Mister_DJ

Over the last few weeks my bugeye WRX has started to get clutch judder when starting off from cold. I've seen a few posts on here before about this and wondered how common it is?

Please could someone explain in layman terms what causes it and does this mean that my clutch is on the way out?

Thanks, DJ.

robby

mine judders low down the rev range and vibrates when on the move?

SamUK

iTrader: (1)

Mine too...think i may have something to do with the clutch plate..??

Gaz P

And mine, but only when cold

scoobyverysoon

iTrader: (1)

yep i think all scoobs suffer with it - i think you can get your flyweel replaced and this is supposed to help but dont quote me on that

regards

Jud

Mister_DJ

Thanks for the comments guys.

Can anyone else offer a reason why they do it?

DJ.

robby

would a dealer replace the clutch/ flywheel if the cars out of warranty (mines 2001) if it's a recognised problem?

Diesel

btt - mine did it yesterday when cold; felt very agricultural! What is it?

Mines 5yrs old and has done 30k - could be a worn clutch friction plate quite easily...

Have your bugeyes got much milage/hard use

Mister_DJ

Not really, It's done 25k miles in 3yrs and never been near a track / sprint.

I haven't spoken to a dealer about out of warranty replacement yet - I wanted to understand the problem a bit better first.

Thanks for comments, DJ.

RLE

iTrader: (2)

Extremely common. A lot were replaced under warranty if excessively bad.

I recently upgraded my clutch to an AP Organic and thankfully the judder is a thing of the past plus the car drives exactly the same.

Miniman

iTrader: (2)

From what I remember the friction plate material picked up loads of crap and then developed hot and cold spots (should be a uniform temperature). This caused judder.

My MY02 did it from about 10k miles and only for the first few miles and only during Winter (suggesting it was temp related).

I had it replaced under warranty at 30k, but don't leave it too long as about 30k ish you are looking at them rejecting the claim as normal wear and tear.

Mister_DJ

Thanks again everyone. Guess I need to talk to a dealer first and find out what the score is about replacement.

DJ.

JIM THEO

If you drive your car reverse for long distance helps a lot to reduce the juddering.
JIM

robby

If you drive your car reverse for long distance helps a lot to reduce the juddering.

great, i can drive in reverse to work (10 miles) :-)

seriously - is this a short term solution or does it help for a while?

Pimp Boy

Yea ive got a black 94 wrx with a few mods on it & exactly the same problem i had the damn thing replaced with a standard one about a year ago & after about 4 months the judder was back, it judders a bit in first & changing down gears from 4th or 5th at high speed like a *******, got my eye on an AP Racing, with lightweigh flywheel, lightweight engine pullys & (bgm, i think) quickshift, that should sort the problem! I had the standard replaced for about £350 but the uprated clutch will set me back just over a grand but at this point in time id pay double to fix that little bugger for good, oh & the AP is probably good for 400bhp+, sweet!

Miniman

iTrader: (2)

Why would driving reverse help clutch judder? Surely at that point the clutch/flywheel assembly rotate in the same direction as the engine regardless of whether you are going forward or reverse? It's the gearbox that decides your direction not the clutch?

Mister_DJ

I'm going to try & get an explanation for it from a dealer tomorrow - I'll post the reply.

DJ.

drjsd

Got an 01 WRX bought in Feb and the clutch is juddering. (23.000 miles, I'm the second owner) Spoke to the dealer I bought it from who said they would replace it under warrenty. He spoke to HQ and phoned me back the same day. Booked in to be done next week.

Simpson's in Highworth. Can't fault them so far. Also lost the wheel arch plastic(?) and they replaced it without any labour charge. Now that's what I call customer service!

Soapy Sam

I've had 2 scoobs over 6 years and they both have juddered, even after replacement, although not at first, the judder developing slowly after 6-9 months.

I'm convinced (but without any real knowledge or proof to back it up...) that:

• The friction material leaves a deposit on the flywheel that is "sticky", or the surface of the friction plate becomes sticky
• This leads to judder, when the friction plate grabs the flywheel for a moment and springs off before something breaks, grabs again etc..
• Over time - most scoob owners live with it - this leads to uneven wear on the flywheel and, once you have that, it will judder for ever, even if you replace the friction plate etc. The only answer is a replacement or skimmed flywheel.

I had the standard clutch replaced on my MY99 with a Helix (+ skimmed flywheel) and this was perfect for 8 or 9 months, smooth as silk. But then the judder started to come back.

Working on the "sticky deposit theory", I reckoned that the advice to "give it a racing start every now and again" is sound. What you must not do is live with the judder and get a flywheel with high/low spots. I find that a single spirited start once every 2 months completely clears any judder. If the theory is right, the stickyness is burnt off, leaving a smooth action. Doing this will not make any difference if your flywheel is already worn unevenly though.

Anyone else think the same? Like I said, I'm no Greasemonkey but judder only happens to me one morning every 2 months and then it's gone.....

babber

"They all do that sir!!!" Heard that a few time

Had 2 scoobies over 4 years. First was a MY00 that juddered so bad I dropped the car off at the dealers and told them I didn't want it back until it was resolved. Luckily enough it was a company car, so had a pool car for the duration after they offered me a Rover After 2 weeks they said they hadn't experienced it, so couldn't do anything. The car almost shook itself to bits

I phoned up IM and got really stroppy, they autherised the replacement for a P1 clutch and flywheel. A few months later it return I found a 6k rpm pull away would make it a little better for a short while.

Now driving a RB5 WR and touch wood (for the past 2 1/2 years) no judder to speak of. Now and again, you get a minor one, but doesn't happen enough to pi55 me off.

Phone them up and they resolve it

Phill

ScoobyDoobyDom

Totally agree. My MY00 Turbo and MY01 WRX both do it!

A good hard "Santa Pod" pull-away every 4-6 weeks or so sorts it out. Give the clutch a bit of slip as you do this just to let it burn off the hi-spots.

You will notice a difference.

Hot Chicken

I had the same on my 94 WRX, and I had the clutch changed, and the bearing was found to be broken up. Since then it has been ok.