Help! Is my new clutch going on me?

Question

so i have had quite the amount of issues with my car this summer.

2 months ago, i replaced my clutch for a new one (along with a BUNCH of other things) 4000$ i spent

clutch was working fine for a while, i found it caught a little high but no worries there.

then 2 weeks ago my starter went, i had to roll start my car a few times, but finally got i fixed last night. After driving home on the highway (about 45 minutes), I went down the offramp and stopped at the light.

I noticed that my clutch was catching ALOT lower then it used to. leaving the shop it was normal, it only did it when i got off the highway (I was in stop and go traffic FORVER on the highway)

does this mean my clutch is going on me AGAIN!? or is this just the clutch finally worn in?

Answer 1

You spent 4000$ on a clutch ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

Answer 2

Looks like, please check your driving habbits, it doesn't go so soon.

Answer 3

it sounds to me like it just needs adjusted.

Answer 4

Unless the mechanism is adjusted, a new clutch will bite very low on the pedal.



If the flywheel face is anything other than perfectly flat then it's recommended to machine it to restore the surface, but it adds costs and if the surface is only a little ridged then many don't bother. But it will mean that the new clutch plate has to bed-in to the worn flywheel, as it does this the clutch pedal will start to bite higher but once bedded-in the position should stabilise but it can take a couple of hundred miles for the process to become fully stable.

If your clutch is cable-operated and the cable was replaced (always a wise precaution) then it will stretch a little as it settles in. This will also cause the symptoms you observed.

Finally, if the cable wasn't replaced it may be failing and if you have a hydraulic clutch mechanism the system may be leaking; during a clutch replacement the slave cylinder is normally removed but left connected to the flexible hose but this can put a strain on an ageing hose and cause it to fail.

In short, most likely just your new clutch settling in with initial use, but keep an eye on it for a month.