Sprinter Clutch Judder

[Bill312D]

In the last few weeks my Sprinter 312D (98) has stared to judder a little when i lift up the clutch when cold, and jolt in the same instance when warmed up I am guessing this means te clutch is on the way out? If not what is it likely to be? If so how much is that likely to cost me, part and labour?
Ihave read somewhere els eonhere that onthe 312's and th elike the gearbox detaches easily so its easy to do. Is there much truth in this? As I am willing to try as i'm thinking it'll cost me a good £500 or more for someone else to do it.

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

As gearboxs removels go the sprinter is one of the easiest there is, so much room around it to get to everything, however its very heavy so a few bods will be required to help lift. give it a go if you have got the tools and space, and the man power.

 

[Bill312D]

What does very easy mean in terms of messing with transmissions, I ahve never messedaround with that sort of thing before, i have an idea it migth be pretty 'involved' as the mechanics like to say. i imaginethe gearbox come soff and the cltuch is pretty much right there with a flywheel and stuff somewhere, without thinking about it too much. could you give me a little idea of whats involved. i have most normal tools, are any specialst ones needed?

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

well all that holds the gearbox in place is the bell housing bolts which hold it to the engine about ten approx, 2 of these go though the starter aswell so disconect the battery. then there is a support cross member at the back of the box which drops down very easily. Then the prop coupling bolts and the shift control cables and the hydrolic line for the slave cylinder. thats about if i think.

get under and have a good look, if you fancy it give it a go, you have got us lot as back up.

as for tools most of the bolts are quite large female torx bolts, and a clutch alignment tool.

 

[Ellsy Tanners]

Change the slave cylinder aswell which to be honest sounds like ur problem anyway, which can only be done with the box removed

 

[Bill312D]

right, will take alook,when its not rianing, how much will a clutch alignment tool set me back?

 

[wireman]

Just try bleeding the clutch before you get into the big job it may just cure it.

 

[dava]

Just to add a bit before you dive in, it's more likely the flywheel. We change clutches about 5/8 per week and always do the fly wheel if it's juddering, it's a MB reconised fault and MB have modified them, although they still do the same, about £500 for the whole lot including clutch. MB qoute 3.5 hrs but we do them in an hour, just through experience though, ramps, whindy guns etc. You need a set of female torx, as all the bolts are this and BE CAREFULL with the fly wheel bolts as they snap as do the clucth cover bolts dont over tighten them. If you do the slave cylinder, bleed it from the o/s/f brake caliper, back over, otherwise you'll never get a pedal.

 

[Bill312D]

flywheel and clutch for £500, just the parts i am guessing? and I have no idea about bleeding the clutch, are you saying it is connected to the brakes in some way? or there is a nipple/res near that brake?
How long do you reckon it would take someone with just a manual and you guys to change the clutch and flywheel? Is there any way of telling which it is without just changing them and trying it?

 

[Bill312D]

bump- afew more answers would be helpful guys, or more elaborated answers

 

[mister_cee333]

Re - time to change clutch...

About a (short?) day if you're doing it without ramps etc. You need to get the van high enough to allow the gearbox to clear the underside. You'll also need some help to lift the box in and out of place. Remember if the clutch isn't exactly centred it will be a swine to refit.

 

[dava]

Sorry but I got the parts prices wrong, thought I would check them.

Clutch kit £180
Flywheel £400
Slave cyl £130
8 clutch bolts and 6 flywheel bolts £60
All +vat.

If you can save the bolts all well and good, they are prone to snapping if over tightened so give it a go and save £60.
You can line the clutch up by eye just get a straight look at it and move it with a screw drive before you nip it up or get your self a tool to do it, it does not need to be spot on as once you get it entered a quick wiggle will square it up. To bleed the clutch they come dry so there is no fluid in and unless you can get some in it wont bleed. So and this applies to loads of other vehilces, run a bleed pipe from a front brake caliper loosen the brake caliper nipple and the clutch slave cylinder and press the brake. This pumps brake fluid from the resvoir backwards into the cylinder and gives you a clutch pedal. Wont work any other way, even with a pressure bleeder.

If time is not important, take the gearbox out etc and see what you need, you may not need a slave cylinder nor the bolts, but I feel you'll not get away with the flywheel, take it out and see, if the springs in the clutch centre plate are lose or rattling about then you might get away with it. When the clutch is out grap the flywheel and move it back and forward, it will have some play but not excessive play.

Hope it helps.

 

[Bill312D]

Thanks alot, I ranf merc today and they reckon the flywheel will be ok as it sonly juddering when using the clutch and not ever when just driving, and a local garage have quoted me £300 for clutch all in so with all this rain i may just let them do it and save myself the stress. Although i would liek to do it I don;t really have a place I canleave the vehicle immobilied for more than a day (shared driveway) apart formw ork which si itnhe middle of some woods.

 

[dava]

Hm, I hope there are right. Make sure the garage fit a kosher clutch kit, idealy a MB one if not some thing you've herd of, not reconditioned and not just a plate.

 

[Bill312D]

well for £300 i thoguht that worked out to be a MB clutch kit and a few hours labour? How **** do they come then?

 

[Cnics]

Very ****, very **** indeed.

It's certainly not to say that there aren't other makes of kit that aren't on par with the merc ones, but there are certainly some cheap nasty ones out of there.

Not my sprinter, not even a merc, but some years ago after i'd first learnt to drive i had a car with a very high clutch pedal, it didn't slip but the pedal was high and it sometimes juddered, off it went to be replaced and (i didn't get a cheap nasty/decent option) back it came with a new clutch. I should have guessed it was not exactly a top brand at £100+vat fitted, but i at least expected i to get me home. It didn't, 3 miles down the road it was knackered, the old one didn't slip, the new one did. So back it went and they replaced it with a better one (FOC) they said that it was fitted correctly, just was no good.

Now imagine if that had been my brakes, or my tyres. Another reason to spend a bit more and not have to spend it twice.


Rob

 

[Bill312D]

brutal!! had a word with a commercial mechanic/fitter guy i know and he is sortin me with an MB clutch fitted for £200, happy days!! haha

 

[Bill312D]

Right it sin pieces and the clutch isin good condition, not worn out, and i guess he'd be able to see if the flywheel had any problems, apparently a bit he doesn't know the name of was loose too, but if it isn't this unidentified loose bit thats caused the problem what do you guys reckon it could be?

 

[dava]

Still say it's the flywheel.

 

[Bill312D]

right just got back a while ago, and it sorted, judder is gone, runs smooth as you like. even if the flywheel does go at some point i'm not fussed as with this newly discovered connction it'll cost me nothing anyway