Re: Clutch rebuilds

[Kevin Trent <trentkc@domain.elided>]

My '73 GTV's clutch has recently started to slip under heavy throttle & 
load.  Bummer, 'cause I sure won't pull the trans to do it until next 
spring.  I've had the car 18 months, and put on about 10K.  This is the 
best feeling clutch I've ever had and still feels very good: smooth & not 
heavy.  However, I've always noticed it releases at top of pedal travel, 
even after adjustment on the pedal linkage.

  Questions:

Any way to diagnose a disk vs pressure plate problem?

If the clutch slips under heavy throttle, will it be slipping a little all 
the time and ruin the pressure plate?

I plan to nurse the car through daily commutes as long as possible...

BTW, I usually take my clutches to a local rebuilder who relines the disk, 
and can replace the diaphragm spring if necessary.

//kct
~~~~~~~~
At 11:12 PM 11/26/01 -0500, you wrote:

>Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2001 20:38:54 -0700
>From: C M Smith <cmsmith@domain.elided>
>Subject: Clutch rebuilds
>
>I too have replaced only the friction disc when doing a clutch job. In
>retrospect, I should also have renewed the release bearing given the modest
>cost of this. Although, towards the end of the car's life a new disc will
>last longer than the mileage left in the car so no sense spending the money
>on the whole clutch. Input shaft pilot bearing (lodged in the flywheel)
>should be carefully examined and renewed as needed also. As another poster
>also pointed out, always check the input shaft bearing and seal in the
>transmission while it's out too.
>
>The problem with not renewing the pressure plate assembly is not a balance
>problem (the friction disc needs to be separately balanced from the entire
>pressure plate assembly anyway) but a thermal stress problem. The diaphragm
>spring almost universally used these days might last for two full friction
>discs, but then again it might not. Often the pressure plate spring will
>hold tight for the entire second disc service life, often it fatigues and
>won't hold for the last quarter or so of disc life. Occasionally, the
>spring fails shortly after the friction disc is renewed.
>
>Then there's the issue of pressure plate and flywheel wear and tear. Often
>the flywheel needs skimming after the second clutch is done. Pressure
>plates also tend to show stress and wear eventually.
>
>Bottom line is "who's doing the labour?" If you're paying the pro's then it
>makes sense to renew the whole thing every time the disc wears out. If you
>are doing it yourself, or renewing the friction disc before it wears out,
>such as a rear main seal or tranny repair, thenoften it makes economic
>sense to just renew the disc (and release bearing)
>
>There is no hard and fast rule, it depends on your situation. Pressure
>plates tend to be expensive relative to the disc alone.
>Michael Smith
>Calgary, Alberta
>Canada
>91 Alfa 164L, White, original owner

--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided