My car has now covered 45,000 miles including several trips to The Pod, and I'm beginning to notice slight clutch judder.
Is this a sign that the clutch is nearing the end, or something different altogether.
There's no slipping that I can notice.

Stef.

 

Stef...

my old MY97 car did this from 19K miles when cold. I never experienced any slipping. It seems to be something that eventually happens.

Is it just when cold or all the time ?

Ian

 

This could well mean things are wearing out. My MY93 WRX did this for about 6 months, until it finally started slipping in 3rd, 4th and 5th.

When its needing changing you'll definately notice.

Hope this helps, regards Richie.

 

Clutch Judder is caused by a pressure plate and/or clutch disk that has worn not flat, i.e. with lumps on it(sorry thats the best description I could think of).. It sometimes is caused when you start letting out the clutch and its slipping then right before it slows nicely you let it pop out. And once a lump has started it keeps getting bigger, thus mure judder. It could also be caused by a "hard spot" on the pressure plate, thus as it wears it wears less where the hard spot is. Its hard to describe. Find several used clutches and pressure plates and inspect them for uneven wear... a picture is worth 1000 words.

The clutch could have lots of life left on it and judder. That isent a sign of pending failure. Although as it judders it pounds the mixer (transmission) to death.

I hope I explained it well enough

 

Steff,

drive along normally in 4th/5th, and when you reach the revs where your max torque/boost is, floor it. If it doesn't slip you should be ok, for now !!!!.

Mark.

 

Stef,
Nothing to worry about, not slipping at all,
perfectly OK, bound to be fine, common on Subarus......


Note to Mike Rainbird,

Quick get all the Cossies down the Pod, his clutch is slipping!!

 

Cheers guys.

It does it all the time, not just when cold, and is more noticeable when I pull away in second with low revs.
As it's under warranty, I may as well get it looked at when it goes in for it's HUGE service next week.
It might not fail completely before 60k anyway by the sounds of it.

Stef.

 

Stef -
when I had a '98 UK car I got all the usual guff from IM dealers like 'they all do that mate' and 'well known problem ' - cobblers - I moaned repeatedly till I got somewhere.... clutch was changed under warranty at 15k service at Monks Heath in Cheshire - they fitted a replacement clutch + flywheel as recommended in a service bulletin issued to all dealers - the part no: was different to the standard clutch and was a huge improvement absolutely NO judder from that day till the day I sold it (btw, the flywheel was heavily scored and you could feel the ridges in it)- the message is - don't accept anything but a warranty replacement ! The bonus was that the new part had a lighter action too so was more pleasant to use - I only wish I had not done it sooner.

good luck getting a satisfactory resolution.

cheers,

Paul W

 

Stef

Yes, Probably.

Late '94 WRX bought with 17kmiles with judder. Judder got worse ovaer the last 10kmiles and now slips.

Graham Goode are quoting £328 (inc VAT) for a 3piece 230mm kit

Ouch!

Norrie

 

Stef,

When I complained to Bell and Colvile about my clutch judder (MY98, 15,000 miles) they stated that if it was a non-wear related fault, the clutch would be replaced on warranty. The catch was, if they dismantled my engine/gearbox and IM fail to agree and claim it was a wear related fault, I'd have to pay for work carried out. Needless to say, with the reputation of IM coming up with the goods on warranty claims, I put up with it. Normally applying the handbrake, raising the revs and lightly letting out the clutch seems to 'clean' it up. Problem goes away for good thousand miles.

 

While everybody is on clutches, My WRX pedal movement is now only 1-2". Does this mean my clutch is on the way out ?
I assume it cannot be adjusted.

Any ideas ?
Or have I already answered my own question ?

 

My local dealer has informed me that a clutch is not a warrantable item, and showed me his 'bible' confirming this.
He says IM would simply say 'well done for getting 45,000 miles out of it'!!!!!!
Does this sound right?
If my car's got a 60,000 mile warranty, why should they be surprised?
Anyone else had a clutch changed under warranty?

Stef.

 

Stef

I seem to remember reading somewhere (can't think where - the brochure maybe?) that the clutch was specifically excluded from the warranty on the turbo models.

(I assume it's covered in the lesser powered cars)

I suppose that if the clutch has failed due to a manufacturing defect or similar, then you may be able to get it replaced as not being fit for purpose, but if it's just worn out, I'd say you'd be out of luck

Cheers
Alastair

 

Stef - change dealers ! - they are having a laugh at your expense....ring Monk's Heath in Cheshire - they will tell you that they replace the clutch routinely - IMHO this should have been a recall as the new part is uprated - tantamount to admitting there is a problem with the original...
stand your ground and don't accept no as an answer - no way should the clutch judder - there was definitely a dealer bulletin about this one.
Also don't accept any suggestion that the repairs should be at your expense - what nonsense - this is what the 3year warranty is for after all !

cheers,

Paul W

 

Bell & Colvill are tossers...i doubt they could put your car back together properly anyhow...go to Cheam Subaru instead

 

Don't talk to me about clutches! I agree with Paul W that the pedal is notably lighter on the replacements.

*Comment on the problem below is appreciated*

I have just gone through something similar when I had a replacement short engine fitted because of piston slap from cold problem (MY97).
The Warranty invoice includes...
"INVESTIGATED ENGINE KNOCK(HOT AND COLD CONDITION) REPLACED SHORT ENGINE DUE TO NO.4 PISTON SLAP AS PER FACTORY ADVICE
REPLACED CLUTCH ASSY AND FLYWHEEL WHILST STRIPPED[snip]"

Nice to get a free new clutch at 34,000 miles. One of the side-effects of this is I do now have a lighter clutch pedal. However, on getting the car back, I also had VERY bad judder on takeup.

It was terrible. On the old clutch I would ocassionally got a small amout about 1 in 10 times during take-up in first. The dealer said not to worry and see how it goes.

Can anyone comment on what may cause this symptom on brand-new components, seemingly never abused.

It's now been about 1200 miles and things are a lot better, but still worse than the previous one. Although I have been taking it really easy and been doing mostly motorway miles with gearchanges.

I was hoping to be a little more heavy on the clutch after the 1000 miles oil/filter change, but the day before I had the the overboost cut-out symptom appear and at the moment can't use much more than half throttle. Argh!

I guess I should post a new topic on that one

cheers,
Rob.

 

Paul W

I think the point of repairs being at owners expense was if a new clutch was required due to normal wear and tear, and <I>not</I> a defect in the part.

The warranty will only cover manufacturing defects, not expected wearing out of components - you wouldn't expect the warranty to pay for new brake pads in the normal course of things?

It seems for clutches it's a bit of a grey area - what would be considered normal wear and tear? I admit 45k miles seems a short life, but it's related to usage and it may be considered within the bounds of normal life.

(In the case of your own replacement, 15k miles is clearly too short, and the clutch was justifiably replaced as faulty.)

I suspect it's all down to whether it's juddering due to a fault - and from other posts this seems possible (then I'd expect it to be under warranty) or if it's a symptom of normal wear (then it's probably not).

Cheers
Alastair

 

Alastair - I agree to a point - but brake pads are 'consumables' to my mind and clutches are definitely not... I just get annoyed when dealers start saying things like - 'well its a high powered car and under great stresses - etc.' - if that is the case (which it is!) then Subaru should damn well fit a clutch that is up to the job ! - No, I think that if a clutch goes on a year old car then something is definitely wrong - especially if there just happens to be an 'uprated part' available (and in stock at most dealers!) then that is too much of a coincidence.

What I didn't say is that at the same 15k service I got the front disks changed free of charge as well !! - they were warped and caused vibration throught he pedal - another item that wasn't strong enough on MY 98 cars? - I do think I was lucky to get that done for nothing though ;-) - must look like an honest chap I guess.

ho hum,

Paul W

 

Well, my clutch has now started to slip as well, so I guess a new one's in order.
Don't think I can do it before Donno though.

Stef.

 

If I was to throw caution to wind and tell you that the Subaru has "designed" the clutch to slip, what would one think.

The point is no matter what clutch you have whether it be Valeo , AP etc if the clutch is not set up correctly with the diaphragm you will have the same problems.

Lets look at this from Subarus perspective , better to have a slipping clutch rather than a engaging clutch that breaks a gearbox that rates 0/10....

Food for thought... There are solutions.....

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