Clutch or box is f@cked?

[FATGTS-R]

Hi guys,

I will start by saying that my clutch is presumably a twin plate. The seller assured me it was and I took his word. It rattles like hell when depressed. I have not been near a confirmed twin plate equipped car to compare sounds to know if I have a twin or if the rattle is something else.

Anyway I am having a few probs and would like opinions on whether they are clutch or box related or even both.

1. When I first had the car -7 months ago occasionally when I was slowing up to a stop and dipped the clutch it didnt actually disengage. It would start lurching forward about to stall and I had to literally use force to yank it into neutral. It was as if I had not pressed the pedal. Interestingly it hasnt happened for a long while.

2. In the last two weeks I have had a hard time putting the box into first gear. It sometimes needs a bit of force to go in. I dont hear a clash of metal just a big click sorta sound. But it is intermittent. Sometimes it is ok.

3. The pedal has excessive freeplay. Say about 30 - 50mm.

4. This ones hard to explain a bit. When the pedal is all the way up and I press it down its say 30mm freeplay to the point where I can feel the resistance it will sometimes stick there and the clutch pedal will only have say 1-2mm of play but will pop up again soon as I touch it or lift it up with my foot.

I have not noticed any slippage but dont know a sure fire procedure to find out. My neighbour said to chock the front wheels against a gutter, put it in fifth and slowly let the clutch out. If it dont stall the clutch is on the way out. Does this sound right?

Lastly, with the excessive freeplay, can it be adjusted to reduce the play and could it be the cause of my probs.

I sincerely apoligise for the lenghty post but know if I go to a mechanic they will more than likely try to slug me for a new clutch no matter what. Would rather know what I am talking about before I go in there if in deed I need to at all.

Thanks guys

Jayson.

[sean01]

I would definentely be checking the Clutch master and slave cylinders first. check the fluid level in the resevoir and make sure you havent got a leak somewhere in the lines. Sounds to me like your master has gone kapput.

[FATGTS-R]

How do I check master/slave cylinder operation? The fluid level is fine and had the system flushed 3 weeks ago.

[sewid]

Im not saying this is the best idea but if it was my car this is what I would do.

Take it to a decent workshop i trusted and get them to check it out properly, pull the thing out if necessary. It might need some work. That way you could identify the type of clutch and whether its worn or not.

At the moment it sounds like you may be causing undue wear and stress on your gearbox which i dare say is more expensive than the clutch.

[fatz]

salve most likely or maybe the master

just get a new one

pete

[Mr GTS4]

how much do they go for.. can you use ones off others cars? i heard someone talking about using S13 cylinders on my R32.. will that work at all.

FATGTS-R - this sounds like what is going on in my car at the moment to. its really hard to get it into gear when in a stationary poisition and not that easy into other gears when moving. i think in my case its the master/slave cylinders not pushing the clutch in enough to engage the clutch properly, therefore not getting into gear. the rod that comes out of your master cylinder into the top of the pedal can be adjusted. don't know if this works i haven't done it yet. i want to get the cylinders checked out.