Hi guys,
I think this will be a bit of crying for the spilled milk situation, but I need some advice. I replaced the clutch, flywheel,
IMS
, and RMS three weeks ago, among with some other services.
When I collected the gar, I wasn’t told anything about clutch break-in. (I could have asked as well, so not entirely their fault) As I have never replaced a clutch before, I didn’t even think about breaking it in.
I collected the car, drove around for about twenty minutes to warm up as I normally do (I was in town), and then I did a pull in first gear up to about 6k. I felt a clutch smell, and also the clutch pedal didn’t respond as it usually do, like it got stuck for a brief moment and then released. I found it a bit weird, not much after drove home. The
next
day I took it for a spin, kind of same thing happened (smell), but now was I pull on 3rd gear to overtake on an A road. I took it to the garage, and said about the smell I was having after giving it some ‘beams’ but they thought it was a smell coming from something else, as the exhaust was new as well, etc. They kept the car for about 5 days, dit about 50 miles on it, and said I could collect it and it was alright. Again, no clutch break-in was mentioned, and at this point, I still hadn’t thought about it.
Now it’s about three week time in, I have been taking the car for some UK’s B road drives, and using it as I was used to, mostly keeping 3rd gear, and rev’ing it up. Some 2nd gear pull for overtakes, sometimes 6500 rpm sort of thing. The car drives nice, I don’t feel anything wrong with it.
But then I started reading about how to procedure with a new clutch, break-in period, don’t go over 4k rpm, 500 miles in town minimum, take it easy, etc.
Do you guys think I’ve damaged my clutch? Would be something that I should do from now on, like taking it easy for some how many ever miles, something?
I would really appreciate your help, as I can’t stop thinking I was a jerk and ruined the thing…
Cheers,
Hector
I definitely do not know of the break in requirements after clutch replacement for your car and replacement clutch used. I would imagine there would be some odor of clutch while it is seating into flywheel but should be gone within a day or so. I would imagine break in would be similar to brakes with the heat it up cool it down routine. Slight slipping of a new clutch is probably a bad thing as they are meant to be either engaged or not. I have seen overfilled hydraulic clutch system that run independently form brake system reservoirs heat the fluid and cause slight slippage causing premature clutch glazing and burn out. I don't think your car has an independent hydraulic system for the clutch reservoir.
I hope it is okay. As long as it's not chattering or slipping you should be fine.
Post an update.
I probably wouldn't have jumped on it right away though...
"I probably wouldn't have jumped on it right away though" ... Yeap, regrets
I don't think it is slipping or it had slept, and the smell was just on the first two pulls, never happened again. Hopefully, it's fine.
Thanks!
I think they did not adjust the clutch correctly when they replaced it. Then when you brought it back in, they adjusted it correctly and now you're good to go.
