Clutch judder - engine out.

[NeilS3]

Well, having had clutch judder for some time now I took the plunge and removed the engine & box yesterday. My car had strange symptoms of driving fine until got hot and then would have clutch judder, but only when warm/hot ?

Could have taken her to a garage and in fact I got some reasonable quotes for the work involved however I wanted to learn about the car and improve things visually and have enjoyed doing it myself.

With the gearbox separated from the bell housing I noticed a puddle of oil bottom of bell housing..... Oil seal gone on box? The flywheel looks like a mirror with hardly any marks and no oil mist however will get it skimmed to be safe while off.

The clutch on inspection fingers straight however noticed a broken spring! So the cause of the judder then!

[GreenV8S]

Check the spigot bearing while you're at it - that clutch judder would have been putting all sorts of side loads into it.

[greymrj]

Not that common to break a clutch torque spring these days but it used to be fairly common, mind you the clutch could be pretty old. Definitely agree, change the spigot bearing, they dont cost much at all but not replacing it could make all your work a waste of time.
Double check the 6 special bolts holding the flywheel on, the judder might have loosened them. They should be held on with a threadlock compound.

While you have it apart have a look at the clutch slave rod engagement with the clutch arm, it can be an issue. There are posts on this but come back to us if it looks like a problem.

[blaze_away]

The oil could be from main bearing seal on engine so get the fly wheel off and see if there are any tell tale oil streaks running down from it.

[NeilS3]

Thanks for the comments.

I'll definitely be replacing the spigot bearing while there and with the flywheel taken off there was no traces of oil behind from the engine so thinking oil from a gearbox seal? Also there seems to be a lot of play on the gearbox main shaft which I believe there should be some play there however will be getting the box looked at for peace of mind.

Should have stated before but the actual clutch slave cylinder was loose so not sure if this has contributed to the judder or other way round? I'll check out the other threads about this....

[phillpot]

Mainshaft or first motion shaft? There will be play because the front end isn't in the spigot bearing. Mainshaft is support by the propshaft at it's backend.

[NeilS3]

First motion shaft. yes it will not be supported by the spigot bearing so will have play there but I have nothing to compare it with what's considered normal 'play' want to be sure the 'judder' hasn't damaged anything. The oil that came out when the propshaft was removed was clean oil and no concerns with the box when I was driving it, just alarm bells going when I took the bell housing off with oil inside.

[phillpot]

Does the oil in the bell housing smell like gear oil or engine oil, they smell quite different

[NeilS3]

It's gearbox oil and from here as circled. Apart from being behind a gasket and bell housing, shouldn't this be blocked off ? Pee's oil when at an angle.

[phillpot]

No, the gasket seals it.

[NeilS3]

Well yes that's what I thought, so looking like the judder has made things loose. Surprised as seemed very tight when I undone everything. Thanks for the info though, appreciated! I shall plod on with the rest of it..... Snapped manifold bolts... a jem!
Cheers.