[MikeyB]

So when I approach an experienced garage and tell them the use of my car is:

1) My daily driver
2) I intend to take it on the track 2 or 3 times a year
3) I intend to take it down a drag strip once or twice a year

They really shouldn't of sold me a more expensive paddle clutch?

[MikeyB]

What I'm trying to find out is whether I should of been sold this clutch in the first place, what's your thoughts and comments on this?

Cheers, MikeyB

The Gaffer

Hi,
every one is entitled to their opinion as to a paddle clutch being ok for road use or not, the 22b had one as standard. By their very nature they are fierce, but lets not forget with most upgrades there is a penalty to pay, i.e. more noise, vibration, hashness ease of use etc.

We have quite a number of paddle clutchs, both single and twin plate, in daily use, at weekends these mild mannered road cars turn into drag and track cars, the clutch giving the owner/driver best of both worlds.

To bring this thread up to date the clutch was fitted over 7 months ago, its an exedy single plate with its own flywheel supplied as a kit, suitable for fast road and race applications, as per the customers request. Its not been a problem untill a new straight cut gearbox was fitted, the guys at API even checked the clutch before re fitting it and gave it a good bill of health, then this thread started....... in an earlier post "Mikey B" admits to changing gear just to hear the whine of the box, also posts about his launches and how good they are, strange that a completely un-suitable clutch has done various track days, launches and daily use with no problems for over 6 months, then suddenly after a straight cut box is fitted, its not only buggered in a couple of weeks but it is now inferred above that it was not suitable for the job. !!!

Nothing to do with driver error and missuse then?!!!!

After seeing the posted photos of the exedy clutch, I would like to see the organic clutch now fited after a similar ammount of use / abuse, assuming it lasts that long.

Cheers
Kev

[MikeyB]

This isn't true. As I have no experience with paddle clutches, I thought the judder was normal. And to define judder, I mean violent shaking of the car when you don't get the clutch just right. I have since been advised by various experienced mechanics, this should of never been fitted to the car with the purpose mainly being on daily driving.


This wasn't my request, the clutch was installed upon advice taken from Kev already knowing the use of the car.

Firstly, the car has done about 6 launches, 4 in the wet, 2 in the dry.

Yes I changed down from 5th to 3rd but this was at 60mph, any clutch is capable of that.

And let's get one thing straight, the car HAS NOT been on any track or drag strip since the engine rebuild.

What are you suggesting by this statement?

Forgot to mention, I telephoned Kev to try and get a resolution to the clutch problem before I took it to HDC, I phoned Scooby Clinic, the receptionist answered (not Adam), I told him who I was and he immediately put me through to Kev (which I thought was strange), I explained I'm having problems with the clutch and I'd like him to book my car in and have a look, he immediately answered in a very defensive manor "it's a wear and tear item, you've been launching the car, dragging and track daying the car, what do you expect!", I was shocked, stunned, disappointed, then angry. I put the phone down, and decided to put my thoughts in writing. I sent this email....

************************

Hi Kevin, firstly I think your level of customer service is appalling.

I rang to see if you could help with the problem I’m having with the clutch that you supplied and fitted with the engine rebuild. And firstly, just to make things clear, the car has NOT been on any single track days or drag strip since I bought the car, never mind since the rebuild.

Yes, the car has been launched 3 or 4 times, but when I bought the clutch you said it was more than capable of doing this, that’s why I bought this model instead of the organic ones you can supply. And I’ve also been told it’s overkill anyway for my car and I was up-sold!!

I wasn’t calling to get a ‘FREE’ job from you don’t worry, I was actually calling to get the car booked in and checked out, and if so, get the clutch replaced. I totally understand they are a wear and tear item and I just wanted some advice.

Thanks to your very defensive customer service skills you have now lost a customer, and I will in no way be recommending you either on the forum or to anyone who asks.

I will be contacting Exedy myself to get there advice with the problem as you were reluctant to help.


Thanks
Michael

****************************************

Kev's reply:

Hi,
your call.
Cheers
Kev

Excellent customer service mate!

Bottom line is, the clutch might be a wear and tear item, yes it maybe me that's fooked the clutch with daily driving, but also, maybe it wasn't fitted correctly in the first place, explaining the violent judder from day one.

I wanted customer service, advice and a resolution from Scooby Clinic which I didn't get. Hence my work/service and upgrades has now gone to David @ API and Howard at HDC who both give excellent customer service, quality of work, quotes for work and completion dates.

[MikeyB]

Just to update you all, this is the conversation I've had with Excedy, who are also not very helpful.

In reverse order as an email would read..
***********************
Hi Michael,

Your contract is with Scooby Clinic not EXEDY further more; Scooby Clinic isn’t a customer of EXEDY CLUTCH EUROPE LTD.

