Clutch slip when warm

[Loafers92]

My mk2.5 has an exedy organic clutch fitted by the previous owner roughly 20 k miles ago, and recently I noticed the clutch slipping under load in 5th and 6th gears, at 2500/3000 rpm.

I’ve since flushed the old brake and clutch fluid with rbf600 and the problem is still there.

Except when the car is cold.

I put it in those 2 gears and put it under load and no slip *at all*, even going up hill. Car drives fine, no slipping in other gears. I’ve always babied the clutch (slowly let it out from stopped, make sure to fully let off clutch when shifting gears even when driving fast, rev match properly every time, use brakes when arriving at stop light instead of shifting down) so I’m having a hard time believing it’s a worn clutch, especially given the mileage it has?

Had a look under the car and found some oil on the clutch master cylinder- I should also add that the clutch pedal, when the car is cold, seems to pick up slightly lower than when it’s warm. Have had a look around the internet and some people that had the same symptoms say it could be the clutch master cylinder?

And before changing the clutch/brake fluid it was running quite low and dark, if it helps- hoping it’s just the master cylinder and not in need of a clutch as the car seems fine when pushing on.

[VladD]

I'm not an expert, but surely pushing on the clutch pedal disengages the clutch, so a faulty master cylinder would hamper the clutch disengaging rather than it causing problems with engagement?

To me it sounds as if the clutch is worn. I'd suggest it has grip when it's cold, but with use the surface warms and then starts to slip. The more it slips, the warmer it gets, and round we go.

[Loafers92]

I thought the same too, but as I kept on driving it, it simply stopped doing it.

The clutch started slipping just before changing and rebleeding the brakes (reservoir level was quite low). When I noticed it started slipping, I got the car on a lift and saw that the slave cylinder was leaking. I kept on driving it gingerly for a month or two and...its stopped slipping. While before it would start slipping 10 minutes after starting the car, now I could drive at full attack for 30 min on small roads and it simply wouldn't slip (tested it in 5th, 6th gears at 2500 rpms on and full throttle, flat roads and inclines). At the same time I noticed the clutch stopped slipping, I saw that the brake fluid level is going down at an alarming rate, and found the right rear caliper seal is leaking.

And then the other day it needed an oil change, so at the same time I topped up the brake fluid reservoir (while the brake seal kit doesn't arrive) and now the clutch is slipping again. It didn't do it right after I added the fluid, but rather some 120 miles later.


At this point I just want to find out what's the actual problem, as it's weird that a clutch will slip and then stop slipping some many miles later.

Could it be a clutch adjustment issue? system needing to be rebled? Slave cylinder that's on its way out and simply doesn't have full movement?

If it's a new clutch that's needed, what clutch should I get? Not looking for anything fancy (It has an Exedy Stage 1 organic installed by the previous owner and done just under 30 k miles) and could it work with the current lightweight flywheel I have installed?

[izzybella]

Hi Having Exedy Stage 1 organic clutch fitted tells me the last owner drove the car hard very hard (this is the reason they are used) as these clutches produce a lot of heat, and therefore they wear out quickly they usually wear the flywheel as well so it will need a flywheel and a three piece clutch

[tonymor]

My son and i both have n a cars.
Son did a track day in his in march and experienced clutch slip at The end of a heavy session. On normal driving it seems ok so seemingly it was down to getting very hot over a four hour off/on track ?