Clutch on GT5S

knobstar · 17-09-07, 11:58 AM

Aquired a lovely example ont' weekend, but the clutch concerns me - it slips almost randomly, but more often than not...sometimes in as low gear as second, sometimes not even in 5th from 2000rpm!

It's got a pretty new clucth cable by the looks of things and the previous owner says it's the third one he's fitted (the first two were done by a "garage of muppets"). It feels like he's almost adjusted it too tight given that it bites near the top of the pedal travel but I've yet to investigate. I just hope to god it don't need a new clutch! given that he's racked up over 249,000 on his '89 white coupe I'd hope for a bit more mileage yet as the odos reading 'only' 129,000.

So, am I deluded with my latter statement?
Is the clutch easy to adjust?
Is this a common problem on similarly-aged Audis?

Any input appreciated...

Matt

Stu67 · 20-09-07, 03:03 PM

Yes deluded he He !!

Bit suspect that it's on the 3rd clutch cable, but I would adjust it every which way before I put a new clutch in!. I'd check the routing of the cable as well and make sure it was pulling at right angles to the release lever as this can have an effect on operation.

When all else fails new clutch, not too sure that milage is any indication as town driving takes it out of clutches etc. If you were driving in and out of London each day I'd be surprised if you got 60k from a clutch

knobstar · 21-09-07, 11:09 AM

Ah I see!

pretty sure it's been used mostly for long distance driving but only the adjustment will tell I suppose...

It's pulling at the lever at right angles so that's good and there seems to be plenty of adjustment 'notches' above the rubber sandwich plate thing. I think it just needs slackinening off i.e more cable feeding down such that the biting point is dropped and thus the clutch will be able to fully engage. Sound like a good assessment or nay?

EniGmA · 21-09-07, 12:30 PM

when i rebuilt the engine on my old 80 sport, I adjusted the cable too tight, and that gave a very similar fault to what you describe... i would put money on the cable being too tight... but if it's causing it to slip, that will've murdered the clutch plates

knobstar · 21-09-07, 01:36 PM

Well I'll try to remain hopeful

Managed to drive it nigh-on 400 miles the weekend I picked it up and avoid slippage i.e change down to accelerate so hopefully not too damaged! Also, the car's probably done barely 100 miles since he fitted this clutch cable as It hasn't been taxed since 1994!!! He seemed like a good old geezer (69 he was) and certainly not the type to drive a car illegally fo 13 years lol

20vcqdriver · 03-12-07, 12:32 PM

On these cars it is best to ensure that the lever on the gearbox has about 5mm of play before the cable 'takes the strain'. If you cannot move the lever at all then it is indeed too tight

knobstar · 03-12-07, 02:05 PM

ended up doing that in the end fella, just having a mess with it - she now bites half way up pedal

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20-09-07, 03:03 PM	#2
Stu67 Grown up member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 117	Yes deluded he He !! Bit suspect that it's on the 3rd clutch cable, but I would adjust it every which way before I put a new clutch in!. I'd check the routing of the cable as well and make sure it was pulling at right angles to the release lever as this can have an effect on operation. When all else fails new clutch, not too sure that milage is any indication as town driving takes it out of clutches etc. If you were driving in and out of London each day I'd be surprised if you got 60k from a clutch

21-09-07, 11:09 AM	#3
knobstar Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 253	Ah I see! pretty sure it's been used mostly for long distance driving but only the adjustment will tell I suppose... It's pulling at the lever at right angles so that's good and there seems to be plenty of adjustment 'notches' above the rubber sandwich plate thing. I think it just needs slackinening off i.e more cable feeding down such that the biting point is dropped and thus the clutch will be able to fully engage. Sound like a good assessment or nay?

21-09-07, 12:30 PM	#4
EniGmA Grown up member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 30	when i rebuilt the engine on my old 80 sport, I adjusted the cable too tight, and that gave a very similar fault to what you describe... i would put money on the cable being too tight... but if it's causing it to slip, that will've murdered the clutch plates

21-09-07, 01:36 PM	#5
knobstar Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 253	Well I'll try to remain hopeful Managed to drive it nigh-on 400 miles the weekend I picked it up and avoid slippage i.e change down to accelerate so hopefully not too damaged! Also, the car's probably done barely 100 miles since he fitted this clutch cable as It hasn't been taxed since 1994!!! He seemed like a good old geezer (69 he was) and certainly not the type to drive a car illegally fo 13 years lol

03-12-07, 12:32 PM	#6
20vcqdriver 4 ring whore! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Wirral Posts: 3,910	On these cars it is best to ensure that the lever on the gearbox has about 5mm of play before the cable 'takes the strain'. If you cannot move the lever at all then it is indeed too tight

03-12-07, 02:05 PM	#7
knobstar Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 253	ended up doing that in the end fella, just having a mess with it - she now bites half way up pedal