Clutch failed

[SR71]

I'm a clutch ignoramus....

Jumped in the car (94 ABY) to go home this evening, selected first as I always have done for the last four years, headed off home and the car wouldn't go in any other gear.

Just been rescued home.

Clutch felt much lighter than usual.

Hydraulic levels are normal. No warnings of low pressure.

Has my clutch gone after 190K miles? Its still the original.

If so, I see from Corey's post http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showpos...01&postcount=5 a suggestion about uprated clutches.

Should I take the opportunity to go for a lightened flywheel at this time?

I need to counteract the effect of the 19" RS6 rims I've got on the car - I'm sure they've actually improved the handling but at the expense of some mid-range punch.

I'm under the impression (perhaps erroneously?) that the lightened flywheel would compensate for this effect?

All suggestions gratefully received.

Thanks.

[Corey]

What's the pedal doing?
What does the shift feel like?
Any strange noises?

Let's identify the problem before we upgrade

[SR71]

I can depress the pedal in fine.

Just cannot select a(ny) gear.

Clutch has never slipped in the past.

Gearbox has never made any strange noises.

One minute it was working, next minute it wasn't!

[SteveH]

sounds like it could be a problem with the linkage

[SR71]

With engine off I can select various gears...although it will not fully engage in some of them.

If I roll the car forward a little, it will then engage in the other gears, presumably as the gears synchronize...



This thread seems to deal with a similar problem to mine:

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showpost.php?p=183171&postcount=1

[s2dude]

With engine off I can select various gears...although it will not fully engage in all of them.



This thread seems to deal with a similar problem to mine:

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showpos...71&postcount=1

diaprghm spring on the pressure plate could have cracked mate??...iirc these are the symptoms.....especially after 190k miles still on the original clutch

Or could be release bearing...either way. My guess is clutch itself rather than hydraulics like master or slave...could be totally wrong though

[BRY]

Clutch master cylinder failure?

[SR71]

If it was anything to do with the hydraulics, wouldn't my hydraulic system lose fluid?

The fluid level is fine. No leaks.

The pedal travel and return is fine albeit it feels slightly lighter than normal.



I reckon pressure plate.

The actual clutch, had it been worn, should start to slip though before finally failing, shouldn't it?

But never had those symptoms.

Nevertheless, if they have to get into the clutch, no doubt its worth changing the clutch too....

[nip]

i would say its a very good chance of being the clutch, it happened to me few months back exactly same symptoms

[raymor]

Yeah, I had similar symptoms about a year ago. The friction plate had started to breakdown and drag, therefore not releasing the drive to allow gearchanges via the clutch.

I changed the slave cylinder in desperation but not to be....

New clutch fitted....14hrs with the car on axle stands - next time will be quicker

Raymond

[WabTheKing]

bend push rod?

[Jon441cc]

I had this on a 7A coupe, found that one of the diaphragm springs had snapped in the clutch the car would only go into gear with the engine off.


Hope this helps

[SR71]

Well its booked into the local Audi specialist (didn't have choice as the breakdown company will only take it to one ~10 miles from my house) but they can't look at it for a week.

So I'm looking to try and diagnose the failure and get the bits ordered ASAP so the further delay is kept to a minimum.

Can anyone answer the following questions:

1) I presume the dual mass flywheel can be re-used - assuming there is nothing wrong with it? Or does it need to be "serviced" if its going to be re-used?

If I re-use my flywheel, I presume it is just a question of ordering up a new ABY clutch?

2) Are Corey's suggestions for uprated 034 Motorsport clutches straight-forward bolt ons to an ABY? I presume they are if I order the versions that go with the 01E gearbox?

If I go for a 3B SM flywheel, I presume I need to order the 016 versions of the above clutches?

Do they need significant expertise to fit bearing in mind the issues with removing the spacer to take up the slack left by removal of the ABY DM flywheel?

Do the engine mounts have to be mucked about with?

Any recommendations from those who have BTDT?

Thanks.

[Lloyd]

Sorry to hear you're having trouble with your clutch.

You description sounds precisely like the symptoms my car suffered recently.
I wouldn't mind bettting that your problem is a (very) worn/split thrust bearing. In my case I could change gear one second and not the next... When AMD removed the gearbox and inspected the clutch they found effectively only half of the thrust bearing left.

This meant that when you depressed the pedal, the clutch was not being fully disengaged hence would not go into gear - with the engine running. If you turned off the engine it would go into every gear albeit with some jiggling etc....

Anyway, whilst the gearbox was out (big job...) I had the full clutch replaced as I thought might as well while I'm at it - didn't want to have to re-visit again anytime soon. The bearing was only £30, but with labour the bill to get to it runs well into the £100's.....

Good luck. HTH

Lloyd

[ericd]

release bearing is common failure though some really knackered looking ones on removal are still functional however, if you're going to the bother (expense if somebody else is doing it), probably <£200 considering the mileage it's worth it when all the bits are out, others would also suggest you do the spiggot bearing when you're there, but not always necessary, you'll need to rely on whoever's doing it, to check lots of the items people have already mentioned ; g/box linkage, push rod , master/slave, they might even try bleeding the system before starting to strip it down.


Sometimes on removal of clutches (specifically passats/golfs) there is no visible break/crack/damage on the diaphram spring or friction plate, but replacement of them fixes the problem (only an hour or two's work though).

Have a look at the bits they remove (take pics) or get a 2nd opinion, cause if they change the clutch and it doesn't fx it , they'll probably start looking at flywheel wear and "excessive play" which is expensive and even less well understood and spec'd than fuzzy logic...

HTH