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So my EP3 has developed a clutch issue, I think it's dragging as it's very difficult if not impossible to get it into gear except when stone cold, if any heat is in the clutch it won't work. It doesn't grind into gear, rather makes a whirring noise and can feel being engine braked a little if downshifting). The car has a Clutchmasters FX400 6 puck paddle clutch and CM flywheel fitted with about 40k on them.
I originally thought it was a hydraulic system failure as the problem kicked it immediately when the car was stated for commute home, rather than gradually getting worse as would be expected with clutch wear, and it happens in all gears so I've discounted syncros being the issue. I managed to nurse it home by rev matching and double-declutching.
The original clutch master and slave cylinders were still fitted so I've replaced both, this has made the clutch feel better but has not resolved the problem. Thinking back the bite point has not changed throughout so I'm now thinking it's not a hydraulic issue, and not a problem with the release fork being bent etc as that would also have changed the biting point.
Now the gearbox needs to come off and after that many miles it's probably going to needs a new clutch anyway, and I now reckon that given the immediate onset the problem is either going to be a failed release bearing, broken pressure plate\finger or the friction disc has worn enough then a rivet it now running against the flywheel (when I am able to get it into first with clutch down I can hear a bit of whirring noise, really hope it's not this).
Bearing in mind paddle clutches hate being slipped I think it could also just be shagged through wear but would have expected it to be more gradual decline in shifting.
Anything else this could be other than the above? And any recommendations for a non-paddle clutch other than the CM FX300 that'll hold up to 400hp\250lbft?
Cheers!
I originally thought it was a hydraulic system failure as the problem kicked it immediately when the car was stated for commute home, rather than gradually getting worse as would be expected with clutch wear, and it happens in all gears so I've discounted syncros being the issue. I managed to nurse it home by rev matching and double-declutching.
The original clutch master and slave cylinders were still fitted so I've replaced both, this has made the clutch feel better but has not resolved the problem. Thinking back the bite point has not changed throughout so I'm now thinking it's not a hydraulic issue, and not a problem with the release fork being bent etc as that would also have changed the biting point.
Now the gearbox needs to come off and after that many miles it's probably going to needs a new clutch anyway, and I now reckon that given the immediate onset the problem is either going to be a failed release bearing, broken pressure plate\finger or the friction disc has worn enough then a rivet it now running against the flywheel (when I am able to get it into first with clutch down I can hear a bit of whirring noise, really hope it's not this).
Bearing in mind paddle clutches hate being slipped I think it could also just be shagged through wear but would have expected it to be more gradual decline in shifting.
Anything else this could be other than the above? And any recommendations for a non-paddle clutch other than the CM FX300 that'll hold up to 400hp\250lbft?
Cheers!