Clutch Cable Or More Serious Internal Bits?!?

[tompaltridge 0]

I was driving back from a local Mini show today with the Missus, and her 36 year old beauty managed to be far more reliable than my French machine!

 

Pulling out of a fuel station, I put my foot on the clutch to change up to second and the clutch pedal stayed right on the floor and had no springy return whatsoever. I pulled over suspecting the clutch cable had snapped, and called the rescue service.

 

However since I've been home it would appear that the cable is still attached to the pedal and I can freely waggle the pedal up and down from the clutch arm end of the cable. So there's no more springyness to the clutch arm. Also worryingly the arm itself is cracked/half sheared near the pivot point. When I move it back and forth (I shouldn't be able to do that with ease should I?! I thought there should be alot of force behind it at all times hence why you need to push hard with your foot to release the clutch each time...) it is quite loose at it's pivot point, I can feel obvious play and also I can hear clinking/knocking noises from inside the gearbox.

I'm fairly certain it's going to be a gearbox off job, but was just wondering what people think it could be and what I'm likey to be charged at a garage.

The car is a 1.9 1990 BE3 'box.

 

If it's too much to fix, there'll be a 205 gti for sale very soon with an FSH folder a foot thick and 2 previous owners if anyones interested!

 

Cheers,

Tom

[Pug_Power_Dave 0]

not sure on the technical term but could possibley be the arm inside the gearbox that connects the pivot to the release bearing, or the finger spring bits on the clutch pressure plate.

not sure how much clutch kits are (bearing pressure plate and friction plate) mabe 50ish, if its the arm i have no clue, but only abit of metal really so will just be getting the old one out.

it will prob be a gearbox out job so prob a days labour in the garage (depending on how efficent they are)

Abit vague but gives you abit of an idea...

wouldnt say its worth selling, unless there millions of other probs,

[inferno 1]

defo a box off job... to replace it at the garage... 2-250 including a new clutch maybe?

 

defo not worth selling it over that, but who am i to talk.

 

if its your first gearbox, expect to spend the day replaceing it, and maybe a few days finding new parts ect. im down to about 2-3 hours gearbox out and back in again, but thats on cars ive pulled apart before so nothings siezed ect.

 

im sure theres a guide on clutch changing somewhere...

[pug_ham 244 3 Cars]

im sure theres a guide on clutch changing somewhere...

http://www.205gtidrivers.com/articles.php?...=s-clutchchange

 

Graham.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

If the arm is cracked which they do it's easy to replace and I;ve got loads of S/H one's to hand, I can always pop down and have a quick look if you need

[tompaltridge 0]

Hi Miles,

thanks alot for the offer that would be greatly appreciated! But I think it's more than just the arm thats starting to shear: the whole thing is loose aswell, there's no pressure behind it. Is there a way of fixing the car without taking the gearbox off? If you're available to have a look that would be great, I've had quote for about £270 for the full job inc vat, labour, new clutch and any other bits too.

My number is *********** and I'm free afternoons after 6pm.

 

thanks alot,

 

Tom

 

edit; please don't post your phone number, send it via a pm.

 

 

 

If the arm is cracked which they do it's easy to replace and I;ve got loads of S/H one's to hand, I can always pop down and have a quick look if you need

[Grim.Badger 15]

Sounds like a problem with the fork or release bearing but I'm no expert.

 

I'm really posting to say that getting a garage to replace my clutch is the only thing I really regret not doing myself.

Getting the gearbox off is fairly easy, even if it is fairly heavy, and the parts are much cheaper than the full garage job cost. The only problem I had was getting the driver side driveshaft out of the intermediate bearing housing, but I just removed the entire housing off the back of the engine instead I can go into detail if you need.

 

Having compared the realease bearings of a cheap clutch kit and a Valeo genuine one, I'd defintiely say to get a good quality clutch kit as the difference in build quality is astonishing.