Hi folks, I had my original SMF clutch changed on my Skoda Octy 2, 1.6 TDI a month ago at 120k miles. The replacement was a like for like new LuK 3 pc kit and I made sure to have the lever changed and clutch fluid drained and replaced at the same time by a reputable local indy garage. Prior to having the work done, pressing the clutch no longer felt smooth and I had started noticing some 'resistance' pushing down the clutch pedal. It's hard to explain however it didn't stop me from fully pressing the pedal but there were 2 or 3 spots at which I'd feel it stick. There was no audible sounds or vibration.

 

Since having the new clutch in at the beginning of November, it felt so soft to begin with and I struggled finding the biting point for the first week or so. A month and 300 or so miles later, It has firmed up quite a bit but I've noticed the 'resistance' has returned when pushing the pedal, even whilst stationary. It's not as bad as it was before but I feel the small slight niggle only in 1 spot when pushing down on the clutch pedal. I returned to the garage who have checked and concur my findings and suggest it could be the slave cylinder.

 

Before going down a wild goose chase, I'm looking to pick some brains for advice please on what the issue could be. I have attached photos of the old clutch that was removed below;

 

Grease the control loading cam that acts on the clutch pedal.

 

I hope that you didnt pay to have a perfectly serviceable clutch replaced just for the pedal feel.

Edited 13 December, 20232 yr by J.R.

The original clutch was indeed on it's way out and the pictures don't really show the full picture. The plate was flat with little to no material left in places and the difference in feel when driving the car is night and day . My concern is that the pedal felt soft and the biting point was difficult to guess after having experienced a new clutch change for the first time but what I didn't expect was for it to firm up after a week or so and the pedal offering a tiny bit of resistance when pressing in

5 hours ago, RetiredDinosaur said:

The plate was flat with little to no material left in places

 

It is supposed to be flat, the pictures bely what you are saying there is plenty of material remaining above the rivet heads.

 

The central radius band of the friction material (the unpolished section) has not even bedded in yet.

 

Have you greased the control loading cam yet?

I'm not trying to argue with you but the material surface is completely flat against the rivet holes which is why I said the pictures don't do it much justice. You might see imprint of the material but there is no material left.

 

Sorry to sound dumb but what is a control loading cam?

Edited 30 December, 20232 yr by RetiredDinosaur

22 minutes ago, RetiredDinosaur said:

You might see imprint of the material but there is no material left.

 

There absolutely is, you are perhaps confusing yourself with where the grooves are no longer visible, once they have gone over the whole width of the friction material the plate is properly bedded in and capable of transmitting the maximum torque, the wear limit is when the friction material wears down close to flush with the rivet heads, going beyond that would score the pressure plate which would be replaced anyway but also possibly the flywheel which is to be avoided.

 

In any case if you pay someone to remove the gearbox you might as well replace the clutch unless you know it is very young or can inspect it yourself.

 

The control loading is a cam ended plunger and spring forming part of the clutch pedal assembly, its neutral position os mid stroke, either side of that it will either assist the pedal downwards or upwards, it is that which holds the pedal against the floor when there is air in the system.