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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Shot Release Bearing

Hi All just after some confirmation, my clutch has been getting worse, juddering and then almost on/off action.

Today I started it up to park in the garage and no feeling to the clutch pedal, tried to engage gear and no joy just crunch. Had to turn the car off put it in gear and start thenstop to change gear.

Checked the master cylinder for fluid and plenty.

Jacked the car up and the fork is at full travel as if no pressure coming from the clutch to keep the push rod back in the slave cylinder.

I can push the rod back into the slave cylinder so the fork is in the normal position 'I think'.

Is this a case of destroyed release bearing? Do I need to replace the clutch as well?

The engine/gearbox is being replaced this christmas with a k and five speed so I just need to keep it going for a few more months as I don't really have the time for the full conversion job at the moment.

Cheers

Shaun
Shaun

Sounds like a destroyed release bearing.

If you do the bearing, you would be foolish not to do the clutch at the same time in my view - it's false economy as doing the bearing is a pain in the ar*e, never mind just doing the bearing then finding out it was the clutch that was also knackered!
Rich Amos

Shaun old mate,
I would echo Rich's comments, but to be sure which foot are you using for the clutch? :-)
Brad (Sprite IV 1380)

Do both, Shaun.

I did just the release bearing last year, because the clutch looked OK - just a hot-looking sort of scuff on the pressure plate bit that faces the release bearing (what's it called?). Now it's giving a groan when the clutch is under heavy load or being slipped taking off in 2nd for example, and I know there must be something up with the pressure plate/fingers etc.

Don't think it's going to go bang (famous last words), but it's really annoying.

What are people buying in the way of clutches? Borg & Beck has become Delphi, I've heard QH are not so good, what about LuK?
Nick

Errr..... Caterham Clutch release bearing, mated to a Caterham supplied AP clutch and Clutch cover..... and it still eats release bearings!.... oh and they are 7.25 inch diameter too!

I think we'll have to regard the release bearing as a time related consumable and change it after every other race meeting.

I think that whatever size and power output of engine, the release bearing is the weakest link!

A.
A I McGee

This thread was discussed between 01/08/2009 and 05/08/2009

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