What's up with my Clutch?

[gandrade1]

Hi guys,

I have just come back from a wonderful DE event at Watkins Glen - what a track!!!

I drove my car there and back this weekend. That + the track driving summed up to 1,000 miles. On my back I hit a lot of traffic and started to notice that my clutch feels 'harder' than normal and it feels like the clutch is doing most of its work during the first 1/2 of the the pedal's travel when I step on it or the last 1/2 of the travel when I am de-clutching(hard to explain!!!)

My car is a '01 2.7L Boxster with 44K miles on it. I purchased the car 1.5 years ago and have added only 8k miles to it. I have done 3 track events so far. The clutch always felt a little hard, but I assumed it is a characteristic of P-cars! Now it is starting to bother me - it is harder and less 'precise'.

:angry: Am I approaching a clutch replacement? :angry:

I have no idea when the clutch was last bled...Could that solve my problems...

Please, let me know what you guys think?

Thank you very much,

Gus

:renntech:

[gandrade1]

Anyone?

I need some input

All the best,

Gus

[Loren]

When the clutch pedal gets harder that usually means there is little left of the clutch disc facing.

If you want to be sure you can always flush the brake/clutch fluid. If that has no effect then you likely need a clutch.

[Tool Pants]

Hard pedal usually the sign of a worn out clutch. Mine was recently replaced. Sometime I felt I needed 2 feet to push down the pedal. Became a pain in stop and go commute traffic.

You might get it checked out. My disc was down to the rivets on the pressure plate side and had started to score the pressure plate. This does not matter because a clutch kit includes a new pressure plate. Fortunately the rivets had not started to score the flywheel, so my flywheel was reused. List on a flywheel is like $900 so you do not want to replace it if it can be avoided.

[gandrade1]

Hard pedal usually the sign of a worn out clutch. Mine was recently replaced. Sometime I felt I needed 2 feet to push down the pedal. Became a pain in stop and go commute traffic.

You might get it checked out. My disc was down to the rivets on the pressure plate side and had started to score the pressure plate. This does not matter because a clutch kit includes a new pressure plate. Fortunately the rivets had not started to score the flywheel, so my flywheel was reused. List on a flywheel is like $900 so you do not want to replace it if it can be avoided.

Thanks, guys...

How expensive (labor hours) would you say it would take to get the replacement done?

Also TP will Indies usually charge to get it checked out?

Man 44k miles sounds awfully low to need a clutch job. It makes you wonder whether the previous owner knew what the dead pedal was for!!!!!!!

I will keep you guys posted...

All the best,

Gus

[Sboxin]

Hard pedal usually the sign of a worn out clutch. Mine was recently replaced. Sometime I felt I needed 2 feet to push down the pedal. Became a pain in stop and go commute traffic.

You might get it checked out. My disc was down to the rivets on the pressure plate side and had started to score the pressure plate. This does not matter because a clutch kit includes a new pressure plate. Fortunately the rivets had not started to score the flywheel, so my flywheel was reused. List on a flywheel is like $900 so you do not want to replace it if it can be avoided.

Thanks, guys...

How expensive (labor hours) would you say it would take to get the replacement done?

Also TP will Indies usually charge to get it checked out?

Man 44k miles sounds awfully low to need a clutch job. It makes you wonder whether the previous owner knew what the dead pedal was for!!!!!!!

I will keep you guys posted...

All the best,

Gus

Labor should be about $700 (7hours)

Yes, Indi will charge for his time -- You might ask for an estimate to replace the clutch over the phone.

44K is not unusually for Boxster clutch disk - we did (DIY) ours at 46K and looked just like TP photo.

IMHO, if you track the car replace the clutch ASAP.

Take care, :cheers:

Ed

[por986]

For what it is worth, my car started making a knocking noise at 44K. It turned out to be my clutch - suspect is the throwout bearing. I was not knowledgeable enough to realize that the clutch was getting harder to press as I just assumed that is what it was supposed to feel like. I guess I never noticed it changing over time. The dealer and an indie shop both said it felt much to stiff.

Dealer in South TX quoted $1900, and an indie is willing to do it for $1100. I have yet to replace it, but it will be changed very soon. I have recruited some friends and we are going to tackle it ourselves - cost for parts (if all goes well) is approx. $450.

[gandrade1]

Thanks guys...

Well looks like I am down for a $2,000 expense... I will take it to an Indy.

I am considering getting a lightweight flyweel (if mine needs replacement). Anyone has any experience with it?

What are the cons?

Best,

Gus

[Tool Pants]

I had the prices written down when the clutch was replaced 3 months ago but I can't find the paper. Dealership was about $1,800. Independent shop I have known for years about $1,400. A new independent shop recently opened and I met the owner Marvin, who worked at 2 local dealerships. Marvin had a special, $800 parts and labor for a 2.5. He uses a Sachs clutch kit.

It does not take 7 hours to replace a clutch, but that could very well be the book rate. I once watched Peter Smith get the transmission out of a 2.5 in 25 minutes.

All a lightweight flywheel does it permit the engine to rev a bit faster. If that is important to you you might want to try a car with one on the street. They also permit transmission noise to enter the cockpit, more so with the 996.

How long does a clutch last? It is like asking someone how long a tube of toothpaste or a bar of soap last them. Depends on the user. The Boxster clutch is also small. After my 2.5 was replaced my 1988 pickup was replaced at the Toyota shop next door. I put both used clutches side-by-side and took a picture. They were about the same. The pickup is a 2.4, and has about half the torque and hp as my 2.5 Box.

Here is my 2.5.

[gandrade1]

I had the prices written down when the clutch was replaced 3 months ago but I can't find the paper. Dealership was about $1,800. Independent shop I have known for years about $1,400. A new independent shop recently opened and I met the owner Marvin, who worked at 2 local dealerships. Marvin had a special, $800 parts and labor for a 2.5. He uses a Sachs clutch kit.

It does not take 7 hours to replace a clutch, but that could very well be the book rate. I once watched Peter Smith get the transmission out of a 2.5 in 25 minutes.

All a lightweight flywheel does it permit the engine to rev a bit faster. If that is important to you you might want to try a car with one on the street. They also permit transmissin noise to enter the cockpit, more so with the 996.

How long does a clutch last? It is like asking someone how long a tube of toothpaste or a bar of soap last them. Depends on the user. The Boxster clutch is also small. After my 2.5 was replaced my 1988 pickup was replaced at the Toyota shop next door. I put both used clutches side-by-side and took a picture. They were about the same. The pickup is a 2.4, and has about half the torque and hp as my 2.5 Box.

Here is my 2.5.

Thanks ToolPants,

I will let you guys know how much I am quote.

From past experience, labor tends to be more expensive in my neck of the woods!

Best,

Gus

[Sboxin]

For what it is worth, my car started making a knocking noise at 44K. It turned out to be my clutch - suspect is the throwout bearing. I was not knowledgeable enough to realize that the clutch was getting harder to press as I just assumed that is what it was supposed to feel like. I guess I never noticed it changing over time. The dealer and an indie shop both said it felt much to stiff.

Dealer in South TX quoted $1900, and an indie is willing to do it for $1100. I have yet to replace it, but it will be changed very soon. I have recruited some friends and we are going to tackle it ourselves - cost for parts (if all goes well) is approx. $450.

por986 - good for you!! DIY is doable - my son and I did it

Take care

Ed