Is My Clutch Gone?

[Alienz]

Tonight I was driving the crap out of my car. All of a sudden I smell this horrible smell! Few minutes later, The car wouldn't respond to the clutch! I could shift but it was just like I was on neutral! I can't imagine the clutch would just go away all of a sudden. I never drive my car this hard. I only do drive it hard very rarely and this was the first time! The RPM didn't even reach the red zone! Some guy told me it could be the slave cylinder or something I don't know! Any ideas?

[frenchy]

Driving "hard" is not usually the problem ( We do drive our car prety hard at autoX and time trial). What is usually the problem is slipping the clutch.

I have to admit that the smell of a "slipped" clutch is kind of bad....

Toolpant has a picture of a clutch taken from a car that had to be towed in to get the clutch replaced. The friction material was down to the rivets.

Jeff, can you post that picture?

Jean

[Alienz]

It looks like it's the clutch according to the mechanic I spoke with today. He will do it for $450 if I bring the assembly. Now I need to find a good clutch. I don't want a heavy duty one, but a really light one on my foot. I think one of the reasons the clutch is gone was leaving my foot on the clutch after not completely releasing it. I noticed sometimes the weight of my foot presses the clutch maybe a quarter of an inch or so but I couldn't feel all the time and thought it wasn't a big deal.

Do you guys recommend a steel or a rubber clutch? I don't know the difference.

[JDavis]

It looks like it's the clutch according to the mechanic I spoke with today.  He will do it for $450 if I bring the assembly.  Now I need to find a good clutch.  I don't want a heavy duty one, but a really light one on my foot.  I think one of the reasons the clutch is gone was leaving my foot on the clutch after not completely releasing it.  I noticed sometimes the weight of my foot presses the clutch maybe a quarter of an inch or so but I couldn't feel all the time and thought it wasn't a big deal. 

Do you guys recommend a steel or a rubber clutch?  I don't know the difference.

With all due respect... if you have been riding the clutch you are not ready to drive a stick. The clutch should only be used for quick changes. It should not be down more than a few seconds - another mistake is to hold the clutch down and the car in gear waiting for a red/green change. Sorry - either you learn or get a tip.

[Alienz]

I've been driving stick for a long time, I just don't know how to drive "fast". Obviously that's a lesson I should learn from.

[frenchy]

You can get a clutch "kit" (friction disk, pressure plate, bearing) from Sunset who has really good price for a Porsche dealer:

http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?a...ent&code=sunset

(they can FedEx it to you)

Otherwise, you can shop on the internet and find a comparable one (p.s. Porche does not manufacture clutch, they buy it from a 3rd party like Satch)

For "performance" clutch, you might want to send a email to "thelion", he probably has the least "stock" Boxster on the board and I'm sure he can recommend one for you.

Jean