Sorry, but we can be of no further assistance.

Kind regards

Steve Rogers



________________________________________
From: Taka Yamada [mailto:t.yamada@exedy.co.uk]
Sent: 20 April 2007 12:20
To: Steve Rogers
Subject: FW: Problems with a clutch


________________________________________
From: Michael [mailto:]
Sent: 20 April 2007 11:29
To: t.yamada@exedy.co.uk
Subject: FW: Problems with a clutch
Hi Taka, I’ve had no reply from Steve, please can you chase this up as this is a serious issue I would like resolving in the near future.

Many Thanks
Michael

From: Michael [mailto:mike@eclipselegal.co.uk]
Sent: 19 April 2007 14:47
To: 'Steve Rogers'
Subject: RE: Problems with a clutch

Hi Steve, can you confirm you have received my last email which included an email from Scooby Clinic?

Thanks
Michael

From: Steve Rogers [mailto:s.rogers@exedy.co.uk]
Sent: 19 April 2007 10:46
To: 'Michael'
Cc: t.yamada@exedy.co.uk
Subject: RE: Problems with a clutch

Hi Michael,

Please contact Scooby Clinic.

Kind regards

Steve



________________________________________
From: Michael [mailto:mike@eclipselegal.co.uk]
Sent: 19 April 2007 10:43
To: 'Steve Rogers'
Subject: RE: Problems with a clutch

Hi Steve, thanks for your prompt reply.

I bought it from Scooby Clinic (Scooby Clinic | The UK's Largest Independent Subaru Specialists | 01246 590 807 - Chesterfield S42 6QX) which got fitted at the time of a full engine rebuild to cope with the extra power.

Thanks
Michael

From: Steve Rogers [mailto:s.rogers@exedy.co.uk]
Sent: 19 April 2007 10:38
To: mike@eclipselegal.co.uk
Cc: t.yamada@exedy.co.uk
Subject: RE: Problems with a clutch

Dear Michael,

Which official UK EXDY dealer supplied the Hyper - single for your Subaru.

Kind regards

Steve
________________________________________
From: Taka Yamada [mailto:t.yamada@exedy.co.uk]
Sent: 19 April 2007 10:22
To: Steve Rogers
Subject: FW: Problems with a clutch



________________________________________
From: Michael [mailto:]
Sent: 19 April 2007 10:16
To: t.yamada@exedy.co.uk
Subject: Problems with a clutch
Good Morning, I’ve had an Excedy Hyper clutch installed on my Subaru Impreza (2003) for roughly 4000 miles and this is the outcome.

https://www.scoobynet.com/drivetrain...tch-issue.html

As you can see from the pictures, the clutch is not in a good way at all, the car was un-drivable. My car is only running 300ftlbs of torque which is far below the power rating of the clutch.

I’ve spent over £850 for this clutch and that doesn’t include labour, plus the cost of the new clutch.

The car has only been launched 6 times since the clutch has been in, (4,500 rpm, drop the clutch) and has never been on a track or drag strip and has been used as my daily drive.

Now I’m pretty sure this clutch should last a lot more than 4,000 miles?

I’d like to send the clutch back to you for examination, and after examination we can take this serious matter further.

I appreciate your time.

Thanks
Michael

silent running

Not getting into the above row, but my experience of a (Helix) paddle clutch is that it is a necessary compromise for a road car that is also taken quarter miling. A pain in the **** on the road, but you soon get used to just leaving it in neutral and doing stop-start rather than riding the clutch in traffic. It comes into its own when doing standing starts - my old Helix paddle clutch that I had on my 240bhp Clio was unbreakable. Previous to that I had had 'fast road', 'motorsport', 'competition', 'uprated' clutches that were all bollocks whether organic, kevlar, whatever. Only a cerametallic paddle clutch could stand quarter miling and track use without burning out. It would give a little judder if you engaged it not quite right, but it was something you could drive through, and was only at low speed. That's my experience anyway.

911

The AP will be superb if it is like mine, but I'm careful...
Graham.

[MikeyB]

Just to update this thread, the AP clutch is fantastic, car is finally running perfectly at the moment..

911

I had a Sach paddle clutch in my hillclimb 911 with 230 bhp/200lbft torque (as quick as my Impreza off the line).
Silent is dead right on adapting to them.
I hated it (it was a Porsche RSR part so the real deal) and eventually reverted to a stock Sach organic.
One never failed me.
Smooth, efficient and cheap at £110 for the whole lot.

My AP has done 140+ drag launches with 4 x 4 Impreza @ 380 x 370 lbft and now on slicks with 9000 miles on the road too.

It is perfect.

I launch at 5500rpm and lift my left leg asap.

Graham.