clutch

couple things,
is there fluid on the ground near the bellhousing? if it's clear and looks oily it could be a leaky slave cylinder, or a leaky master cylinder up front. a worn clutch that bad would slip, but a leaky slave or master would produce the problem you have.

 

My clutch was feeling very 'high' but with no slipping or other adverse effects. There were no leaks. I investigated as a precaution and found the plate to be worn almost to the rivets. A simple plate replacement and the clutch now bites 'low' and is much lighter to operate.

An easy job (my 348 has the later single-plate Valeo clutch though).

 

How hard is it to change a Mondial t clutch yourself without a post lift? Parts?

 

I have only done a 348 but the prodedure is the same AFAIK. It's the easiest clutch change I have ever done because you do not need to remove the gearbox. No lift required, you need to remove the exhaust though, which may or may not require removal of the bumper. There are threads on here explaining how do do it.

The parts required can vary. I just put new plate in. There were no leaks from the clutch slave and the bearings were smooth - so I left them alone. The flywheel/pressure plate were not scored - so I left them alone. Everything is still OK a year later. New plates are about GB£200.

But if everything in there is shot (possible I suppose) then the bill would obviously be a lot higher (maybe where the tales of 4k$ clutch changes come from).

 

chris, 'high' disengagement would indicate a worn clutch, 'low' disengagement is from the PP not releasing where it should due to a 'linkage' or hydraulic issue.

dave, could you explain it a little more? is it that engagement occurs near the floor when releasing the pedal from the floor or that to get it to disengage you have to push the pedal all the way to the floor? hard to get into gears as well?

 

Yep. I read "end of pedal travel (nearly released)" to mean that the car moves off when the pedal was, well, nearly released.

 

It's confusing the way he worded it. Basically we need to know if he's talking about the bottom of the travel, or the top.