Clutch Replacement
Discussion
I am going to go ahead and put a new clutch in my S4. I have the Red Race Chip in, so I need to upgrade. My question is....I am in the USA. Which should I buy, and who has the best deals in the USA? Also, while I am in there, what parts should a replace to be sure I won't be back in for awhile...like bearings, ect?
Hey, (I just got my clutch back in yesterday!)... I'd recommend JAE in the states. They are quik and very resonable in the price department.
I personally would not just replace everything unless you want to spend the money...
*Inspect the release bearing. It prob will not need to be replaced.
*Pressure plate... I'd go ahead and replace this IF you are set on getting everything apart. It does not have to totally fail to create some issues.
*Friction plate... replace or if there is a clutch shop near you it is possible to get it re-linned. The shop near me used a ceramic material a bit better than OEM for disapating heat (so they said). Anyway... less than 100.00 USD.
*Pilot bearing... again, (my opinion) I'd inspect it. If it turns smooth and is not scratchy or plane torn up you may want to keep it. If it is intact, I promise this will be the hard part of taking apart/putting together your clutch. If it is damaged... it willl prob pull right out... mine did anyway.
*Nylon washer and steel input shaft sleeve... not sure if the later Renault gear box has these, but if it does... replace them.
Good luck,
Drive topless!!1
Cameron
I personally would not just replace everything unless you want to spend the money...
*Inspect the release bearing. It prob will not need to be replaced.
*Pressure plate... I'd go ahead and replace this IF you are set on getting everything apart. It does not have to totally fail to create some issues.
*Friction plate... replace or if there is a clutch shop near you it is possible to get it re-linned. The shop near me used a ceramic material a bit better than OEM for disapating heat (so they said). Anyway... less than 100.00 USD.
*Pilot bearing... again, (my opinion) I'd inspect it. If it turns smooth and is not scratchy or plane torn up you may want to keep it. If it is intact, I promise this will be the hard part of taking apart/putting together your clutch. If it is damaged... it willl prob pull right out... mine did anyway.
*Nylon washer and steel input shaft sleeve... not sure if the later Renault gear box has these, but if it does... replace them.
Good luck,
Drive topless!!1
Cameron
I'd recommend JAE too. I just finished my clutch replacement this last week end. It wasn't particularly difficult, but it was enough of a chore that I would recommend just replacing everything while you are in there. It isn't worth skimping on parts. The whole ball of wax (pressure plate, disk, throw out bearing, pilot/spigot bearing, roll pins for the rear axels) set me back less than $400 with shipping. All new parts...a bargain, I'd say.
By the way...I have the "High torque" and the "330 HP" chips. I haven't had my car dyno'd, but I'd guess that she is running every bit of 330 HP. My clutch disk recently fractured as a result of rear axel/wheel hop. The wheel hop showed up after the chip upgrade, and enough hard acceleration under these conditions finally took its toll on the clutch. As it turns out the wheel hop came from inadequate rear coil-over springs...not enough spring preload on the shocks. The wheel hop is now history, and a very hard lesson learned. Having been through the clutch replacement and having seen the components, I'd say that the stock replacement clutch parts are probably adequate, provided you don't experience something like wheel hop. Now on the other hand, if you have a limited slip dif, which is bound to cause more stress on drive line components, you might want to upgrade to the S4s replacement parts. But this would require replacement of the flywheel, plus the parts are quite a bit more...so I am told. If you choose to go this route JAE said that they have the S4s replacement parts as well.
One other comment. You should consider replacing the axel seals on the tranny while you have it out, especially if you see traces of oil leakage in the vicinity of the output shafts.
Good luck...Walt "91 SE
By the way...I have the "High torque" and the "330 HP" chips. I haven't had my car dyno'd, but I'd guess that she is running every bit of 330 HP. My clutch disk recently fractured as a result of rear axel/wheel hop. The wheel hop showed up after the chip upgrade, and enough hard acceleration under these conditions finally took its toll on the clutch. As it turns out the wheel hop came from inadequate rear coil-over springs...not enough spring preload on the shocks. The wheel hop is now history, and a very hard lesson learned. Having been through the clutch replacement and having seen the components, I'd say that the stock replacement clutch parts are probably adequate, provided you don't experience something like wheel hop. Now on the other hand, if you have a limited slip dif, which is bound to cause more stress on drive line components, you might want to upgrade to the S4s replacement parts. But this would require replacement of the flywheel, plus the parts are quite a bit more...so I am told. If you choose to go this route JAE said that they have the S4s replacement parts as well.
One other comment. You should consider replacing the axel seals on the tranny while you have it out, especially if you see traces of oil leakage in the vicinity of the output shafts.
Good luck...Walt "91 SE
Yeah, I ordered everything from JAE today. I am upgrading to the S4S clutch. So, I am replacing every single part. The entire thing is $1100. I have a patient that is going to help me do the work...that is his specialty. I will take pics if you all want a step by step on how to do the change from the bottom. I believe the pics on the net are from above.
dr.ian said:
Yeah, I ordered everything from JAE today. I am upgrading to the S4S clutch. So, I am replacing every single part. The entire thing is $1100.
Sorry I didn't see this earlier. I would have recommended you check out the PUK site http://freudhoefer.de/lotus/esprit/ . There is a hi-torque (+35%) clutch kit that apparently is stronger than the S4s clutch, and doesn't require the flywheel replacement. I installed this one after putting in a new tranny, which failed along with my clutch after using the Hi-Torque chip for a year. But, your swapping to the S4s clutch/flywheel from JAE was my second option.
- Mark91SE
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