[alchemysa]

As mentioned elsewhere I'm fixing up an '83 1 litre ute for my daughters little farm. Its a bit of a bomb but I'm getting there. I've had the 4 spd gearbox out to fix the release bearing and reverse lever. While it was out I removed and checked the clutch. It looked OK (no oil on it) but is obviously pretty worn and has less than a mm remaining above the rivets. The box is now back in the car and feels OK except for clunky clutch grab or release. (Not always but often enough)

If this was a road car the clutch would obviously need replacing but this ute will be lucky to do 50 kms a year from now on. I don't think this clutch will wear out anytime soon, but the clutch grab is annoying. Will replacing the clutch fix this? Is clunky changing more due to a worn plate or to a weak clutch cover (or somethig else) . Its a big expense to replace both if its not going to make much difference to the gear changing.

So, I guess I'm asking your experience of the benefits of changing the clutch in an older Sierra. Did it actually make much difference? Or are they just clunky anyway? (Its certainly clunkier than my '87 5 speed). I guess another option would be to try and pick up a cheap secondhand clutch plate and cover. It couldn't be any worse than this one.

Thanks for any advice.

[Scrawny]

I'd be replacing the cable before the clutch itself. Worn cables cause all sorts of funny issues and they're relatively cheap and easy to replace.

[alchemysa]

Scrawn wrote:

I'd be replacing the cable before the clutch itself. Worn cables cause all sorts of funny issues and they're relatively cheap and easy to replace.

Thanks for tip about the cable. I didn't replace it but I took it out, oiled it, and straightened out a few kinks. I also fixed the mounting point where it goes through the firewall. I didn't realise the mount and the cable were meant to be 'as one' at that point. The bottom of the mount was broken and the cable was loose. A small clamp around the mount seems to be doing the job. Its quite a bit better now but still the clutch is clunking if I apply or release too quickly. Probably only a new clutch will fix that.

[fordem]

A clunk if you apply or release quickly is either going to be slop in the drive line or the clutch disk - there are usually three or four coil springs mounted sideways in the clutch disk assembly - those cushion the engagement, if you can twist them with your fingers, they are at end of life.