General Clutch Quality ( differences in Brands ) ?

[ROBTECH]

hi all

hoping someone can help,

my sporting abarth 98 1.1 sei Clutch has over the past few months started getting stiffer and stiffer and when the car is put in reverse judders unless you keep the revs slightly higher than normal.

Now ive hear that adjusting the cable half a turn clockwise can help however as the cars now on 58000 miles and i dont know if the clutch has ever been changed or the cable I am inclined to just change the lot anyway as cost is not an issue also the rear gearbox mount was an advisory on the mot back in May so the combination of everything would certainly suggest change everything.

however having done lots of reading on the forum and on the web ive found theres several makers of Clutches most say DONT go for a fiat one as there remanufactured one person swears by LUK clutches then if you goto Eurocar care who ive used before and are recommended on here they use VALEO however ive also seen FERODO and MOTAQUIP

now I would rather spend the extra NOW and get the best available for standard use cars not some Race car so dont need some triple plate job

most of the clutches new with a warranty are around £50 ive also read that the clutch cable for the car is the 171 mm one

many thanks for now for any help

cheers

Stuart

 

[portland_bill]

LUK and Valeo are good brands, high quality and a safe bet.

Ferodo, as far as I'm aware do not make their own clutches, so they would source from another manufacturer. Could well be a deal for the clutch manufacturer to use Ferodo linings. They have a name to protect, so should get theirs from a good source.

Motaquip are an aftermarket middleman, not manufacturing the clutches. They could source form anywhere the price, quality or supply works for them. Probably fine, but a very slight risk when compared with the others.

My choice would be LUK or Valeo, whichever was easiest to obtain.

 

[ROBTECH]

Thanks for the info most appreciated .Will prolly go with Valeo as i will buy a bundle of bits inc that from eurocarecare ..lol will certainly see if the cable adjustment works first though ...as i need £150 quids worth of parts plus the fitting.

 

[portland_bill]

Cable adjustment will not affect stiffness or judder.

Stiffness can be the cable worn, or the clutch cover being well worn.
Judder can be the clutch, well worn, or oil contaminated, or the engine/gearbox mountings.

Fit a new cable and mounting first, they may be all you need. The cable will be a real pain up under the passenger side of the dash, be prepared for swearing and aching back afterwards. Removal of the passenger seat may make access easier.

 

[fingers99]

I don't think the FIAT ones are remanufactured.

Generally, stiffness is down to either the clutch (generally the release bearing) or the clutch arm bushes (check and lube while swapping the clutch out).

Looks like Valeo are now owned by Sachs (just received a Valeo clutch in Sachs box).

I'd do the mount and the clutch. While it's worthwhile keeping a clutch cable as a standby, I'd not fit unless ir was obviously (frayed cable, etc) on the way out.

Adjustment is covered in the Seicento Technical Manual (and the Porter one): a cable operated clutch will need adjustment throughout its life, so get on top of it.

 

[ROBTECH]

Good stuff,will be ordering all the bits inc new fork release and will do the clutch and mounts etc and will order the cable but if it aint broke i wont be fixing it unless its dodgy. will be nice to drive the car and not have a sore leg after an hour of driving

 

[Huwbishop]

I compared the luk and Valeo clutches with the ap clutch. The ap had a couple of mm wider lining on the inner diameter.Defiantly get the stiffness out of the clutch, as I broke the rod that connects the pedal mechanism to the plastic sector on the end of the cable. Oops.

 

[portland_bill]

Looks like Valeo are now owned by Sachs (just received a Valeo clutch in Sachs box).

Possibly, but not necessarily. Not all manufacturers will tool up to make all applications, so to ensure a full range, will outsource to other good suppliers. Valeo will probably use some Sachs clutches too. At least it says that the Valeo clutch is recommended by Sachs!

Just remembered, my Seicento, when just a year old snapped its clutch cable. Dealer diagnosed a faulty clutch and replaced it and the cable, all under warranty. So my guess would be new clutch needed, but change the cable. Its a pain to change, you don't want it breaking as whenever or wherever it happens will be inconvenient. The breakdown organisations can't use their fit-all kit due to the threaded end.

 

[Pep0]

well if you pack a spare cable they will use the spare...

 

[blu73]

I got new clutch recently, i got it from Shop4Parts and was genuine part - had a valeo clutch in the box and doesn't look re-manufactured or anything like that. I'm 400 miles down and no issues.

Shop4Parts with the FF discount was the cheapest place i could find, and good service as always from them.

 

[Pep0]

Good stuff,will be ordering all the bits inc new fork release and will do the clutch and mounts etc and will order the cable but if it aint broke i wont be fixing it unless its dodgy. will be nice to drive the car and not have a sore leg after an hour of driving

Well it is not the cable that will break necessarily it is the end in the passenger compartment that can snap. It is not rated to give you a sore leg the clutch is designed for dinky Italian ladies and is as light as a feather, when it is serviceable..
The cable is only rated for feather light clutch similarly, the quadrant and cross piece inside the passenger compartment will have suffered pain as well as your leg, and be on their last legs.... Chuck a cable and quadrant on spare wheel well...
The clutch operating lever may need replacing as well if it is badly worn.
Noel

 

[ROBTECH]

many thanks to everyone for there help,i ordered a new valeo clutch ,cable ,quadrant a bush for it, 2 gearbox mounts from euro car care hopefully should arrive today,will say to the garage if the actual operating lever is worn then replace ( couldnt see one on ebay appart from a used one that Jim in watford had.so shall see what happens will remove the passenger seat before it goes to the gargage ,saves some labour time plus i need to put some stitches in it where the seats coming away from the bolster.

I mind when i got the car the clutch was so light there was many a time i almost put my foot through the bulkhead ..then it started to sqeak so spray grease all the mechanisms then slowly it started juddering in reverse and now its like a Lamborghini racing clutch where you end up in agony

certainly shows though that a stiff clutch on these can show the clutch is on it way out even though the car isnt showing signs of crunching the gears or Slipping

 

[ROBTECH]

got the new clutch and cable plus all the other bits fitted ..( rear gearbox mount fitted was crap quality so had to put the old one back on ) GRRRRR that will teach me to not buy OEM anyway no more judder in reverse car drives great and feels a lot smoother through the gears etc feels quicker too....all in ive so far spent on parts and labour 386 quid inc vat and will still need to get an oem rear gearbox mount which i can fit myself or give the garage 20 quid to do . lesson learned BUY GENUINE OEM quality parts and dont buy these ebay specials