Clutch change cost?

[Mr K]

I'm pretty sure my release bearing's squealing briefly on the first or second clutch engagement from cold. After that it's fine. The car's now done 34k miles and has't had a clutch change yet, so I'm expecting to have to get it done. I'm not 100% sure the sqeal is from the release bearing slipping on the pressure plate tangs, because although it happens during clutch engagement, it normally only occurs when making my first right turn of a journey.

I've seen several posts mentioning that a clutch change costs £1400. Anyone know where it can be done for that sort of price?

 

[safrane]

HR Owen have a fixed price change on thier web site for about that price for the 4200 but I think the QP is more.

Also Ftech in Exeter quote a similar price but that includes thier recent 10% labour discount.

I know that the spigot bearing can 'hoot' when worn...could that be the issue? If it is, it does not harm the clutch but gets more frequent over time...still a clutch out job to replace and, whilst in there, you may need a release bearing and a flywheel (new or re dressing )

 

[voicey]

The QP is more than a 4200 due to the way the cats are fastened to the manifolds - the bolts are pointing upwards so access to them is severely restricted, and of course they are rusted solid. If they designed the bolts to face the other way round you could shave a couple of hours off the job.

I strongly advise to have the flywheel, clutch, F1 sensor, magnet, release bearing, spigot bearing and fasteners all changed at the same time - the last thing you want is to be back in there a short time afterwards. I also advise to change the engine mounts whilst the bell housing and cats are off - but make sure they don't break off the subframe bolts as they'll be stuck fast!

Finally, make sure the workshop have the correct diagnostic equipment - they need to perform the DEIS calibration and the PIS auto set as well as the other usual set up parameters that come with a CC clutch change.

 

[cheshiremaserati]

Gosh! Complicated clutch change on these cars! Certainly agree on other bits to replace to avoid a 2nd trip into the clutch area.
I'm still getting used to CC, but cringe if stuck in slow moving traffic as to what it must be doing ti the clutch and changing down into 1st to reduce riding the clutch.

But when I'm back in the manual Turbo, all **** lets loose.
The noise is a whoosh of a Hoover unlike the growl of the V8 in Sport mode!

If only they made a GranSport with a superb traditional manual box!

 

[TridentTested]

I'm still getting used to CC, but cringe if stuck in slow moving traffic as to what it must be doing ti the clutch and changing down into 1st to reduce riding the clutch.

I do that too but the clutches aren't as fragile as urban myth has it. My QP is on 46,000 miles, original clutch, and still showing 60% remaining. I know the wear indication is not gospel but nevertheless it shows they can do the miles.

 

[midlifecrisis]

I think this is an urban myth about clutches. Drive like a journalist on the launch of the 4200 CC and probably did fry a few clutches on the press launch. I test drove the Mazda MX5, FIAT 124 and the Abarth version, I fried the MX5s clutch but I wouldn't say that they're weak. It was high already.
The stigma from that press launch has probably stuck and are compounded by the 2k+ cost of changing it.
How many times has someone said to you that Italian cars have dodgy electrics when they're all Bosch!

People will easily knock these cars but few will really appreciate them for what they truly are.

 

[cheshiremaserati]

Well my car had 25k miles and Richard Grace had an Autoshield Inspection done from which a new clutch was fitted and declared in the ad and I have the invoice showing this also, along with a 31k mile service. No idea how much wear there was, or if it was tangs or if it was just part of his prep given the 'urban myth' about these clutches.
But 25k seems low mileage for a clutch to be worn out? Thats why I'm driving carefully to maximise the clutch life. To me its to Maserati what bore scoring and IMS catastrophe are to Porsche 996 and 997.1 NA cars. In reality low incidence, but if it happens to you it 100% incidence and a £11k rebuild!

 

[StuartW]

On the Granturismo, I've heard them lasting for 10,000 miles and also for 50,000 miles so it depends on how the car is driven. Plus the wear percentage can be somewhat problematic, especially if there has been a clutch re-set performed at any time as the diagnostic is only measuring from a virtual marker that is put down when the clutch is repalced rather than physically measuring the thickness of the clutch plate itself.

