au-yt 232 1 Vehicles Report post Posted July 31 (edited) Tow things that are interesting here, I wonder if the plate was put in the wrong way around? Two having to take the rear clam off put paid to what my local dealer recons you can do the change with the clam on. Edited July 31 by au-yt Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brendonian 150 Report post Posted July 31 5 hours ago, au-yt said: Tow things that are interesting here, I wonder if the plate was put in the wrong way around? Two having to take the rear clam off put paid to what my local dealer recons you can do the change with the clam on. I have no idea if it's even possible to fit the friction plate the wrong way around, but Lotus Silverstone have done a few clutches in the past, I'd be surprised if they've made any such silly mistakes. I'd be even more surprised if it's possible to do the job without removing the clam, and given how awkward it would be to separate the engine and gearbox with the clam in place, I'd be yet more surprised if that actually saved any time! Well, the latest news is that they managed to locate a friction plate this time. However, now they're short of a pressure plate Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andydclements 487 2 Vehicles Report post Posted July 31 On 24/07/2019 at 16:59, snowrx said: What was hitting the hub springs to cause the abrasion on the remaining springs? I would think the plate hub should not be able to touch anything when properly fitted, let alone knocking springs out. It could well be the friction plate itself, with the springs rotating due to vibration the abrasion would be the plates that (should) retain the springs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
snowrx 77 Report post Posted July 31 I was not using my brain at the time I posted, of course there would be post-spring-failure damage. I was looking to hard for a failure mode for the spring exit 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ledlights 53 Report post Posted July 31 I’m sure you’ve thought of this already but if you start to depress the clutch does the sound go? If so, could it be caused by the release bearing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brendonian 150 Report post Posted July 31 3 minutes ago, Ledlights said: I’m sure you’ve thought of this already but if you start to depress the clutch does the sound go? If so, could it be caused by the release bearing? Yes, the sound mostly goes away, but that doesn’t really narrow it down much. I’ve had 4 mechanics listen to it, the consensus is it’s probably the friction plate, but we won’t know until it all comes apart again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ledlights 53 Report post Posted July 31 Okay. When I had a release bearing go, you just had to take up the slack by touching your foot on the pedal to stop it. Hope you get it sorted soon, Steve Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brendonian 150 Report post Posted July 31 3 minutes ago, Ledlights said: Okay. When I had a release bearing go, you just had to take up the slack by touching your foot on the pedal to stop it. Hope you get it sorted soon, Steve Ah, I misread your question. No, my noIse only goes away when the clutch is fully depressed. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gareth44 28 Report post Posted August 22 Sorry to jump on the thread but I'm now a member of the 'need a new clutch gang'. Mine went pop on Tuesday on my 2015 S SR after 35,000 miles. It is now in with my local indie, will be a week or so before he can start on it, no mention of parts issues, I had just assumed they had one/could get one. Thinks it's the friction plate. Interesting to see how much it will be. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brendonian 150 Report post Posted August 22 @Gareth44 good luck getting yours sorted. Mine’s now booked in for September 14th, so yours will probably be done before mine. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
122 7 Report post Posted August 22 What type of driving have you both been doing? Motorway miles, standing starts? 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brendonian 150 Report post Posted August 22 Mine’s done just short of 60k miles. Mostly enthusiastic driving on country lanes, with a couple of long road trips around Europe. I’ve always been wary of abusing the clutch, so very few aggressive standing starts. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gareth44 28 Report post Posted August 23 Thanks @Brendonian, its the only race we'll be having over the next few weeks that is for sure! @122 I only bought the car in Dec and have only done a few thousand miles. Mainly local driving with a few longer trips on the motorway. No standing starts for sure, although there has been the odd dart in 2nd and 3rd gear when the opportunity arises, same as most people with these type of cars I guess. The person I bought it from was the owner from new, FLSH and has, had many Lotuses, used it as a daily for commuting, putting about 9k miles a year on it, so I can't believe it was abused. My indie said it just seems to be the luck of draw when they were installed at the factory. Whilst I was there, there was a chap there with a V8 Esprit who had spent £8k on a gearbox and said his Diablo clutch would last 10k if he was careful, so I don't feel so bad now...…... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
