Clutch Judder

[marinabrid]

Evening all

1.9TDI 1998 150,000 miles, new clutch and slave fitted 5000 miles 3 years ago, started juddering in 1st and a bit in 2nd gear, roll restrictor seems fine, wonder if its oil seeping onto the clutch ? if so, i was wondering if a oil stop leak product may help ? if so would i add it to the engine or gearbox oil or both ?

thanks.

[seatkid]

Yep, I would say contamination of the pressure plate. Could be oil from the engine seal, gearbox seal (less likely I would have thought) or from the clutch slave cylinder. Why did you change the slave cylinder, that sounds the likely candidate to me. Lost any brake fluid recently?

 

I very occassionally get some judder, but the cars now done 115k after 13 years. It usually happens after the cars been used hard in very hot weather (30 deg+). It usually disappears quickly though, on the rare occasions it persisted, I just slip the clutch for a few seconds using higher revs than normal when setting off in 1st. (I usually just pull away at idle revs :) )

[marinabrid]

sorry not slave cyl, i meant the entire clutch the bearing as well, no lost fluids at alll, car is only used to go shops about half mile away, then a few winter drives out, whats your opionion adding some oil leak stopper ?

[Mirez]

Easy fix... Walk! 1/2 mile indeed you lazy sod...

 

In my experience leak stoppers seem to cause more harm then good in the long run.

[marinabrid]

cheeky monkey ! i shop for a guest house and to carry 10 loaves 10 milks and more importantly 10 cases of carling i would look like hunchback !

do you think my lack of use could have anything to do with the judder ?

[Mirez]

cheeky monkey ! i shop for a guest house and to carry 10 loaves 10 milks and more importantly 10 cases of carling i would look like hunchback !

do you think my lack of use could have anything to do with the judder ?

 

:)

 

Maybe, our last galaxy used to sit for two weeks at a time and always juddered for the first 10 miles or so - ideally you should get it fully warmed up every trip, but short trips shouldn't cause much of an issue to the mechanicals but expect the exhaust to rot out quickly as it will fill with condensation.

[sparky Paul]

I agree with Mirez, most likely source of contamination is engine oil from the crankshaft seal, if you aren't losing clutch fluid. The gearbox input shaft seal can leak, but usually doesn't contaminate the clutch. Both will leave the bottom of the bell housing wet, just wipe it off and smell it to confirm the source... if the bell housing is dry, then it's unlikely that you have a leak bad enough to cause problems.

 

The stop leak products will not work on a split or damaged seal, but will work on worn seals... but it won't last. After a few months, the leaks return, and a second application of the stuff doesn't help.