360 - Leaking Clutch Release Bearing | FerrariChat

360 Leaking Clutch Release Bearing

Discussion in '360/430' started by bob224, Jul 18, 2020.

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  1. bob224

    bob224 Karting

    Nov 6, 2013
    56
    Australia
    About 4 years ago attended to a full clutch job on my Ferrari 360 spider manual by an experienced Ferrari trained tech. This included a new Hills clutch release bearing (manual version), Hills flange, Hills clutch block and OEM flywheel, master cylinder and clutch.

    4 years on and around 12,000km I'm having clutch pedal issues. Tech has identified clutch master cylinder as faulty and requiring replacement which I have attended to. As part of his investigation he has identified a minor to moderate leak of the clutch release bearing additionally.

    Any experiences here with clutch release bearing leaks at this age (expected/unexpected?) including whether this is eminently going to fail or could still last some time from here. Full gearbox/roof out isn't exactly a cheap exercise. Deciding whether I should fix now or wait till it fails.

    In speaking to Hills on this issue they have mentioned they've seen instances in the past of "Compression Set” of the o-rings (set to a double D shape rather than the original round shape due to heat) causing such leaks. The temperature rating of the o-rings in the manual cars are only capable of 150 degrees centigrade and if the o-ring is subjected to temperatures towards this and then go through a number of heat cycles, the o-rings set in their compressed state and lose their elasticity.

    The reasons they mentioned this could happen were if cars were run hard and not allowed to cool down before the car came to a stop or excess heat being generated by the clutch or gearbox indicating that there was an underlying issue.

    Car isn't driven particularly hard, nor tracked and mostly pottered around town.
     
  2. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

    Aug 22, 2008
    6,947
    Central NJ
    Full Name:
    Dominick
    If you change now you may be able to save clutch ..if leak gets worse or as time passes and leaks on clutch it will ruin it

    Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
     

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