I am on my THIRD release bearing in a span of about 6 months. The vendor I bought my clutch kit from has told me multiple times it is an installation issue, which importantly I am not disagreeing with here.

Having said that, I spoke with Steve K who is also on his THIRD release bearing in 6 months. I know of at least one other guy with the same setup who has broken one in less than 6 months. That is 5 release bearings broken in 6 months with the same clutch setup. It is possible there have been install screw ups on all of them, but if not it would be good for everyone to get to the bottom of the problem as replacing the thing is not a 5 minute DIY.

I am wondering out loud, and asking for input, if guys smarter than me might think it possible that the longer "eared" release bearing needed to accommodate the thinner than stock flywheel is just not strong enough to handle the clamping force of the 999 pressure plate.

Other vendors use the thicker AASCO flywheel to maintain the stock sized release bearing. Has anyone had any problems with this setup or are they limited to the 964 flywheel?

Like I said, I don't want this to come off as accusatory- not the case. However, if just maybe there is an issue, maybe we can figure it out and make it better for everyone.

Thoughts?

 

Ummmm....I'm not a big believer in coincidence.....SIX failures within SIX months is a failure rate of one a month...and such a short period of time is usually considered a "trend"....I notice that you've been very gentlemanly and have not disclosed the name of the product....however I for one would be interested in which one it is; not from the standpoint of berating the manufacturer, but there could be a bad lot, or a quality control issue here that might save someone else from having to go back in and change out another one. Would you like to share that information? Or perhaps PM me if you feel that's more appropriate?

Chuck

 

I'd say you have an issue directly related to the setup you're dealing with... I thought I was having an issue with mine, until I found out that Kevlar is known to get sticky and cause problems with the clutch disc releasing from the flywheel/PP surface when it is hot... Now my issues revolve around the hydraulics, which I'm getting ready to overhaul, again!

Mike

 

Problem is that my setup is sold as a complete kit....and that kit is the one that keeps breaking.. At say a hundred an hour, that's what...about $3,200 in just the labor to yank and replace ...that is NO parts just the in and out labor. Add in the parts and that's a good downstroke on a new bottom end and 3076's. Pissed? NO Bitter? Nah

But I am with you on the hydraulic nonsense...someone has the EVOMS billet piece for the GT2 conversion AND the AASCO flywheel for sale....maybe my luck is beginning to change Mike!

 

I would have changed brands after the second one, maybe the first. Please inform us so we can steer clear of this product. We are all going to need a clutch replacement at some time.

 

please tell us which kit you have so others don't have to suffer needlessly.

there is something clearly wrong with the geometry.

 

Who did you buy it from?

 

Agreed, what 'kit' are you running?... Something simply isn't adding up. P.M. me if you aren't comfortable stating which kit you're running until speaking more with the vendor, either way I'd like to try and do some research and help.

 

I have mixed emotions when it comes to an issue like this. $Manager has been more than professional and discreet when it comes to writing up the problem and not identifying the source with any demeaning comments.

Any manufacturer is apt to have a bad run or a QC problem at some time or another....which is why they put lot numbers and DD/MM/YY on the identifiers of some products so that you can identify the bad lot and either recall the lot, or make some sort of acceptable remedy with the guy(s) who bought the product....

The dilemna is how to pass on the information to the forum members without appearing biased or insensitive to the towards the manufacturer. I would appreciate knowing the FACTS...not editorial comments or butt dyno "feels like" assessments about the problem....what product was used, and under what conditions or timeframes it failed. Six failures should be grounds for identifying the source in a professional and factual manner.

You obviously know who the manufacturer is....and it can become an issue of the Marquis of Queensborough rules with regards to identifying the source or not. Where does tact stop, and when does it becomes appropriate for the truth enter the equation? I think that if you communicate first with the source to try to resolve it....then ID the problem and the source in an up front and honest way with no malice intended, then the facts should speak for themselves. I'm sure that the manufacturer would appreciate a shot at the problem before it became public....but then again...how many units are out there with the same potential problem that you identified, and what's a fair resolution for that problem for the folks who bought the same product?

The manufacturer or distributor can choose to respond or not respond accordingly.

 

If this is Kevin's kit I'll go ahead and stick my head out and vote for installation error as well. He knows what he's doing when it comes to these setups and I'd be curious to know what sort of shape the flywheel is in after the failure, as well the other parts taken out and replaced...

 

Obviously know who's kit it is now.

I would tend do agree... Kevin must have sold a load of these kits... surely not all are failures!!!

 

Kevin, you are a stand up guy. I know many guys on this forum who have used your kit without problems. I think $manager's local mechanic is the weak link.

$manager, I think you are owed a refund from your installer, and go to someone else to get this resolved.

 

I've been running my UMW clutch with a Porsche sourced RS LWFW (from Kevin) without issue for 1.5 years and 15k miles. No issues. Zilch. It has held up better than the tranny gears (DAS rebuilt and customized to fix 2nd gear drop out....slider mod....). At that time we inspected it and there was as close to zero wear as DAS (the bar guys) had seen. So, go figure.

Jeff


(Kevin helped my install shop...DAS is a guru shop with cup cars and did not contact Kevin..but independently felt the set up was superb. $manager needs everything out to be measured..there probably was an initial install error that is now going to propogate forever until fixed...my local indy at this point would be more than willing to accept fault and remove it all and measure things...as he had a lot of trouble with the gt2 hydraulic modification...turned out a certain shop failed to ship a set of bolts that they "swore" were shipped, no evoms but a supplier of that kit to us...we had to machine new screws. That shop will not be mentioned as they are no longer an issue for anyone....)
)

 

Guys-
There are now SEVEN of these bearing that have broken inside of 6 months. From California to the Northeast. My mechanic must be racking up some frequent flyer miles!

To set the record straight, this mechanic who replaced mine last time and who has it now... also happens to maintain the biggest dollar collection of Porsches this side of Germany. Two GT1's, a 959, two 962 Lowenbrau's, etc etc. And ran their cup team. Ask Markski about the pic of the GT1....to say this guy is meticulous would be an understatement. He was working on a GT1 before starting on my car. C'mon guys......think about it....

Look guys, Kevin can come on here and kick and scream about idiot mechanics and that is fine. Does not take away from the fact 7 have broken in less than a year. From all over the country. I don't have anything against Kevin. It is not about that...it IS about figuring out whether or not a part might be prone to early fatigue. That's all....

Like I said earlier, I don't know if it is a problem or not. It truly could be install error across the board. I know a unusually high number of these things that have failed and a couple pretty big shops who won't sell clutch kits for bigger hp cars with the 964 flywheel because of the longer bearing.

This place is about knowledge....

 

I owe you an apology...it sounds like the truth is someplace in the middle. Perhaps a run of parts is/was bad. Perhaps the guru is making some assumption...maybe something in the tranny is bad that is causing the issue downstream... My car is not of the high power variety....so it is possible that if you car is strong, the bearing is over taxed I guess. I defer to smarter minds.

Stinks. $manager, I apologize. I suspect your mechanic is at least as good as anyone I've had. But, in my world, Kevin has had a nack of being right every time ....despite the local gurus. So, I suspect it is neither the mechanic nor the parts.....and I defer to those who know more to figure out what could cause this....

Given the world today, maybe someone is putting bad/inferior bearing in the mail to Kevin with labels that look real.... Good luck!

Jeff