Clutch issue?

I was on a backroads drive yesterday in the 355….nothing aggressive. I shifted from 3rd to 4th and some grinding occurred. I suddenly realized I had no clutch, couldn’t shift. I managed to get it into 5th for the rest of the drive home. Clutch feel and pressure is normal, no fluid leaking. Just doesn’t engage. What could it be? Thanks in advance for any advice before I dig in.

 

Thanks for the assistance. No noises or other visual abnormalities. Master cylinder looks normal (no fluid leaking). Grate below pumpkin looks good, no fluid on the floor, etc. There is still resistance in the pedal which feels normal to me, but the clutch does nothing. For instance, I started it last night in neutral, press in the clutch and attempt to put in any forward gear. It does want to go into gear, but the car starts creeping forward ever so slightly.....same with reverse, creeps backwards, but does not go into gear. When I had it out on the road, the clutch did nothing. I was stuck in 5th gear and the clutch pressed to the floor would not disengage the engine .....had to keep it rolling all the way home! Throw out bearing? I'm getting ready to tear into it in the next couple days. Thanks in advance for your input.

 

Tore into it it today and this is what I found. A piece of the friction disc broke off and was loose inside!

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Here is the flywheel side of the clutch. More wear centrally than the outer rim. Flywheel has grimy “goo” around the same central area on the contact surface. Is that normal?

Debating whether to go deeper into the flywheel, or if it’s okay? Some black grimey greasy build up within the case.

This is my first clutch job BTW. Thanks in advance for the advice.


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I purchased the car last year and it currently has 30k miles. Maintenance records indicate the clutch and pressure plate were replaced in 2008 at 20k miles. Thanks!

 

Thanks guys, I going to repack the damper while I’m in there. Where are you sourcing the seals / o-rings for the damper? Ricambi no longer has them available.

I’m talking about the 12 o-rings for the damper assembly bolts and large o-ring to seal the damper itself. Thanks again!