GTi Clutch problems please help!!

Slapster

Slapster

Hi guys hope you can help me out with a little advice.
I bought a P-plate Almera GTi last november, with no mods (yet!) but i've got a clutch problem.

About 8 weeks ago I snapped a spring on my clutch friction plate, and basically I couldn't engage 1st at all. The other gears were very tight and reverse made the car judder....expected I guess.

Well 4 weeks ago I bought and fitted another standard clutch. Today though i've got exactly the same problem I started with. No 1st gear and all others tight again, so i'm assuming i've snapped another spring again on the friction plate.

It must be me hammering it too hard I guess but I didn't expect it going so soon.

So my question is, do you think there is another underlying problem or is it basically me caning it too much and the standard clutch can't take it?

And also if this is the case, what performance/competition clutch would you recommend for my car and do you think it would solve my problem?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice...much appreciated!!

Slappi (Craig)
 
hows it going mate, i've read before somewhere that you shouldnt really cain a new clutch.. have to let them kind of 'settle in' before you go all out with it... also, have you tried to adjust the clutch cable? that seems to make a difference aswell and you could end up wearing the clutch out sooner if the cable set right..

i also heard that after you put in a new clutch in the almeras, you should adjust the clutch after a few thousand miles..

as for competition clutchs, there are a few available.. such as exedy, ACT and JWT..

also, just a thought for you, if you're going to chance the clutch again.. have you thought about getting a lightweight flywheel.. would give the car a little performance.. fidanza do a good one.. there are a few for the mera with different weights..

do a search and you should find more answers!
 
Do not cain it for the first 500 (if not more) miles or so. I got though a clutch within a week because I was cainin it (on my first car when I first started to drive)

sounds stupid but have you considered it may be your gearbox ?
 
I wouldnt buy an uprated clutch on a standard GTi, massive waste of money.
 
Thanks for the advice guys apreciated.

I did actually let the clutch settle in for about 400 miles before I put my foot down (probably not enough though hahaha!) but I have hammered it since.

Well i'm stumped because I went to work this morning with the problem I had listed above. When I left work at 6 this evening the clutch was working normally as though nothing had happened?!?

It's left me scratching my head that's for sure because I was adamant that I had snapped a spring on the friction plate again seeing as exactly the same thing happened 8 weeks ago...obviously not this time :eek:

I can engage all my gears ok now but there's still a problem. When I put the clutch pedal all the way down there's a sort of chafing/rattling noise but it's not sounding all the time it's random. The gears are perfect no problem or noise whilst in gear, it's only happening in neutral with the clutch to the floor.

Do you think it could be a problem with the release bearing? My mate reckons it could be sticking but he doubts it seeing as its brand new and was well-greased.

Thanks again for the help guys really appreciate this.

Oh yes, also the clutch cable is at full tightness, can't wind it up any more no threads left!
 
I have had 2 mera's now that make that noise when the clutch pedal goes down as have a few others on here, I even replaced the clutch on my old one, made no difference, wouldnt worry about the noise seems like a common thing.

Sam
 
TheSam101 said:
I have had 2 mera's now that make that noise when the clutch pedal goes down as have a few others on here, I even replaced the clutch on my old one, made no difference, wouldnt worry about the noise seems like a common thing.

Sam
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No this definitely is a problem mate it didn't start happening until the other day and I know there's something wrong.

For a brief few seconds earlier today when I started the car I couldn't access first again & the clutch pedal went really hard and tight, I thought it had seized up for some weird reason but then it loosened up after a few seconds and its been ok since.

It's a very weird rattling/chaffing or light grinding noise but it's very random it don't do it all the time when I put the clutch in. When it does start making the noise with the clutch in, if I increase revs on the throttle you can hear the noise winding up quicker so the engine speed is having an effect on it too with the clutch on in neutral. Does this make it any clearer as to whether its the release bearing or input shaft bearing?

Another guy I spoke to who sells performance clutches did say to check whether there is any float in the input shaft so i'm guessing this is what he was on about too, the input shaft bearing.

Is this a big job and how would I check this out please?

Thanks for the help!
 
If your car rattle's then when you slightly dip the clutch it goes away, thats your release bearing on its way out..

And as for clutch bro, id just stick with a Nissan OE Clutch kit good for 250bhp at least i reckon......
 
syms said:
If your car rattle's then when you slightly dip the clutch it goes away, thats your release bearing on its way out..

And as for clutch bro, id just stick with a Nissan OE Clutch kit good for 250bhp at least i reckon......
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No mate its the other way round the rattling only starts randomly when I put the clutch pedal to the floor. I know it's not the clutch itself at fault now, it's either the release bearing or input shaft bearing...not sure which though still awaiting advice hahaha!!

Yeah I thought the standard clutch would be more than capable of the job too deffo.

Thanks anyway :)
 
It`s the release bearing if you can here it rattling with the clutch pedal pushed down...thats when the release bearing is under the most load.

ALWAYS use a OE nissan release bearing when you do a clutch swap, aftermarket ones are rubbish.
 
rowdy-GTi said:
I think maybe a change in driving style may be order if you keep going through clutches so quickly!
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aaah, memories of stevie tg come flooding back, he hammered 2 or 3 clutches in as many months from what i can remember. :eek:
 
rowdy-GTi said:
It`s the release bearing if you can here it rattling with the clutch pedal pushed down...thats when the release bearing is under the most load.

ALWAYS use a OE nissan release bearing when you do a clutch swap, aftermarket ones are rubbish.
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Thanks a lot mate that's all I needed to know.

That's it then this Sunday it's time for strip down again hahaha!! :roll:
 
boghopper said:
aaah, memories of stevie tg come flooding back, he hammered 2 or 3 clutches in as many months from what i can remember. :eek:
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Hahaha!! :lol:

No i'm usually good with clutches mate this is actually the first time i've ever had a clutch problem with any car i've ever had!!

It's done my head in a bit though it took me & my mate about 4 or 5 hours to do it on the 1st of april and now 4 weeks later we've got to do it all again how bad is that?!
 
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