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SMF Con release bearings

767 views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  addo 
#1 ·
Hi All
About 2 years ago now I converted my GT JTD to the single mass flywheel courtesy of a GTA clutch I had in the garage and an Autolusso solid flywheel. The car has driven great ever since and overall I'm very happy with it. after about Eighteen months however the clutch pedal went to the floor, there was nothing wrong with the hydraulics so the gearbox had to come off and what I found was that one of the "ears" had broken off the release bearing. A whole new clutch was put in "just for good measure" and the car back on the road feeling great again.
Sadly 6 months later and the same thing again. This time I'm only replacing the bearing as the clutch is virtually as new but it still looks like the clutch fork is tearing the ears off the release bearing.
When I originally changed the flywheel, I changed the slave cylinder to a GTA spec one as well to match. I'm sure I read somewhere that when Autolusso do SMF conversions they also change the slave cylinder but maybe not to the GTA one, if anyone knows another reason this could be happening (other than the wrong slave cylinder) I'd be grateful for your input. if you've experienced this and cured it please let me know how. Thanks
 
#3 · (Edited)
A reasonable suggestion thanks; and by coincidence I did have one in the garage so I've put it on in the spirit of try anything once. I have to say though ( this is without getting the micrometer out ) with the pair side to side, visually I could see no difference what so ever and according to Eper they are the same part number

I still lean towards the opinion that the only thing that will alter the extremes and range of release bearing travel would be altering the length of the slave cylinder shaft or changing the slave/master cylinder combination, and that's if it is the cause. I've never heard of anyone having this problem before and there must have been a good few conversions done by now.
 
#4 ·
As you'll see in the "Who's running a single mass flywheel" or something similar, thread; Autolusso have told me they believe there's a rogue batch of GTA clutches out there and that a few have come apart in recent times. though I have to admit I thought I'd have seen something on here if it was happening in any great numbers.
 
#5 ·
It's because Valeo can't make a clutch to save their life. I have had so much grief from Valeo clutches that you would not believe.

2 in a row on my Giulietta that started to groan loudly when engaged which caused me to get rid of the car.

The first on my V6 GT sheared the tab off the release bearing after it had clocked only 20'000 miles. The 2nd the release bearing wouldn't stay engaged onto the spring plate and only lasted 70 miles.

Seriously fed up with them but with Alfa's there are no alternatives.
 
#6 ·
I've got a Valeo clutch that's over 200000km (in a Citroën), a usable spare one out a 2.0TS with 145000km on it, threw out a Selespeed clutch with 85000km on it (fingers worn razor thin at the release bearing contact point). I think all manufacturers drop the ball at times, and the possibility of a rogue batch of GTA clutches seems quite plausible.
 
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