Having followed Mark's "test" in another thread, I am convinced my clutch plate is sticking.

I just went out to the car, and started it in neautral. Pressed the clutch pedal, and it didn't want to engage first. So I turned the engine off, and then selected third gear (to lock the input shaft) and re-started the engine.

After that, I could select any gear I wanted as smooth as silk. Do you all concur that the clutch is dragging?

If so, I need to know what's involved in changing the clutch, on the V6 Omega. If I'm going to do it, I may as well do it now, because I won't want to be crawling under there when the horrible winter gets here!

Points I am a bit confused about:

1) Linkage - I can't see any. I presume there is no linkage as such, and that the gearstick basically goes straight from the box, up into the car? How do I detach this, to pull the box away?

2) Hydraulics - I've only ever changed cable clutches, where there is a cable to remove from the gearbox, that pulls the fork to push the release bearing against the pressure plate. How does the hydraulic setup work? What do I have to remove/reattach? Also, how best to bleed it, given that I'll probably be doing the job on my own?

3) Clutch alignment. Previously, I have always used a draper alignment tool, to secure the friction plate to the pressure plate, and then bolt it to the flywheel. I presume this is still the same procedure for the Omega clutch?

4) Apart from obvious contamination/damage, what do I need to check the flywheel for? should I clean it, and what's best to use?

I've done loads of Meega autoboxes, but never a manual.

I would really appreciate some detailed answers, for some silly reason I don't feel entirely confident....

I'm not sure I removed the linkage the correct way. It was very tidy but also fiddly. There is a pin with a clip that attaches the gear stick mechanism to the selector shaft on the box. Remove the clip and push the pin up through the hole and out.

I've seen a lot of manual boxes dropped out with the gear stick attached. Probably the easiest but you have extra height and a gear knob etc. to be careful of.

Clutch alignment - pretty easy to do by eye. You can just look through and check it's centred.

Hydraulics - there's a connection behind the brake fluid reservoir clipped to the bulkhead (green clip on mine). Pull out the wire spring clip and it separates. Some brake fluid will leak out. (The plastic clip to the bulkhead will probably break.)

When finished you need to do a reverse pressure bleed with an Eazibleed - fairly straightforward.

Flywheel - see how much movement inner to outer you get when you try to rotate it (make sure you turn it the right way). Should be a bit but not be sloppy. Couple of cm on the outer edge will probably be OK.

I've got a spare (used) gearbox, clutch and flywheel you can take a look at if you're in Bristol.

Jason, you're a star, that's a lot clearer.

One more question, what about the release bearing?

Kevin Wood wrote on 22. Sep 2007 at 17:58:


It's not been stood at all, it's been in regular use.

Steve is very honest and told me at the time I bought her that this issue has been there for a long time, but has never got any worse.

I don't think it's got any worse in my ownership either, but you know me, I'm a perfectionist! Especially considering I've never owned a car this nice in my life, I want to keep it tip-top, even if it involves a few quid and some scratched knuckles

The only real issue is that the clutch drags a tad when cold... when warm (or when it's been used for a while) it's absolutely fine.

I'm not in a big rush to change it.. my only logic was, if I'm going to do it, it may be wise to act sooner rather than later, so I don't end up doing it in the snow 

The release bearing is a like a doughnut around the input shaft. Just slides off.

I's strongly recommend stripping it down before ordering any parts. I bought a new clutch kit and release bearing from buypartsby (genuine LUK part) in advance but frankly even after 115k miles most of the clutch had tonnes of life left in it. I just needed to replace the pressure plate because it had failed.

isnt the release brg part of the slave cylinder?

Also, Will - If you fancy lending a hand with that whizzy ramp of yours.. (so much easier!) I'll happily line your pockets with a few beer tokens

sassanach wrote on 23. Sep 2007 at 18:31:


Er... I recall reading posts on the forum about a certain gearbox you changed.. I think the "R" word may have been mentioned in one of those threads

Anyhow, the offer stands good, pending your approval and availablilty