Clutch failure: What are the warning signs/symptoms? | FerrariChat
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Clutch failure: What are the warning signs/symptoms?

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Husker, Jun 18, 2004.

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  1. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    #1 Husker, Jun 18, 2004
    I have never "lost" a clutch, so I am wondering, what are the warning signs (if any) that my clutch is about to go? Does it "feel" a certain way when you shift? Does it become harder to push the clutch in? thanks!
     
  2. henryk

    henryk Formula Junior

    Dec 9, 2003
    479
    Door County, WI
    #2 henryk, Jun 18, 2004
    A good way to tell is to drive the car slowly, about 30-40 MPH, in 5th gear, and then push the gas pedal to the floor. While the car increases slowly in speed, a weak clutch will show the RPMs increasing a lot faster. This means a slipping (weak) clutch.

    Also, as the clutch wears, one will notice that the clutch pedal goes "farther" to the floor, before the clutch engages, and disengages.........compared to what it was a few months before.
     
  3. ShanB

    ShanB Formula Junior

    Jul 9, 2003
    547
    Tejas/Europe/Desert
    Full Name:
    shanb
    #3 ShanB, Jun 18, 2004
    Also, when your throwout bearing goes south there may be no warning at all.
     
  4. Husker

    Husker F1 World Champ

    Dec 31, 2003
    11,792
    western hemisphere
    #4 Husker, Jun 18, 2004
    Got a new one of those just a couple of months back, so I should be good on the T/O bearing for a bit. A friend of mine's back was thrown out after he tried to lift 350 lbs. above his head, and, as you say, there was no warning. Sucker was flat on a bed for a week.
     
  5. peajay

    peajay Formula Junior

    Apr 17, 2002
    454
    near Paris, France
    Full Name:
    Paul
    #5 peajay, Jun 19, 2004
    On all cars I have ever known a clutch that is worn out will slip as mentioned, but the pedal is just about fully out/released when the clutch starts to engage. This is opposite to what is said above that the clutch pedal is close to the floor when it is worn out. Can someone confirm ??
     
  6. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Dec 10, 2003
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    Dave M.
    #6 dm_n_stuff, Jun 19, 2004
    I don't know about any fcar other than my Dino, but generally, T/O bearings start ot make noise before they fail.

    If you sit with the car in neutral, and engage and disengage the clutch, a failing t/o will make more noise, often significantly more, than a bearing that is ok when the cluth is engaged.
     
  7. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
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    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
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    Steve Magnusson
    #7 Steve Magnusson, Jun 19, 2004
    Back to your original post: "Does it become harder to push the clutch in?" -- it can if the "failure" is in the mechanism/linkage/gizmo moving the throwout bearing and/or pressure plate mechanisms (on both fully-mechanical and hydraulic-mechanical models).

    Are you experiencing any of the three symptoms (slipping, noisy TO bearing, abnormal pedal feel) on your 348?
     

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