still havin' problems(long post)

yOnKiNaToR · 08-15-2002, 12:07 PM

ok...*big breath*i recently got a new spring centered clutch installed. it grabs nicely and seems to work correctly but it is still giving me a trailer hitch type of jolt. here are the symptoms i have found that could be a number of things:

first of all, it is very sensitive to rev between idle and 2000 rpm...i touch the gas as lightly as possible, and it still revs up to almost 2000 by itself. i messed with the air/fuel ratio on the AFM and that helped a bit.

also, the trailer hitch is only occuring at lower rpm (idle-3000 rpm)..as soon as i get it in the 4000 range i can let off the gas and it's smooth and doesn't hitch. but if i'm just trying to drive in town at low rpm, it's almost impossible.

last thing, the clutch does need to be bled..i bled it manually like in the haynes manual (pump the clutch, release valve, tighten valve, release clutch) but it still must have air or something b/c at the very top of the clutch travel it feels like it has pressure. as soon as i press it a little more, than it seems fine..also, it's hard to get into first gear and sometimes a slight grind in second if i'm shifting fast.

the mechanic was pretty stupid and didn't seem to listen to me much. i told him to put EVERY part i gave him into my car and he still rejected putting in the pilot bearing. he didn't tell me this until the car was all done. would a pilot bearing do this?

ok porsche gods..figure this out for me..please!

AFJuvat · 08-15-2002, 12:57 PM

Sounds like your clutch needs to be bled (I've always had good luck with vacuum) and the master cylinder needs to be adjusted.

Loosen the nut on the pushrod attached to your clutch pedal and then turn the pushrod itself to adjust clutch pedal travel.

He probably didn't put in the pilot bearing because he couldn't get it out - it is a PITA without the right puller.

AFJuvat

yOnKiNaToR · 08-15-2002, 03:02 PM

how do you vaccum bleed?

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

Could one of the clutch forks be cracked?

Does your fly wheel need resurfacing?

Did you replace the pressure plate?

Perhaps the TO bearing was not the only thing the mechanic didn't put in. Or substituted.

yOnKiNaToR · 08-15-2002, 05:41 PM

the pressure plate is new, the mechanic said the flywheel was fine, and i doubt that the fork is cracked b/c he would have seen it and told me. and i doubt the mechanic wouldn't put the TO bearing in b/c it would have been brought back with all my parts that i got back. he gave me back the new pilot bearing that he didn't put in, so if he didn't put the TO bearing in, it would be with the pilot bearing.

i adjusted the clutch a little tonight.. it's a lot tighter but not as snappy...i still have that hitch though when i lay off the gas...if i adjust the pedal to make it easier to push in, the hitch is a little less severe, but then the pedal doesn't come all the way up (b/c i believe there is air still in the system)

AFJuvat · 08-15-2002, 06:46 PM

You buy a vacuum bleader at any parts store (about $25). Attach it to the bleeder valve on the slave. pump up the vacuum, then open the bleeder valve. I wrap all of the hose connections with teflon to minimize any air leaks.

Remove the cup from the master cylinder and make sure the reservoir stays full during the bleeding process.

AFJuvat

todwic · todwic's Garage

Don't drive thru town at low RPM, as the man sez: "drive it like you stole it."

justin · justin's Garage

Hell yea!!!!! Todwic said it!!

SoCal Driver · SoCal Driver's Garage

If your mechanic did such a top notch job why didn't he bleed the clutch slave cylinder?

AFJuvat · 08-16-2002, 05:07 AM

Seeing as he didn't put in the pilot bearing (it is a pain, but it can be done with a blind hole puller), and didn't bother refacing the flywheel he probably doesn't know a whole lot about the cars - this also tells me he never removed the flywheel or verified the condition of the flywheel seal either.

AFJuvat

Moneyguy1 · 08-16-2002, 08:34 AM

There is an old mechanic's trick that sometimes works to get a pilot bearing out.

Fill the cavity with grease. Use a cut-off driveshaft end or similar close fitting piece of bar stock. Hit the end of the bar with a hammer. THe hydraulic pressure acts to force the bearing out. Doesn't always work, but worth a try.

Bob S.

yOnKiNaToR · 08-16-2002, 09:34 AM

i didn't even know you could adjust the master cylinder.

as for the clutch job..i only paid the guy 400 bucks so i guess i get what i paid for. he's worked on porsches, but not many, and nothing like my car. he told me that there was no air in the hydraulic system but i beg to differ.

as for the pilot bearing: i guess it's staying out b/c i've never taken out a clutch before or flywheel and i'm not gonna screw it up by trying to put a pilot bearing in when it may not even need it...the dealer will prolly charge me an arm and a leg just to put that in and right now i'm still dealing with that ride height problem so i dn't have the money...i doubt it's affecting to much. *knock on wood*