So then, went to Grinspeed on Wednesday to sort out the clutch issues.
This is the clutch plate when it came off. Dropped jaws all round.
This could have been a failure of the clutch, could have been a manufacturing fault, however bolts that hold the pressure plate case onto the flywheel where only just over finger tight. This could have meant the clutch plate was traveling further that it normally would on operation which wouldn't have helped. No pointed fingers mind you, I'm not interested in naming and shaming, **** happens.
Just to add to this theory, one of the locating dowels from the flywheel had snapped off in the pressure plate case, which sort of confirms the pressure place case was moving around.
Snapped dowel on the old flywheel at 10 o'clock:
Remainder of dowel in the pressure plate case:
The clutch was an ACT stage 1 kit. I still stand by it as it was a good clutch and I think it would have lasted a lot longer under normal conditions.
Onto the replacements. I had decided on a Clockwise Motion lightened flywheel when booking in for the clutch. At the time the condition of the existing F1 Racing flywheel was unknown, so it was a good job I had decided on this given the dowel snappage above.
New flywheel, lush:
Fitted:
I also plumped for an Exedy Organic Stage 1 clutch, given that the OEM spec one is rated to 170ftlb and I'm running around 180ftlb, this one would be safer.
The clutch has now bedded in after a couple of days. It has a nice easy pedal feel, but firms up at the bite point. Engagement is crisp and has taken a bit of getting used to, but now I have it feels more natural than the old kit.
The flywheel is the most surprising bit. I'm not 100% what the weight of it is, but the old F1 Racing one was 4.65kg. The throttle response now is immense, the engine spins up a lot lot quicker, it feels like I've had more power mods done, it's made a dramatic difference. So much so I'm happy with the power again now, until I get used to it again that is. :lol:
Top job from Stevie at Grinspeed. :smt023: