Is Clutch on way out

[ronald smith]

Hi all
Went for a reasonably long drive friday about 60 miles.Car drove really well, towards end of journey
ended up in about 15 -20 mins of stop start traffic while in this the clutch juddered on a few occasions.
Once out of traffic it was fine.
Drove it sat about 70 miles no stop/start no problem.
Is this the end for clutch?
Any comments appreciated as going to Classic Le Man in July and would rather not break down in France.
Will probably drop it into Northway for a service so they can do clutch if needed-quite expensive I think as
a lot of labour involved. If clutch needed are there any other jobs to do at same time, I was thinking of a
short shift gear change.
Think i'll take sunroof out and have a nice spin this evening.
Planning to spectate at Silverstone tomorrow evening.
Cheers Ron

 

[zcacogp]

It seems that it is a 'characteristic' of these cars that the clutch can sometimes judder (and quite badly) when hot, in traffic.

I have heard various explanations, but understand that it happens towards the end of the life of the clutch, but doesn't mean it is on its last legs.

My S2 has had the same problem since I bought it 2 years ago, and the clutch (original, I believe) is still going strong. You learn to drive around it to some extent (it is improved if you take it out of gear, into neutral, and let the clutch out when in a traffic jam, for instance.)



Oli.

 

[Alpine]

I wouldn't get a short shift gear change - mine had one on when I bought it and it was awful. It was the first thing I removed.

 

[ronald smith]

Thanks Oli car has done 94K no record of any clutch replacement. I do take out of gear when stationary it
was when you are creeping along it was worst.
Thanks Phil I thought there were two types of short shift.and that gearbox end was best providing linkages
not worn.what was problem with your short shift.
Thanks for replies.
Cheers Ron

 

[poprock]

A clutch replacement including labour is usually around £700 on a Lux, more on a Turbo due to it being more difficult to access. Not sure which side of that fence an S2 falls on though.

 

[zcacogp]

Ron - creeping along is the worst. Waiting for a decent gap to build up between you and the car in front then moving 30-40 yards at a time may be a better strategu (await deafening horns blasts from the guy behind you who you are no doubt delaying massively by doing this!)

Poprock - an S2 should be no easier and no harder than a Lux. I think. Although I am probably wrong. However, if I am not, then it should be the same price in labour.

Why is the turbo more difficult?


Oli.

 

[Diver944]

Oli is spot on that it 'could' be the first sign of the clutch wearing out but mine too has done this for 8 years and 90k miles in my ownership (total of 182k miles now). It is the slow stop/start movement in hot weather that brings it on but it goes away once it cools down a bit. Every year at service I expect them to say it needs a new clutch but every year it gets a clean bill of health.

I'm dropping it off for service tomorrow evening then heading round to Silverstone too - see you there to talk clutch wobbles

 

[poprock]

I'm not sure why it's a longer job on the Turbo models, but that's what I've heard again and again over the past few years. My guess is that there's more stuff in the way of something you need to get at.

 

[Diver944]

ORIGINAL: zcacogp

Why is the turbo more difficult?

I'm not positive but it could be because of the crossover pipe leading to the turbocharger, I think it will need moving out of the way to gain access.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

If you do change clutch, check fuel lines at the same time. Or, just fix with flexi if you're happy with that. They will need doing at some point on all the cars.

 

[sawood12]

The transaxel has to be dropped so the torque tube can be unbolted and shifted rearward to access the clutch. No reason as far as architecture is concerned as to why a turbo clutch should take longer and this is the first i've heard of it. Could be something to do with the crossover pipe but that is forward of the bell housing joint so shouldn't get in the way. On the fixed cost menu's i've seen at some specialists they don't seem to offer a different fixed price for a turbo clutch over any other model of 944.

The 968 torque tube has an access panel which allows clutch refitting without having to shift the torquetube out of the way and saves about 40% of labour time. Unfortunately Porsche didn't have the foresight to fit this on 924's/944's.

 

[ronald smith]

Thanks for all information will certainly get brake pipes checked.
Hope to see you at Silverstone Paul.
Cheers
Ron

 

[jon]

Ron,

I've just had the clutch changed on my turbo.

It juddered like a bastard all the time and you needed to pile on the revs just to pull away anywhere near smoothly. At no time did it ever start to slip, it was just very juddery with a very heavy pedal.

When it was inspected it was just starting to take the top off the rivets on the friction plate.

New clutch later and the car is transformed. The new clutch is nice and light with all juddering gone completely.

Sounds to me like yours just got a little warm.

Trust me, your bank manager won't want you to change yours until it's absolutely neccessary![]

Jon.

 

[berg944]

You can measure the position of the slave piston to find out if you need a new friction plate.

I think the clutch centre often breaks before the clutch wears out.

Mike

 

[yipadee]

I fitted clucth slave cylinder and found out it was the master so have replaced that also, although i have cracked the rubber while fittimg the pipe from top of cylinder to pipe which connects to the reservoir, short of replacing again at £60 a go any suggestions, silicone sealant perhaps or just keep topping up, or will it even make a difference is only gravity fed as long as cylinder is lubricated.

I am open to advice/suggestions!

cheers

 

[Ronin944]

Why don't you just get the clutch inspected for wear? There's a small opening (sometimes complete with protective cap) where the wear can be measured by checking the position of the operating lever. A new clutch should give a gap of 18mm and it is worn out at 34mm. Any dealer / indie should be able to do this for you.

 

[ronald smith]

Thanks will do Car is going into Northway in a couple of weeks for a service. Have been reassured by Paul Smith
and others it is not going to die on me imminently.
Cheers Ron

 

[morris944s2john]

"I think the clutch centre often breaks before the clutch wears out.
"
Yes, this happened to my car about 11 years ago, it started with the clutch juddering when the car was warmed up in stop- start traffic. Then it started doing it all the time after about a year. Then the gears became VERY stiff and hard to change and on the way to the garage, the rubber centre of the clutch tore out and the car made the rest of the journey courtesy of the AA.

Drive your car gently till you have a new clutch, no 0-60 runs or drag starts or 6500rpm gear changes. This is what prematurely killed the clutch on my car.