[Gary N]

For the second time in two years I've got a knackered clutch on my 9k aero.

The cars probably putting out 270ish BHP, It's had most of the Abbott goodies done to It.(ECU,Intercooler, etc..)

According to Abbotts the standard setup should be fine, but I've only got 8k out of each one.
Before you say It I'm sure It's not my driving!

So I'm going for an uprated one this time, what do you guys recommend?

P.S.
AP advertise a clutch plate, Sach a pressure plate, are they the same thing?

 

[xassh]

the clutch plate and pressure plate are two different parts. edmunds.com explains the entire assembly very clearly.

 

[mark e]

The pros and cons are as follows:

Paddle clutch:

Pros cheapest of the two. Simply replaces the existing friction plate with a cerametallic paddle type one. Can be obtained from AP dealers for around £170 + VAT, lead time 6-8 weeks. Tons of grip.

Cons action is a bit sharp, and prone to judder. Hard work in stop start traffic. Quite abrasive, lasts for around £40-50k, at which point you will also need to replace the standard pressure plate and have you flywheel re-surfaced.


Uprated pressure plate

Pros very smooth action, doesn't need a paddle friction plate so doesn't wear the flywheel.

Cons quite a bit more expensive (around £500 IIRC?). Clutch action will be a lot heavier. If you master cylinder seals are worn, it will expose this weakness.


In either case I would recommmend that you also replace the slave cylinder at the same time.

I've often wondered whether it might be possible to increase the stiffness of the springing on a stock pressure plate.

Just a thought- has the pressure plate been replaced each time, or just the friction disc?
If it's just been the disc, then your pressure plate springs may be tired. Unless you're holding it on the clutch a lot, I can't see that the friction materail will have worn away in this time, I suspect it's just glazed surfaces caused by too much slippage.

I've also found that clutch slip can be remedied by a period of "careful" driving, which will de-glaze the surfaces.

HTH

 

[Gary N]

Thanks for your help guys, the Edmunds link was v.helpful cheers xassh.

Bubbles, I had a clutch kit (just the friction disc I guess?) fitted by Abbotts in '02 and again in '03 together with a slave cylinder.

So I guess the pressure plate has been in there a while.

The car's down at the local garage in the week for It's MOT, so I'll get them to have a butchers at the clutch as well.

So until then..

 

[Mark in Ireland]

For the second time in two years I've got a knackered clutch on my 9k aero.  

The cars probably putting out 270ish BHP, It's had most of the Abbott goodies done to It.(ECU,Intercooler, etc..)

According to Abbotts the standard setup should be fine, but I've only got 8k out of each one.
Before you say It I'm sure It's not my driving!
 [/b]

I think you need to be looking for the problem of why the clutch is only lasting 8000. Sounds like the pressure plate hasn't been changed or is a cheap imitation.

 

[Gary N]

Well my local grease monkey's confirmed the clutch has had It!

I've subsequently ordered the Sachs setup from Triple Eight Performance consisting of the following:

Uprated pressure plate
Uprated Friction disc
Release bearing

That little lot comes to around £550!

Blimey I've got to pay for It all to fitted as well!

Should have the bits by the end of the week & fitted before Christmas with any luck.

Thanks again for all your input guys & to Andy Aero (I think) for the previous post on the Sachs clutch.

 

[cdcarlsson]

Sounds like the pressure plate hasn't been changed or is a cheap imitation.  [/b]

I do hope not, they've just charged me a mini fortune for a gearbox rebuild inc. clutch and said the parts were Saab OE (before the job

).

 

[Gary N]

Well I've got the clutch fitted and so far so good.

There's definetly a more positive & weighty feel to the pedal and It feels much more up to the job than the standard setup.
So hopefully I'll get more than 8K out of this one!

The Kit cosists of:

Sachs Performance Pressure plate £320
Sachs Organic clutch disc £120
Release bearing £27
(+VAT)
Got all this from from Triple Eight Performance (01295 768880) who gave v.good service.

Two Stroke's fitted the clutch along with new master & Slave cylinder's, which bought the total bill to just over a grand. Ouch!

I checked out the old clutch & It was a genuine Sach's Saab Kit, so you can rest easy now CD!

I think I'll get the old gal put on a rolling road, It'd be nice to know what she's putting out.

Any recommendations in the Herts area guys?

 

[billj]

You only paid £320 for the pressure plate?

Anyway, 2-Stroke have a very good reputation Perhaps enough for them to justify charging a bit more than other Saab specialists.

Positive and weighty, yes. A bit too heavy for normal driving? Yes. sometimes.

Rolling roads in/near the Herts area - the Emerald rolling road in Norfolk.

 

[wrighar]

the Emerald rolling road in Norfolk[/b]

The one here on the 23rd.

 

[zeke]

Gary, is the part no. on the pressure plate 3082 999 740? I spent a whole day in Hamburg, this past September, trying to buy one of those for a friend, and was told by a very reputable Saab tuner (Gasparatos - their site, www.saabtuning.de, has a beautiful movie clip of a race that can be downloaded (30Meg) that has some fantastic 900 avoidance maneuvres and great shots of the 900 blowing by 911's) that, at that time, they were no longer available. I guess Sachs changed their mind and is making them again.

 

[Gary N]

Hi Robert,

Unfortunatly I have'nt got the part number on the Invoice however, If you can contact Triple Eights via there website (www.tripleeight.co.uk).

I'm sure they'll remember my order as It was only a couple of weeks ago.