Clutch replacement time. Also brake issue.

Hi all,

I took my car to the local garage (I know the owners, have done me good deals in the past) to have a check over on the clutch and fit my parabolics, after my last thread. Now they've fiddled with it and bled the system the clutch is even worse So I'm going to bite the bullet and just get a new clutch fitted. So my first question is what is the best clutch to be buying as a replacement for a 2.25p SWB SIII and where should I be best buying one from?

My next question, as I don't have the experience to fit it myself, I came across two fairly local garages to do it for me. One is "4x4 Repairs" on Jail Lane, Biggin Hill. The other is "Stuart Gilbert Land Rovers" in Kent. Does anyone have experience with either and if so how was the work they did?

Lastly, as I drove it away from the garage I dabbed the brakes to check they are alright after it hasn't been used in a few days and noticed a vibration juddering which I hadn't felt before, and wasn't there before the rear paras had been fitted. Its a light vibration in the pedal, no effect on braking however it just doesn't feel right. Could this be a damaged or mishapen brake drum?

Cheers for your help

Chrissy

The clutch slave cylinder has a push rod coming of it which has some adjustment. Make sure that this is correct before going the replacement clutch route.

As for the brakes. This could be a rustly spot on the brake drums as they have not been used for a little while. Remove the drums, clean them out and use a flap wheel on the braking surface of the brake drums and see if this makes any difference.

With the brakes they were working the day before the landy went to the garage and came out really bad, so I don't think it could be rust from lack of use. Any other ideas? I will give them a clean out too.

Clean and inspect first and take it from there.

Bonus! (I think!)
I took the landy to the specialist in Biggin Hill to have it checked out and see what they said and I was told that it definitely isn't the clutch. The guy I saw jumped straight in and immediately took it for a drive and came back saying he didn't think there was enough pressure in the clutch hydraulics and may just need adjusting and bleeding PROPERLY as the local garage haven't seemed to be doing anything. He also said that a bearing or ball on the gearstick was worn out which is partly why I was having difficulty changing gears? Is this fact or am I being taken for a mug? I couldn't see anything in my Haines about this but I figured one of you guys will know best! Lastly he's just going to strip the brakes down and give them a full check out!


Cheers

Chrissy

Hi ChrissyG,

When it comes to brakes, I wouldnt risk not having them properly checked. S3 Brakes being drum type are not the best and can be difficult to get bled, I did mine and although they was alright, had a local garage bleed them whilst replacing the track rod ends and they made them worse. So now I have to do them again.

Kwik Fit offer a brake service where if they change the pads or shoes in the case of the landy S3, than you will never need to buy another set for the life of the vehicle? However they could also suggest other parts need replacing, but as a large chain you know their published rates in advance. The local specialist will know better and should do a better job though!! Therefore I wouldn't expect more than a couple of hours work, 3 at the most to do the complete system, and at a rate around £60ph you'll know the likely cost. As for the clucth, than they seem to be confident its only an adjustment this shouldn't take more than half an hour. So have them do the clucth first, see if your happy and than have them do the brakes later. Afterall if you were expecting to have the clutch done and only need to pay for an adjustment, than you're quids in and can use this to fund the brakes?

Yeah not a bad plan. Either way I've got enough for the specialist to do both and they've got low labour per hour (around £40) so its not as bad as it could be! So fixing everything should be a decent amount less than getting a new clutch!