122 7 Report post Posted August 23 On 22/08/2019 at 18:54, Brendonian said: I’ve always been wary of abusing the clutch, so very few aggressive standing starts. Me too. You can't tell if previous owner had the same train of thought though! 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gareth44 28 Report post Posted September 3 By way of an update from me, I'm having the 400 clutch fitted, lighter flywheel and all. The chap doing the work races them, so I trust his judgment and he says they (the 400 clutches) are more robust too. I really hope so...…... Will report back on how it all goes. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
trcm 88 1 Vehicles Report post Posted September 3 @Gareth44 who is doing your work please? Im presuming after my clutch master cylinder is eventually replaced, it won’t be long before the rest of the clutch dies and knowing a good indie in advance might help! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gareth44 28 Report post Posted September 3 @trcm I had about a month between the master cylinder (and slave cylinder for good measure) and the hydraulics being done and the clutch going, not sure if it is related. I can highly recommend Steve William Lotus in Maidenhead, it's where mine is now, came recommended to me and I've been very impressed to date. 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gareth44 28 Report post Posted September 26 By way of an update for those interested or those reading in the future with similar issues, I have had the car back a couple of weeks now, so all in all was without it for 3-4 weeks. The delay was two-fold, firstly my chap was on holiday for the first week and a bit, then sourcing a clutch was more tricky than he suspected but he found one in Holland. The 400 clutch was fitted, with the lighter flywheel and I'm pretty sure it is noticeable. I say pretty sure as for the period without it, I was driving a diesel A5 so remembering exactly what the Evora felt like was tricky. However, on a positive note I would say it does rev up and down slightly quicker, on a less positive note I'm sure there are slight vibrations through the steering at idol which weren't there before and it is definitely much harder to pull away cleanly, especially from cold! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Brendonian 150 Report post Posted September 26 I'm glad to hear your car is sorted, @Gareth44. I'm still having some slight problems with my car, but I'll be back with a more detailed report when I know what's going on. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gareth44 28 Report post Posted September 26 Sorry to hear that @Brendonian, hope it is all resolved soon. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
andyj007 379 Report post Posted September 26 1 hour ago, Gareth44 said: By way of an update for those interested or those reading in the future with similar issues, I have had the car back a couple of weeks now, so all in all was without it for 3-4 weeks. The delay was two-fold, firstly my chap was on holiday for the first week and a bit, then sourcing a clutch was more tricky than he suspected but he found one in Holland. The 400 clutch was fitted, with the lighter flywheel and I'm pretty sure it is noticeable. I say pretty sure as for the period without it, I was driving a diesel A5 so remembering exactly what the Evora felt like was tricky. However, on a positive note I would say it does rev up and down slightly quicker, on a less positive note I'm sure there are slight vibrations through the steering at idol which weren't there before and it is definitely much harder to pull away cleanly, especially from cold! so confirmation the the 400 clutch fits the s1 n/a and s1 s ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gareth44 28 Report post Posted September 26 Definitely fits the S, I think I have read it isn't suitable for the n/a but I have absolutely no technical knowledge about why that might be. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bruss 454 1 Vehicles Report post Posted September 26 15 minutes ago, Gareth44 said: Definitely fits the S, I think I have read it isn't suitable for the n/a but I have absolutely no technical knowledge about why that might be. You didn't just have the clutch replaced though. It also included a new flywheel. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Julian73 111 2 Vehicles Report post Posted September 26 2 hours ago, Gareth44 said: Definitely fits the S, I think I have read it isn't suitable for the n/a but I have absolutely no technical knowledge about why that might be. the GTN Cup cars (Evora NA's) first used the S clutch and flywheel had later w/ the 400's out moved to that clutch .. so it should all fit across the range). FYI the GT430 Pressure plate is the stiffest of the lot 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites