on top of the box were worn and dry since correcting & lubing i have had no problems.

I have always assumed that clutches sliped when they are worn out,not stick ?
I would tend to look at the release mechanism first,
The big problem I have with using ATF fluid, is I have heard it reported that
Mobil ATF has written on it that it is not to be used in manual gearboxes,
if this is right could it be that Mobil had the monopoly on supplying TVR and
just used an oil that they had in there line up ?
What is the box out of, maybe we could find what oil it used in its previous life.

Phil

[JonathanT]

PRTVR said:

I have always assumed that clutches sliped when they are worn out,not stick ?
I would tend to look at the release mechanism first,
Phil

I decided to discount a problem with the clutch per-se since I still got sticky-coming-OUT-of-gear with the engine off. Anyways, with the linkages lubed up a little, the action feels smoother.

[That Daddy]

PRTVR said:

That Daddy said:

350matt said:

Put a semi synthetic 75W-90 in it like the Castrol Synthrax this will make a big difference, as the ATF most often used is rubbish and only specified to provide commonality of fluids on a car, so saving money for the original manufacturers


Matt

Really,i think your missing the point are you aware what ATF as to withstand in an auto transmission,you certainly dont get cold drag with ATF it withstands temperatures way beyond what any manual transmission can throw at it,please expand why you think a multigrade gear oil is better suited to the job of lubricating a low tech manual gearbox with needle/ball bearings,i had said problem sticky gears turned out to be the linkages on top of the box were worn and dry since correcting & lubing i have had no problems.

I have always assumed that clutches sliped when they are worn out,not stick ?
I would tend to look at the release mechanism first,
The big problem I have with using ATF fluid, is I have heard it reported that
Mobil ATF has written on it that it is not to be used in manual gearboxes,
if this is right could it be that Mobil had the monopoly on supplying TVR and
just used an oil that they had in there line up ?
What is the box out of, maybe we could find what oil it used in its previous life.

Phil

I was referring to the sticky gearchange not clutch,on my car this did not improve even after the change to Dexron 3 atf oil,i found that lubing the gearchange mechanism made a marked improvment,thats not to say it works for everyone some said just changing the oil cured theres.

[PRTVR]

That Daddy said:

PRTVR said:

That Daddy said:

350matt said:

Put a semi synthetic 75W-90 in it like the Castrol Synthrax this will make a big difference, as the ATF most often used is rubbish and only specified to provide commonality of fluids on a car, so saving money for the original manufacturers


Matt

Really,i think your missing the point are you aware what ATF as to withstand in an auto transmission,you certainly dont get cold drag with ATF it withstands temperatures way beyond what any manual transmission can throw at it,please expand why you think a multigrade gear oil is better suited to the job of lubricating a low tech manual gearbox with needle/ball bearings,i had said problem sticky gears turned out to be the linkages on top of the box were worn and dry since correcting & lubing i have had no problems.

I have always assumed that clutches sliped when they are worn out,not stick ?
I would tend to look at the release mechanism first,
The big problem I have with using ATF fluid, is I have heard it reported that
Mobil ATF has written on it that it is not to be used in manual gearboxes,
if this is right could it be that Mobil had the monopoly on supplying TVR and
just used an oil that they had in there line up ?
What is the box out of, maybe we could find what oil it used in its previous life.

Phil

I was referring to the sticky gearchange not clutch,on my car this did not improve even after the change to Dexron 3 atf oil,i found that lubing the gearchange mechanism made a marked improvment,thats not to say it works for everyone some said just changing the oil cured theres.

Sorry TD That part was not aimed at you, just typing what I was thinking, and not reading what I was typing, I was agreeing with you about the release mechanism, but have a different view on oils.
(can of worms open )
Phil