Clutch go boom boom

[EvilTwin]

Finally my clutch has removed any doubt as to its serviceability. The pedal bite was at the very top of the pedal, so much so that gentle pressure from resting your foot on the pedal caused it to start slipping.

I did a few tests, never got any slippage, so just assumed it was a 'normal' 406 clutch thing. In fact since buying at the end of August, I've been assuming Its been a 'normal' 406 thing, French engineering and all that kind of thing.

But after about a month and a half, the clutch has removed all doubt, sat waiting to get in the local tip, I puts my foot on the clutch, and some vibrations came through the pedal, but no engagement of gears. Starting in gear, and double de-clutching all the way home, I got my car back. Accompanied by strange new selections of weird noises and vibrations.

On inspecting under the bonnet, the release lever that pokes out of the bell housing that the slave cylinder pushes, can be pushed by hand. Theres the feint yet unmistakeable whiff of clutch. So now the cars off the road, driveable enough to get to a garage for repair, but going nowhere for the moment.

I've had quotes ranging between under £500 job done, to £685 + VAT.

So how much should a clutch cost to change?

[mjb]

I've had quotes ranging between under £500 job done, to £685 + VAT.

So how much should a clutch cost to change?

See my clutch change howto, and think about how long it'd take... To put it in context, the other day I split my suspension, dropped the subframe and removed one of the driveshafts, then put it back together. I'm very familiar with the process on my car following the recent clutch change, and all the nuts+bolts came off easily. It took about 5 hours. Could probably do the same in 4 on a non-V6. That'd be £200 in labour at £50/hr before the gearbox has even come off, then there's £200-250 in parts, probably £150 if they're skimping on stuff that should be replaced...

Clutch changes ain't cheap on these things

[EvilTwin]

Wasn't really trying to complain, just get a rule of thumb for how much it would normally cost.

costs are for the just under £500 job were:

£320 + VAT for 8 hours labor
£85 + VAT for a 3in1 clutch kit at what he claimed was the best price he could get it for

He's the guy I go to for my MOT's, and I've had the odd car off him in the past

I've never put a car into a garage and paid for major work like this to be done before, (always do my own maintenance / servicing, so things never brake usually! plus I know its done properly) so this is a first for me. I haven't got the proper kit to drop the gearbox etc where I live, and I need to get the car on the road as soon as possible.

[mjb]

I'd have a word with him about renewing the gearbox/diff seals, especially the sleeve seal which the clutch release bearing slides along. I'd also strongly recommend getting a new bottom engine mount fitted while the driveshaft's out.

[EvilTwin]

Good point, I need to get at least the input/output shaft seals changed, plus the mount if the costs aren't too crazy....

[Captain Jack]

I'd go for the solid flywheel conversion as well, while you're at it (unless your HDI is the 90bhp version, which already has the solid flywheel)

[EvilTwin]

It is a 90 Hdi, so no need for flywheel. The garage blokey will do the input/output oil seals as a part of the job.

However I'll leave the bottom engine mount, as I've no problems with a rocking engine, and pulling the drive shafts out isn't really a show stopper for me.

[mjb]

However I'll leave the bottom engine mount, as I've no problems with a rocking engine, and pulling the drive shafts out isn't really a show stopper for me.

For the sake of £10 or so, I really would get it changed, if only for peace of mind... Trust me on this I can't recommend it enough - I wasted 5 hours replacing mine, not including the 2 it took me to figure out how to press the new one into the bracket and fabricate a "tool" to do it I REALLY wish I'd changed it when I did my clutch. If I had a vice it would have only added about 5 minutes to the clutch change