Replace clutch?

[Jim V.]

Ok....I have a history of "while-I'm-at-it" disease. Doing a motor rebuild and I am debating replacing the clutch...."while-I'm-at-it". I only drove the car home about 100 miles when I bought it....so I don't have the clutch history. I know it is a LUK replacement and might be fairly fresh. The disk is 5/16 thick and I have attached a pic of the surface of the pressure plate. Two questions....1) does clutch plate thickness tell us anything..and 2) does the surface of the pressure plate look normal? Note..there are no cracks even under magnification on the surface of the pressure plate. I hate it when I fix things until there broke!

thanks...

Jim

[Jack H.]

Yes, pressure plate has telltale...

You pix show the face which is typically scored from use. A simple re-surface (about $25 at your local machine shop) will take care of this. But, factory originals have a wear bar telltale that you can 'just' bearly see in your photo.

Look at the side of the clutch plate and you'll notice the edges are beveled. I can just make out the bevel from your face side shot. When the bevel disappears from refacing surface removal, that's the sign it's time for a new one...

[Jim V.]

Bevel...

Thanks Jack!...Yep...there is a small but noticeable bevel on the outside circumference of the plate surface. Can you tell me what the purpose of refacing would be...if the plate surface will soon readily score again? I assume it is about warp.

[Jim K.]

Re: Replace clutch?

I agree with Jack and add that for the $75 (I think) for a pressure plate and disk, now is the time. and I would also add the throw out bearing and a new pilot bearing as well. my $0.02 Jim

[Jim V.]

Now is the time disease...

You got it bad Jim...Really would like to avoid replacing good stuff. Trick is...is it good? Throw-out and pilot look fine...no scoring, signs of wear. If I replace anything without concern for condition, I suppose it would be the throw-out bearing.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Stephen B.]

Re: Now is the time disease...

When you side step the clutch at 6,000 RPM's, does is shutter at all? lolol. That might be an indication.

[Jack H.]

Re: Bevel...

Warp, you got it! Fresh flywheels will have a bevel that're maybe 3/4-inch long.

[Jim V.]

Warp...we got it...

Yeah Jack....just did a warp check across the pressure plate. Looks like .013 low at innermost circumference of plate. Did some research in Vizard...he states +.010 is warped. Also, call machine shop for resurface. Bad news they don't cut em. Hmmmmm. The disk is .305 thick with clearly visible grooves...and again according to Vizard...anything above .280 is OK. What's your experience? If I do go new...what 10.5 do you recommend for a put-put 300hp?

Thanks

[Jack H.]

Get 2nd Machinest Opinion... *NM*