In
Part-I we saw how a present day Clutch works. In Part-II now, we shall
see what kind of problems it can create for people either out of ignorance
or abuse.
A real life Query
I have a Zen (2000 model) with 65000 km on the clock. Lately there has
been some sound coming when clutch is pressed. Maruti workshop advises
to change the clutch. They say the sound is from the bearing but once
it is opened the whole clutch has to be changed.
My previous car was also a Zen, which logged 85000 km but did not have
any such problem. The MASS also acknowledges that there is no immediate
need if only driving in city. I plan to go to a hill station this summer.
Do you think I should spend Rs: 4500 for this? And why is the sound coming
only when clutch is slightly pressed ? What is the use of the bearing?
An Answer
Most people
have a tendency to 'rest' their ‘idle’ foot on the clutch
pedal and if so, atleast the CRB would be rotating all the time with the
engine - thus shortening its life - over and above the initial quality
of the CRB itself.
Since the labour
involved in just replacing the CRB is almost as much as over-hauling the
entire Clutch Assy, and you've already covered 65 kkm, which is nearly the
average life of a Clutch in a city like DLH, your Garage has rightly advised
you to take this opportunity of overhauling the Clutch also.
However, once the Clutch Assy is dismantled, with expert examination of
its constituent parts, it's quite possible that a mere change of the CRB
and the Clutch Plate may take you another 50 kkm or so.
Further, once a CRB develops a noise, its reliability will always be a 'suspect'
and if it 'seizes' forthwith, it'd wreck the ‘Pressure Plate’
Fingers - thus paralysing the entire Clutch operation. Should such a thing
happen on the hills/outstation - imagine the inconvenience it'd cause to
get the Car towed to the nearest W/S and that too for a rushed job with
possibly spurious replacement parts.
Having said that, the decision has to be yours - as to whether you wish
to take a chance or get it done before you leave for your holiday with
peace of mind. I'm afraid going by your earlier precedence of 85-kkm clutch
life is quite irrelevant in this context. |