 

[midlifecrisis]

I only changed mine because I budgeted to change it that year, it was around 89% worn and it was just before the centenary trip. So it made sense otherwise I would have used it for another 5-10k miles.

 

[Mr K]

The QP is more than a 4200 due to the way the cats are fastened to the manifolds - the bolts are pointing upwards so access to them is severely restricted, and of course they are rusted solid. If they designed the bolts to face the other way round you could shave a couple of hours off the job.

I strongly advise to have the flywheel, clutch, F1 sensor, magnet, release bearing, spigot bearing and fasteners all changed at the same time - the last thing you want is to be back in there a short time afterwards. I also advise to change the engine mounts whilst the bell housing and cats are off - but make sure they don't break off the subframe bolts as they'll be stuck fast!

Finally, make sure the workshop have the correct diagnostic equipment - they need to perform the DEIS calibration and the PIS auto set as well as the other usual set up parameters that come with a CC clutch change.

Thanks voicey. I see what you mean about those cats - I had a look at the workshop manual and can see why this could add a couple of hours to the job. Though it looks like very early cars had a European-only cat setup which would be much easier. My car is of course a later model with the US spec cats. I take it the spigot bearing is the one at the back of the bell-housing?

I'm going to have to do more investigation to figure out whether the noise is anything to do with the clutch, as it's working perfectly - smooth take-off with not a single gearchange issue since I bought the car 4k miles ago.

 

[zagatoes30]

As others have said clutches aren't as bad as some make out, wear wise the Spyder went to just over 50k before replacement and it was obvious it was on the way out before then as it started to miss shifts occasionally. The quick failure is normally due to the tangs breaking and this can happen at any mileage. I would stick to what you have until it is absolutely necessary to replace or if you are selling when it might ease the sale, buyers like to see evidence of recent clutch replacement as a confidence thing.

 

[safrane]

I have discussed Tang Collapse with a couple of members and garages... it appears to be more likely to hit the GS and may be due to the rapid gear change and therefore being harder on the clutch tangs as it slams into the flywheel?

 

[conaero]

I have discussed Tang Collapse with a couple of members and garages... it appears to be more likely to hit the GS and may be due to the rapid gear change and therefore being harder on the clutch tangs as it slams into the flywheel?

So the GS should have the uprated cover that is in the F430 then don't you think?

Another Maserati fail!

 

[FF1078]

Mines done 31,000 now measures 60% wear. Do you think I've got much left in it? I've got to go to London this month and obviously a lot of stop start traffic wont do it any favors. I'm planning on chopping it in next April and dont really want to pay £2k for a new clutch so might leave her at home.

 

[CatmanV2]

So the GS should have the uprated cover that is in the F430 then don't you think?

Another Maserati fail!

I'd have thought that the DBW would have the same impact, though.

C

 

[conaero]

To be fair mine collapsed on the first GS I had, and yes, that did have a DBW but it happens so ofter and hardly anyone runs the DBW anymore.

 

[CatmanV2]

To be fair mine collapsed on the first GS I had, and yes, that did have a DBW but it happens so ofter and hardly anyone runs the DBW anymore.

Still quite popular in the US, but don't recall many collapsed tangs over there in any event. Not that that's gospel!

C

 

[safrane]

Re wear my three CC boxed cars all worked out to 1,000 miles per 1%

The only issues I had was:
A little spigot 'hoot' when cold in my first at 72% wear...just left it.

New cluch in the GS @ 40% wear after tang fail.

 

[conaero]

Re wear my three CC boxed cars all worked out to 1,000 miles per 1%

The only issues I had was:
A little spigot 'hoot' when cold in my first at 72% wear...just left it.

New cluch in the GS @ 40% wear after tang fail.

Mine was 37% worn when the tangs went in the old GS, new GS is showing 7% wear.

 

[Ewan]

Mines done 31,000 now measures 60% wear. Do you think I've got much left in it? I've got to go to London this month and obviously a lot of stop start traffic wont do it any favors. I'm planning on chopping it in next April and dont really want to pay £2k for a new clutch so might leave her at home.

You could have 20,000 miles left in this clutch, so I wouldn't worry about a trip to London. Use it and enjoy it, as that's why you have it.